Culmore Fort receives £8,000 viability grant

Rural villages received £110,000 funding boost to explore regeneration projects, including Culmore Fort

A key element of the scheme was to identify old buildings that could be brought back into use for the benefit of the community – historic properties in this round of funding include a former national school dating back to the 1840s, a workhouse which once housed 500 people before closing in 1916 and a fort dating back more than 400 years.

The current tower at Culmore was built during the 1800s on the site of the original Fort.

It is not known when a fort was first built here, but it is steeped in history from when St Colmcille sailed down the river Foyle from Derry in 563 AD on his way to Scotland, where he founded an Abbey on the island of Iona.

During the O’Dogherty Rebellion in 1608, the fort was an English military garrison. Sir. Cahir O’Dogherty and his men stormed the fort and captured weapons that they used for their uprising against the English forces.

As part of the Village Catalyst Programme seven viability grants, totalling £60,000, have been allocated to projects in Co Antrim – Bushmills; Co Tyrone – Caledon, Fintona and Donaghmore; Co Derry – Culmore; Co Down – Cloughey and Co Armagh - Kilmore.

A further £50,000 in development grants – stage 2 in the process - has been awarded to initiatives in Clogher (Co Tyrone), Hilltown (Co Down) and Ballinderry Upper (Co Antrim).

Plans for community use by the 10 successful applicants include delivering mental health support for young people, a hub for community groups, affordable housing, a youth club, tourist facilities, training space, counselling services and childcare provision.

The Village Catalyst Programme is an innovative partnership between Department for Communities (DfC), Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and The Housing Executive.

Funding is open to charities, social enterprise and other not for profit groups in rural villages with a population under 5,000. To be eligible the building must be listed or within a conservation area.

Three stages of funding have been open to applications over the last year – viability grants of up to £10,000, project development grants of up to £20,000 and delivery grants of up to £200,000. While budgets for the coming year have not yet been established, applications for delivery grants would be welcome. Both the viability and project development grants are administered by The Architectural Heritage Fund while Department for Communities administers the delivery grant.

Iain Greenway, Director of Department for Communities Historic Environment Division, said: “This scheme follows a pilot where four historic buildings at risk were revitalised to provide sustainable uses for villages.

“In addition to tackling dereliction, we saw the delivery of important new social and economic uses in all of the places supported. This partnership shows what can be achieved when we work together and pool scarce resources.

“I look forward to seeing the projects supported this year coming to fruition and delivering for their communities."

Matthew McKeague, Chief Executive Officer of The Architectural Heritage Fund, said: “We are very pleased to be involved with the ambitious Village Catalyst programme. The 10 fantastic projects that have recently secured funding will help to breathe new life back into rural villages across Northern Ireland, as well as deliver significant heritage and social impact within their respective communities.”

SDLP Ballyarnett Representative Catherine McDaid has welcomed the news that Culmore has secured funding.

Ms. McDaid said: “I am delighted that Culmore Fort has been awarded £8,000 as part of this important project to re-invigorate aspects of our heritage.

“This funding will no doubt be warmly welcomed by people in the local community. Schemes like this are really important to tackle dereliction and preserve heritage, but also to bring new economic benefits. We should do everything possible to preserve our local heritage so it can be viewed and enjoyed for generations to come.”

Local SDLP MLA Sinéad McLaughlin added: “This funding is a very welcome announcement today for Culmore. I am pleased that Culmore Fort has been a successful recipient of this funding and look forward to seeing it being put to use.”