Three Offaly projects receive €61,878 Community Heritage Grant Scheme

THREE projects in Offaly have secured a total of €61,878 in funding under the Heritage Council’s 2025 Community Heritage Grant Scheme.

The Heritage Council is distributing more than €1.9 million through the Scheme this year to support 132 heritage initiatives across Ireland.

These grants will enable local communities to conserve and celebrate Ireland’s built, cultural, and natural heritage. The allocation follows a national call for applications in February, which attracted hundreds of proposals from heritage groups, volunteers, and community organisations across the country.

The funding recipients in Offaly are as follows:

• Clara Heritage Society - €24,160

• Boher-Liss Cemetery Group - €25,000

• St Brendan's Roman Catholic Church - €12,718

Deputy John Clendennen has welcomed the announcement, praising local efforts to preserve and celebrate Offaly’s rich cultural and historical legacy.

“This funding is a clear recognition of the commitment within our communities to protect Offaly’s heritage,” said Deputy Clendennen. “From historic churches to natural waterways, these initiatives highlight the diversity and importance of our local heritage.”

The successful Offaly projects include Boher-Liss Cemetery Group, awarded €25,000 for conservation works at Liss Church and Graveyard (former Church of Ireland), Ballycumber, to help preserve a site of significant historical value. St. Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church, Birr will receive €12,718 to restore and conserve the church’s distinctive stained glass window, a key element of the town’s artistic and religious heritage. Clara Heritage Society has been granted €24,160 to undertake a feasibility and channel study of the River Brosna as it flows through Clara, aiming to highlight the river’s historical and ecological significance.

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Deputy Clendennen concluded: “These grants are a testament to the value of grassroots heritage work. I want to congratulate all involved and thank them for their dedication to preserving Offaly’s unique heritage for future generations.”

Several funded initiatives operate across Ireland, including the second phase of the ‘Gardening for Bats’ project by Bat Conservation Ireland, which has been awarded €15,583, and a project on the oral histories of Irish show people by the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network, which has been awarded €22,525.

Projects such as this reflect the wide range of initiatives supported by the scheme — from safeguarding historic structures to researching local heritage, restoring habitats, and building biodiversity expertise within communities.

All funded projects can begin work immediately and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Previous recipients in Offaly have used this funding to restore architectural features, digitise local archives, and carry out conservation training — strengthening both the preservation of heritage and the local economy.

In 2024, the scheme funded the Oxmantown Settlement Trust to conserve original images of the 3rd Earl, it supported Birr 2020 Vision to undertake conservation repairs at the roof of the mausoleum chapel of St Brendan's medieval church in Birr, and the Shinrone Heritage Group were awarded funding to complete a graveyard recording project at St Mary's Church, Shinrone.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “Community groups and heritage organisations do incredible work in preserving and our natural, cultural and built heritage for generations to come. From conserving historic buildings and graveyards, to digitising archives, restoring monuments, and promoting biodiversity, these initiatives ensure that Ireland’s unique stories, traditions, and places are protected for future generations. I am inspired by the creativity and commitment shown by groups across the country, and proud that this scheme continues to empower local communities to safeguard our heritage in all its forms."

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Dr. Martina Moloney, Chairperson of the Heritage Council added: “The Heritage Council is committed to empowering communities and ensuring that our shared heritage is preserved and celebrated by all. This scheme reflects that commitment, supporting a diverse range of projects - from conservation and skills training to research and interpretation - that might not otherwise receive funding. Initiatives like the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, Adopt a Monument, and Heritage in Schools show how local engagement and national support can combine to deliver real, lasting benefits. The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is a vital part of this approach, helping communities across Ireland protect the places, stories, and traditions that matter most to them.”

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, remarked: “Through the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, we are proud to support the work of local groups who care deeply about their heritage and who are taking meaningful action to protect and promote it. Whether it’s restoring a local landmark, recording oral histories, or creating habitats for biodiversity, these projects have a tangible and lasting impact. They strengthen local identity, drive tourism, and create opportunities for learning, connection, and employment. We see time and again how this scheme brings people together and builds pride of place across the country.”