Minister of State and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen has urged organisations and individuals who wish to carry out projects that conserve or promote the County’s heritage to consider applying for grant aid.The Minister was commenting following the launch of the Heritage Council Grants Programme 2009, under which applications are sought for funding a wide range of projects to protect and enhance our national heritage including local heritage, biodiversity, archaeology, publications, architecture research and museums and archives.
Commenting on the ongoing success of the Heritage Council Grants Programme, Minister Killeen said, “In recent years, community groups, individuals and organisations in Clare have been very successful in applying for grant aid. In the last two years alone, 21 individuals and groups have benefited under the Programme.” The Junior Agriculture Minister explained that the aim of the grants programme was to encourage and enable people throughout the county to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment. He said that the grants often promote the lesser-known aspects of our heritage.
Eight organisations in County Clare received grants under last year’s Heritage Council Grants Programme. They included Kilkee Civic Trust (EUR8k) for regeneration work to Kilkee Seawall; CELT (Centre for Environmental Living & Training) (EUR7k) for training courses on traditional and ecological skills; Lough Derg Science Group (EUR4,500) for an educational newsletter on Lough Derg’s ecosystems; Irish Seed Savers (EUR5k) for a mobile exhibition; Clare Roots Society (EUR3k) for a survey of old the Drumcliffe cemetery in Ennis; East Clare Heritage (EUR3k) to host education workshops; Ballyea Pastoral Council (EUR2,500) for conservation work to St John’s Well and Graveyard; and the Quilty–based Leon Committee (EUR1,500) for information boards and conference.
A Grants Programme pack is available on request by phone, fax, post or can be downloaded from the website heritagecouncil.ie. The completed application form, along with the additional information requested under each scheme, should arrive at the Heritage Council, Church Lane, Kilkenny by 5.00pm on Friday 14 November 2008.
