Mayo projects to benefit under new €5.8 million creative fund

Fianna Fáil Minister Dara Calleary has welcomed funding for four creative, cultural and artistic initiatives in Co Mayo under a new €5.8 million fund.

A total of 43 projects across the country are due to receive investment under the Government’s new Creative Climate Action Fund II.

The Creative Ireland initiative supports creative, cultural and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empowers citizens to make meaningful behavioural changes.

This year's fund received 239 applications from an array of disciplines and industries from architecture to theatre and animation.

A Ballina project exploring how the laneways of our historic town centres can adapt to cope with climate change and an initiative aiming to raise awareness and foster support for the restoration and rewilding of the Wild Nephin National Park are among the projects gaining funding in Co Mayo.

Minister Calleary said: “The Creative Climate Action Fund is hugely ambitious containing a range of projects that will benefit the whole island of Ireland. I’m delighted to see four projects are located in Co Mayo.

“In the north of the county the Wilderland project aims to raise awareness and foster support for rewilding of the beautiful Wild Nephin National Park. In Ballina, the Cascade project will explore how laneways can become a connected trail of climate-resilient, cohesive spaces that celebrate water, while the Envisioning the Uplands’ initiative will be the cultural element of Hometree’s ‘Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project’ which will bring artists to the uplands to facilitate community engagement.

“It’s also great to see a cross-border project being given investment. The BluePrint project between Derry and Mayo will produce a ‘creative co-creation’ toolkit that will target local governments working with flood affected communities.

“These are all hugely important projects and I want to commend everyone involved.”

Minister Calleary added: “This Creative Ireland funding is a thoughtful, creative and powerful way of raising awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss. It will bring about meaningful change in our local communities by inspiring people to take action. This is something Fianna Fáil in Government is hugely passionate about.”