The Heritage Council Launches €3m Grant Programme for 2007
Public Encouraged to Play a Major Role
The Heritage Council is seeking applications for funding a wide range of projects to protect and enhance our national heritage. It has allocated almost €3m for seven grant schemes for 2007. The funding round is now open and projects which will be considered include local heritage, biodiversity, archaeology, publications, restoration of heritage buildings and museums and archives. Anyone can apply including community groups, individuals and organisations.
Applications must be submitted for all schemes by 3rd November 2006, except the Buildings at Risk programme, which is open until 31st March 2007.
This year a special grant fund of €500,000 has been allocated within the scheme for biodiversity projects. Full details are available online on www.heritagecouncil.ie.
“Heritage belongs to people and we are all custodians of our rich natural and cultural heritage. The aim of the grant programme is to encourage and enable people throughout Ireland to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment,” said Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council. “We hope to build on the wonderful range of projects that have been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout the country over the past number of years”.
Hundreds of projects have received funding from the Heritage Council over the past number of years. Previous projects include; local heritage projects such as restoring wildlife corridors and creating wildlife gardens; the conservation of historic buildings, railways and monuments, education and awareness raising projects, wildlife conservation, restoration of wetland and bogland, books and publications; conserving Ireland’s oldest orchards, inner city projects and the protection of wildlife including bats, pearl mussels, bees and birds. A number of groups in Kildare have benefited from the Local Heritage Grants Scheme in the past. Sallins Tidy Towns received funding for an Ecological Survey and Newbridge Tidy Towns received funding for natural heritage interpretative panels.
A special fund of €50,000 has been made available to fund projects that will take place during Heritage Week 2007. Funding will be available for outdoor educational activities, neglected aspects of heritage and the promotion of heritage to local communities.
Projects are particularly welcome that aim to engage young people and raise their awareness of heritage. Research carried out by Lansdowne Market Research for the Heritage Council shows that the public interest in protecting and learning more about heritage is growing every year. This year there was record attendance numbers taking part in Heritage Week with over 900 events taking place during the week. This was up from 600 events the previous year. Most of the new events were organised by community and voluntary groups to celebrate and raise awareness of their local heritage.
For further information and application forms:
contact your local Heritage Officer Bridget Loughlin at Kildare County Council Offices, 045 980791 or:
The Heritage Council, Kilkenny by post, phone, fax or by email to aryan@heritagecouncil.com.
Full details and application forms including a provision to apply online are also available on www.heritagecouncil.ie