Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, have announced the allocation of €7.5 million in funding to 122 projects under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund.

The grants aim to support owners and custodians of archaeological monuments in their efforts to safeguard these sites for the future.

The Community Monuments Fund supports a range of initiatives focused on the conservation, maintenance, protection, and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. This financial investment is intended to preserve monuments for the benefit of local communities and the wider public. It facilitates essential conservation works and repairs, while also building resilience against the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. The scheme also encourages greater public access to these sites and improvements to their presentation.

Among the projects receiving funding under this year's Community Monuments Fund are:

• €130,000 for St Anne's Church, Shandon, Co Cork, for capital conservation works.

• €100,000 for Ballycogly Castle, Co Wexford, for capital conservation works.

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• €29,963 for Dunhill Castle and Graveyard in Waterford for the development of conservation management plans.

• €30,000 for St Patrick's Well, Clonfad, Co Monaghan, for enhancements to access and infrastructure.

Minister Browne commented: "I am delighted to announce these awards under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund. The importance of our archaeological heritage cannot be overstated and this fund has a very real and profound impact on the custodians and communities in our cities, villages, towns and countryside."

He added: "I sincerely thank the owners of archaeological monuments for their dedication to the preservation of our wonderful heritage. This investment will ensure that our built heritage can continue to be enjoyed by local and visiting communities, as well as acting to create work and preserve important traditional skills in towns and villages right across Ireland."

Speaking on the announcement, Minister of State O'Sullivan said: "As we approach World Heritage Day, the international Day for Monuments and Sites, on Friday 18 April, I am thrilled to announce 122 awards worth €7.5 million under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund. This vital initiative not only preserves our rich heritage but also strengthens the connection between our communities and their history creating opportunities for education and tourism."

Minister O'Sullivan also noted that since its inception in 2020, the fund has invested €25.5 million in communities nationwide, becoming a cornerstone of support for archaeological heritage across the country, aiding the conservation of diverse structures such as churches, roundtowers, castles, forts, barracks, and abbeys.

"This scheme helps to build robustness in our heritage against the extremes of weather, addressing key actions in our Climate Adaptation Plan as well as under Heritage Ireland 2030. These awards also deliver jobs for the heritage sector and traditional skills craftspeople, providing thousands of hours of employment every year," he stated.

"The quality of applications for the fund for 2025 has been extraordinary and I wish all of the award recipients, including the many spearheaded by local communities, the best of luck in rolling out their projects," Minister O'Sullivan concluded.