Clare heritage groups to benefit from major funding allocation

HERITAGE projects across county Clare are to benefit to the tune of more than €120,000 of State funding.

Community groups from Spanchilhill to Spanish Point will receive funding from The Heritage Council. Initiatives to received support range from the preservation of local monuments to the creation of audio guides for those with visual or literacy issues.

Green Party Senator Róisín Garvey outlined the full list of projects to benefit from the funding boost.

“As spokesperson for Rural Development, I am delighted to announce securing funding of €120,621 in support of Heritage activity all over Clare and across a wide range of events and topics,” she said.

“Thanks to my Green Party Colleague, Minister Malcolm Noonan, for the funding. Investing in our Heritage is important for ourselves and our communities as well as being another great draw for visitors to our beautiful county.

“From Caherconnell, to Killaloe, Kilrush, Clooney, Spanish Point, Clarecastle, Shannon, Ketts Lough and for our cultural heritage with Clare Museum and Cuimhneamh an Chláir, this is an important and welcome investment in County Clare.”

The money has been allocated in a number of tranches. The allocation under the Community Stream include €14,000 for Irish Iron Heritage Foundation CLG Caherconnell International Furnace Festival August 2022.

The main aim of the festival is to create a week-long bloomery iron smelting and forging school at Caherconnell from 2023 onward, together with continued education of visitors about iron smelting.

The Elder Tree Community Group is to receive €3,305. This will fund outdoor-based training and learning to facilitate a wild space for children and families to connect with each other and nature, gain a greater understanding of native flora and fauna, engage in traditional crafts, skills and storytelling.

St Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe is to receive €5,152 for select vestry conservation and development research and a self-guided tour. This money will help complete Phase 2 of conservation and development research.

Kilrush and District Historical Society is to receive €5,455. This will support the preservation of the Barrett Collection through transfer into suitable archival standard storage to aid cataloging, accessibility online and long-term preservation.

Clooney Spancilhill Community Development Group will receive €19,400 for restoration works at Clooney House.

The Spanish Point Community Group will receive €7,724 for an audio guide to the area.

This funding will help to produce a professional audio guide to increase engagement for all, especially those with literacy or visual issues and to broaden appreciation of this historic area.

Clarecastle Tidy Towns will receive €14,750 for a Clarecastle Tree Survey. This work will involve surveying and recording the existing trees and hedgerows along the main roads and public parks. It will produce recommendations for protection, enhancement and new planting.

Cuimhneamh an Chláir will receive €10,000 for website redevelopment.

Irish Peatland Conservation Council for Discovering Ketts Lough will receive €4,077 to work to share information about the lake.

The information gathered in this first phase will support the development of a site Conservation Management Plan in 2023.

Killaloe-Ballina Local History Society will receive €1,148 for graveyards in Killaloe and Ballina.

The funding will go towards training, transcribing and sharing of data from gravestones.

Under the Stewardship Stream, €22,110 has been allocated to the conservation of Hasting’s Farmhouse, in Shannon.

Under the Provision of Training stream, €13,500 will go towards the Clare Museum Website Access Project 2022.

Chairperson of The Heritage Council, Martina Moloney, commended all of the groups who applied for funding.

“The range of projects funded mirrors the variety of our heritage and the commitment of the grass roots groups who do such important work in caring for our heritage,” she said.