Carlow projects urged that funding is available now for heritage projects

The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from voluntary or community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Carlow for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2025.

In 2024, the scheme funded a documentary film that explores the history, cultural significance, and ongoing traditions of the Cranavane Holy Well in Carlow, as well as the development of an audio guide for Tinryland exploring its archaeology, history and heritage. It also funded conservation works to Carlow Methodist Church.

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A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;

Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.

Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation

Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites

Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment, specialised software

Projects that address the heritage of minority groups e.g an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage

Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.

Citizen science projects on environmental conservation

The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.

The variety of applicants who successfully secured funding in 2024 demonstrates the positive impact the scheme has across the heritage spectrum. A full list of projects funded last year is available from below here.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 14th of March 2025 at 11pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by 14th of November 2025.

The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on Friday the 7th of February with general application advice followed by a question and answers session.