Community Monuments Fund opens for Donegal’s archaeological monuments

Donegal County Council is inviting applications to the Community Monuments Fund until 4pm on Friday, January 30, 2026 for the conservation of archaeological monuments. 

Funding of up to €100,000 is available for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments (Stream 1), up to €30,000 for the development of Conservation Management Plans or reports aimed at identifying measures for the conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access (Stream 2) and up to €30,000 for enhancement of access and interpretation at archaeological monuments including on-line or virtual access (Stream 3). 

The Community Monuments Fund is an initiative by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in partnership with local authorities.

Under the Community Monuments Fund in 2025, conservation works began to Assaroe Abbey, Ballyshannon commissioned by the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, an archaeological monument in private ownership protected under the National Monuments Acts

“Eighteen archaeological monuments in County Donegal have benefitted by over €1.17 million under the Community Monuments Fund since it was introduced in 2020,” explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer. “The Community Monuments Fund provides 100 per cent funding for the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments and historic sites by private owners, custodians, community groups or local authorities. 

“All of the archaeological monuments funded under this scheme are protected under the National Monuments Acts. Most of the 3,400 known archaeological sites in County Donegal are in private ownership or guardianship so this scheme offers an ideal opportunity to landowners, community groups or local authorities to undertake conservation works to monuments, encourage greater access to them, improve their presentation or build resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.”

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Successful applicants will have until mid-October to complete the work and Donegal County Council’s Heritage Office and County Museum will advise and support applicants in the delivery of these projects over the coming months. Further details and application forms are available on the Donegal County Council website at www.donegalcoco.ie/heritage

If you would like to find out what known archaeological monuments are in your area, you can consult the National Monuments Service website at www.archaeology.ie

Advance consent for any works to, or in the vicinity of, an archaeological monument must be obtained from the National Monuments Service. If you are the owner or guardian of an archaeological monument or historic site or are involved with a community group that would like to conserve your local archaeological heritage, advice is available from the County Donegal Heritage Office by e-mail at cmf@donegalcoco.ie or on (074) 917 2576.