Four archaeological monuments in Cavan share €140K in funding

Fund will create thousands of hours of employment for specialist craftspeople and traditional skills practitioners nationally

Four archaeological monuments in County Cavan are to receive a total of €140K under a new fund.

Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, today announced that over €7.4 million will be awarded to 140 projects around the country through the 2024 Community Monuments Fund to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future. Four projects in Cavan are set to receive €147,300:

Enagh Windmill and Lime Kiln - €69,928

Drumlane Ecclesiastical Site - €17,528

Crover Castle - €30,000

St Mogue’s Island - €29,845

First established in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. Funding is available to allow conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build their resilience to help them withstand the effects of climate change.

The CMF supports essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments and also the development of Conservation Management Plans to identify measures that may be needed to conserve monuments. Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments.

Speaking today, Minister of State Malcolm Noonan said: “Since its inception in 2020, this fund has become a lifeline for the protection of Ireland’s irreplaceable archaeological heritage by revitalising hundreds of historic monuments in cities, towns, villages and rural communities across all 31 Local Authorities. Through this, it is enabling valuable investment in the wider heritage sector, creating thousands of hours of employment for specialist craftspeople and traditional skills practitioners, as well as supporting the achievement of national commitments under Heritage Ireland 2030 and the Climate Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage. I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them the very best of luck in with their projects this year.”