Armada search gets Heritage funding

The ongoing search for and survey of the wreck of a Spanish Armada vessel off the coast of Quilty, is among local projects that will benefit under The Heritage Council’s 2015 Community-based Heritage Grants Scheme

Clare County Council has welcomed the allocation of €32,000, which will go towards a village development strategy for Clarecastle, a study of the history of the iron industry in northeast Clare and a heritage audit of the Loop Head Peninsula.

“I am delighted that 13 separate community groups have been afforded the opportunity to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment,” said Congella McGuire, Clare Heritage Officer.

“The work carried out on these projects in 2015 will complement the wonderful range of projects that have already been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout Clare over the past number of years,” she added.

The funding recipients in Clare are the Clare Archaeological and Historical Society (€4,000) for a window conservation project at Templemaley East; The Sliabh Aughty Furnace Project (€3,500) for the implementation of Conservation Management Plans; Burrenbeo Trust (€3,500) for Tenalach Trainers; Loop Head Tourism (€3,000) for the Loop Head Heritage Audit (Phase 2); Clarecastle Community Development Ltd. (€3,000) for the development of a Village Development Strategy; Ogonnelloe Community Heritage Project (€3,000) for Small Town Studio; and Kilkeedy Graveyard Conservation Group (€2,000) for conserving and managing Kilkeedy Church of Ireland historic graveyard.

Other funding projects include The San Marcos Project & Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd (€2,000); Kilrush Tidy Towns (€2,000) for the Kilrush Biodiversity Training and Action Plan; Moy Wood Conservation Actions (€2,000); Mountshannon Community Council (€1,800) for Images of Inis Cealtra; Martina Haugh Graveyard Artwork (€1,200) for mapping and interpretation on the Loop Head Peninsula; O’Briens Bridge Community Group (€1,000) for the repair and restoration of damaged riverside wall;