Seven projects in Kilkenny to share €500,000 under this year's Community Monuments Fund
Awards granted to St Coleman’s Medieval Church, Churchclara, St Catherine’s Church, Rathbeagh, Kilree Graveyard, Grangefertagh Medieval Church and Graveyard, and Kilbeacon Graveyard
Seven projects in Kilkenny have been awarded funding totalling €500,000 under this year's Community Monuments Fund.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan have announced the 122 projects that will be awarded nationally. The grants help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments safeguard them into the future.
The awards granted to Kilkenny projects as part of this year’s Community Monuments Fund include: €130,000 for St Coleman’s Medieval Church, Churchclara for capital conservation works, €130,000 for St Catherine’s Church, Rathbeagh for capital conservation works, €19,742 for Kilree Graveyard for a conservation management plan, €30,000 for Grangefertagh Medieval Church and Graveyard for urgent conservation works to the Mac Giolla Pádraig tomb, and €30,000 for Kilbeacon Graveyard for urgent works to the cemetery boundary walls.
The Community Monuments Fund supports a range of initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect, and promote local monuments and historic sites. This investment safeguards monuments for the benefit of communities and the public. It does so by enabling conservation works and repairs as well as building resilience through protecting monuments from the effects of extreme weather and climate change. The scheme also encourages public access and improvements to the presentation of local monuments.
“I am delighted to see these very worthy projects funded under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund," said Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Michael McCarthy.
"This investment in our archaeological heritage is significant and will have a hugely positive impact on the communities who care for these monuments throughout the County. I would like to thank the custodians and owners of these monuments for their tireless care for our heritage. This investment will ensure that these sites will be conserved to be enjoyed and appreciated for generations to come.”
The impacts of climate change on our monuments are increasingly evident. With increased weathering and severe climate events, the repair cycle on built heritage is becoming shorter. Increased maintenance and repair are key to building resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment.
Since the fund was first introduced in 2020, it has invested €25.5 million in communities nationwide, and is now a bedrock of support for archaeological heritage across the country helping conserve buildings as varied as churches, round towers, castles, forts, barracks, and abbeys.