Offaly applications sought for Community Heritage Grant Scheme

The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from voluntary or community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Offaly for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2025.

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.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;

Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.

Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation

Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites

Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment, specialised software

Projects that address the heritage of minority groups e.g an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage

Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.

Citizen science projects on environmental conservation

The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.

A full overview of eligibility criteria and other relevant details are available from the Heritage Council’s website here

The closing date for applications is Friday, March 14, at 11pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by November 14.

The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on Friday, February 7, with general application advice followed by a question and answers session. The event will be recorded and available on the website for viewing afterwards. Registration details are available here.