Twenty one built heritage projects across Louth are to benefit from new conservation and restoration funding.

Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, announced that a total of 676 heritage projects across every county will benefit from €9 million in financial support through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) for 2024.

Both schemes support the conservation of historic buildings for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations and are managed jointly by the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and a network of conservation staff in the 31 local authorities.

Louth County Council have facilitated the grant process in Louth, receiving 30 applications under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, 17 of which were successful, and 12 applications to the Historical Structures Fund, four of which have been awarded funding.

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A total of €235,000 will be awarded to successful applicants under the HSF streams.

The largest grant has been allocated to the iconic Derryhale Hotel in Dundalk. €75,000.00 has been awarded for 2024, with a further €75,000 available in 2025. Works at the building will include repair of the original timber sash and stained windows and entrance door of the hotel which is of cultural significance within the Victorian heart of Dundalk town centre.

The Widows Houses, Castlebellingham, County Louth has been granted €50,000.00 for repairs to a retaining wall partially collapsed, and joinery and glazing repairs to the entrance passageway. Works will include restoration of internal joinery, floors, window openers, fireplaces and internal lime plastering.

The Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol has been earmarked for €25,000.00 towards remedial works to address severe dampness in the south gable wall including repairing copings, brick repairs and replacing cement pointing with lime.

A further €140,400k has been allocated under the BHIS for 17 successful applicants in Louth, which includes works at St. Peter's Church, St. Peter's Close, Drogheda, funding for a number of individual thatched roof projects, and other built heritage works across the county.

Welcoming the announcement, Joan Martin Chief Executive, Louth County Council said: "This is great news for a wide variety of projects across the county, where works are planned at buildings and structures that are of cultural and historical significance in Louth."