Funding available for Mayo heritage projects

The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from community groups and non-for- profit, non-governmental organisations, in Mayo for its community heritage grant scheme. 

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

The closing date for applications is Monday, March 25, at 5pm. 

Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system and funded projects must be completed by November 15, 2024.

On March 4, the Heritage Council will host an information webinar on the scheme, via Zoom, at 12 noon. It will include general application advice followed by a question and answers session, and will be recorded and available on their website for viewing afterwards. 

Last year, nine Mayo-based projects were funded through the scheme, including funding for the Old Irish Goat Society in Westport for the creation of an immersive heritage experience. The digitisation of Knock Shrine Annuals for free public access online and in Knock Museum was also funded under the scheme. 

All relevant information is available from the Heritage Council’s website.

See below the broad range of project types are eligible for funding:

• 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.