Donegal historic sites awarded €300,000 in funding

More than €300,000 has been granted to historic sites at eight different locations around the county.

The Community Monuments Fund has allocated €300,559 for archaeological heritage projects in the county.

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, announced the award of grants for a wide range of archaeological heritage projects under the department’s 2022 Community Monuments Fund.

Malin Well Old Church, Inishowen has been awarded €64,193; St Catherine's Church, Killybegs has received €44,129.50; €85,000 has been awarded to Doon Fort; Assaroe Abbey, Ballyshannon has been granted €20,756; McSwyne's Castle, Dunkineely is to receive €18,692; The Bishop's Palace, Raphoe has received €29,623.50; Northburgh Castle, Greencastle has been awarded €30,000 and €8,165 is going to St Mura's Cross and Graveyard, Fahan.

Over €700,000 capital funding announced for Donegal Airport

Allocations will contribute towards capital investment in the areas of safety and security at airports

The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It contains a number of different measures aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on archaeological monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouraging access to archaeological monuments and improving their presentation and also building resilience in archaeological monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

Announcing the funding, Minister Noonan said: “I am delighted to announce the Community Monuments Fund awards for 2022. The increased funding we are announcing today of €6 million to 128 projects will help protect our wonderful archaeological heritage and make it more accessible to the many who cherish it.

“These awards help us to deliver on various commitments under Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan launched earlier this year. It will provide further supports for communities and custodians and the heritage sector, for archaeologists, conservation architects, stonemasons, and other professional trades.”