New €4.5m funding package to conserve and safeguard Ireland’s built heritage. €294,000 awarded to three Waterford built heritage projects
The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan TD, this week announced that 95 heritage projects across the country will benefit from a total of €4.5m under this year’s Historic Structures Fund (HSF).
In addition to supporting owners and custodians of historic and protected structures to safeguard and maintain their properties, this funding will also provide a welcome boost to local construction and heritage trades by facilitating works with a total value of over €8m and generating more employment (an estimated 11,250 days’ labour), including for specialist heritage roles such as thatching and stonework.
Among the 95 recipients of funding nationally, this year’s HSF includes funding for three Waterford projects:
Curraghmore House, Portlaw has been granted funding of €50,000 for repair and replacement of slate roof and lead valleys, the repair of chimney stacks and second floor structural works. Mount Melleray Abbey, Cappoquin received funding of €44,000 for works to address water ingress at south gable of public chapel address dry rot outbreak and works to prevent water ingress and Mayfield House, Portlaw received funding of €200,000 for works to stabilise walls, reinstate and repair the roof to Mayfield House and lodge, repair of entrance gates, along with training for carpentry and masonry apprentices.
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Service with Waterford City and County Council welcomed the funding for these significant works, “The three projects have a rich built heritage. The funding allocations will go towards ensuring that their valuable built heritage is protected and that the owners will be assisted in safeguarding them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.”
The HSF is one of two built heritage funding schemes which work in partnership with owners and the 31 local authorities to protect our built heritage – a key aim of Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan launched by the Minister last year. This announcement follows the awarding earlier this month of €4.5m in funding under the Department’s other built heritage grant scheme – the Built Heritage Investment Scheme.
In 2023 €182,400 was allocated to 25 Waterford projects under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS).
