TWELVE projects across county Clare will share €76,000 under a special grant scheme run by The Heritage Council.
The fund will help boost a post-Covid recovery, grow tourism, and enhance community spirit by supporting local heritage projects.
Under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, €76,030 has been allocated to community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
Scariff Community Council received €12,000 to carry out a conservation/condition report on the Workhouse Water Tower in the town.
Cuimhneamh an Chláir received €8,000 for ‘The Clare Oral History Podcast’ – a podcast series based on the oral history archive of Cuimhneamh an Chláir.
Other recipients include: Labasheeda Projects Group; Scattery Island Heritage; New Quay Community Development Group; Dúchas na Sionna; The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group; Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary; Shannon Tidy Towns; Irish Seed Savers Association; Quin Tidy Towns and Ennistymon Tidy Towns.
Chairman of The Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “These schemes continue to provide a central focus for the work of The Heritage Council. They are testament to the close collaboration between the Council, local authorities and community groups, all sharing a common purpose.”
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, said: “The Heritage Council is delighted to fund such a diverse range of projects and initiatives, particularly at this point in time.
“It is especially gratifying that the primary work of The Heritage Council, in preserving and nourishing our history and traditions, has a spin-off by way of putting investment into communities around the country.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.