Incredibly intact Laois famine workhouse museum awarded €200,000

A chillingly intact Irish famine workhouse that still stands in Laois, has been awarded €200,000 to preserve it into the future.

Donaghmore Workhouse, Dunacleggan, Donaghmore, Co. Laois, where many starving local people worked and died, is to benefit with a €200,000 grant to Laois County Council for repairs to the roof, chimney and rainwater goods in its infirmary block, to prevent water ingress and damage.

The grant is the maximum possible under the 2025 Historic Structures Fund (HSF).

It is one of 28 awarded throughout Ireland this week, totalling over €3.5 million by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, TD. 

Laois TDs have welcomed the funding for Donaghmore Workhouse, now a Laois tourist attraction for both visitors and educational tours. Its restored dining hall has become an entertainment venue.

Read all about the Donaghmore workhouse history here.

Deputy William Aird praised the cross department work that secured the funding.

“the success of the Historic Structures Fund results from a close working relationship between the Department and the Local Authorities, particularly the Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff at local level who make these schemes possible and help ensure that historic structures are maintained and restored for the benefit of communities, visitors and future generations.”

Sean Fleming TD welcomed the funding too, describing the history of the building.

"The old workhouse was built in the 1840’s during the Great Famine.  It is now known as the Donaghmore Workhouse and Agricultural Museum.

"In recent times, Laois County Council has acquired this old historic property and applied to the Government for funding to carry out essential roof and chimney repairs to improve the safety and structure of the building.

"Even though this building was built in difficult times during the Great Famine, because of the scale and structure involved it is important that it be used in this century for the benefit of the public.

"This substantial allocation of funding will now allow Laois County Council proceed with these important restoration and improvement works," Dep Fleming said.

Photo: Jerry Mulhivill, author of The Truth Behind the Irish Famine.

Donaghmore Workhouse also won €50,000 in Clár funding recently. 

It gets almost 2,500 visitors a year, according to the Office of Public Works.

It served as a film location for a recent Irish movie called The Light Within.

The Historic Structures Fund is available alongside other heritage funding streams such as the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the recently re-opened Conservation Advice Grant Scheme, to conserve, protect, and promote the use of historic buildings across Ireland.

Operated on a match-funding basis, the HSF promotes the investment of private capital into the preservation and rejuvenation of our architectural heritage.

In addition to the €3.5m of HSF funding committed for 2025, it is estimated that grantees will invest a further €7.6m on these projects, supporting the work of traditional craftspeople while bringing landmark buildings back to their former glory.