Louth projects to receive over €140,000 from Built Heritage Investment Scheme

€140,793 has been awarded to 19 projects in Louth under this year’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), it was announced today by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD. They are among 556 heritage projects across the country will benefit from a total of €4.5m under this year’s scheme.

The BHIS is one of two built heritage funding schemes run by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in association with the 31 Local Authorities. The scheme assists owners of heritage structures – including those on the local authorities’ Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas – to meet their obligations to care for their properties by providing match-funded grants of up to €15,000 for standard projects (not involving thatch).

Also included under this year’s scheme is funding of €500,000 for conservation repairs to eligible historic thatched structures with grants of up to €20,000 available through the scheme. Louth County Council has been awarded €14,392 for three such structures.

The full list of grantees and projects in Louth under the 2023 BHIS are as follows:

• Salterstown, Dunleer - Thatching - €7,500
• Rampark, Jenkinstown, Dundalk - Thatching €3,642
• Whiterath Cottage, Dromiskin - Interior Structural Repair - €3,250
• Lisrenny House, Tallanstown - Roof repair, structures & coverings including lead work €11,000
• 5, Kelso Terrace, St. Mary's Road, Dundalk - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €2,691
• Clydebank', 58 Castle Road, Dundalk - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €3,251
• 11 Brook Street, Dundalk - Roof repair, structures & coverings including lead work - €2,364
• Smarmore Castle, Smarmore, Ardee - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €7,000
• Kildemock House, Kildemock, Ardee - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €10,500
• Dundalk Grammar School, The Boarder's House, The Crescent, Ardee Road, Dundalk - External wall repair - External fixture repair - €11,000
• 57, Castle Road, Dundalk - External fixture repair Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €6,700
• St. Mary's Church, Market Street, Ardee - Rainwater goods repair/replacement - €12,500
• Former Parochial House, Dunleer - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €12,500
• 2 The Sycamores, Greenhills, Drogheda - Roof repair, structures & coverings including lead work - €4,750
• Canonstown Outbuilding, Buzzard View, Canonstown, Termonfeckin - Roof repair, structures & coverings including lead work - €10,795
• Collon Parish Church, Collon - Rainwater goods repair/replacement - €10,000
• 15, Palace Street, Drogheda - Roof repair, structures & coverings including lead work - €1,750
• No. 6, St. Peter's Place, Drogheda - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €14,500
• St. Patrick's, Scarlet Street (No. 27), Drogheda - Draught-proofing of windows, doors and other openings - €5,100

Welcoming news of the funding, Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd said, “it is vital that we do everything we can to protect our local built heritage and safeguard them for generations to come. These grants will also be a welcome boost to the local trades, in particular to trades that specialise in heritage related works.”

Speaking today, Minister Malcolm Noonan said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce this significant investment in our built heritage which will allow so many owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country to complete necessary works to maintain these structures and safeguard them for the benefit of future generations. 

“I have always stressed the importance of supporting our communities in their efforts to repair, preserve and restore our built heritage. This funding represents a 12.5% increase on last year’s funding and underlines this Government’s continuing commitment to protect and preserve our built environment, in line with the goals set out in Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, which I launched last year.”

Minister of State for Local Government, Kieran O’Donnell TD, welcomed the announcement, saying: “The continued success of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme is down to the hard work of the Local Authorities, particularly the Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff.

"The relationship between local and central government is also critical to this success and I would like to congratulate all involved in this process. I look forward to seeing results of this funding on various projects within our towns, in line with this Government’s commitment to put Town Centres First.”

Details of awards granted under the Department’s other built heritage scheme, the Historic Structures Fund, will also be announced following assessment in the coming weeks.