Galway City Council has welcomed two funding announcements aimed at delivering critical capital works and structural conservation across two of the city's primary heritage assets.

The Urban Directorate of the City Council secured a €260,000 grant from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage via the Community Monuments Fund. The capital will be divided equally, with €130,000 allocated to Menlough Castle and €130,000 directed to St Nicholas' Collegiate Church.

The second injection comprises a €25,000 grant from the Heritage Council under the 2026 Community Heritage Grants scheme, an application process supported by the City Council's Heritage Section. The combined funding will be deployed to execute essential structural repairs, stabilisation works, and capital improvements designed to protect and enhance the presentation of both historical sites.

The €130,000 allocation for St Nicholas' Collegiate Church follows a successful three-year restoration programme that completed works on the building's South transept. The new funding phase will focus on urgent structural interventions to ensure the historical space remains compliant with public safety standards.

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Menlough Castle, a 19th-century riverfront ruin on the River Corrib, will utilise its €130,000 allocation to progress ongoing stabilisation and structural maintenance. The site, formerly the estate of the Blake family prior to a major fire in the early 20th century, has been subject to continuous conservation engineering in recent years.

Nationally, the total funding available for schemes under the Community Monuments Fund 2026 stands at €8 million. Applications were rigorously assessed based on the archaeological significance of the monument, project effectiveness in meeting fund objectives, technical methodology merit, and broader public or community benefit.

Deputising for the Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr John McDonagh, said: "Galway City Council's heritage sector has secured a significant boost with a €260k allocation from the Community Monuments Fund to protect Menlough Castle and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church. This critical funding guarantees the structural repair, long-term conservation, and enhanced presentation of these two iconic landmarks, safeguarding local history for the community's future enjoyment."

The Very Rev Lynda Peilow, Rector of St Nicholas', said: "This funding is vital for safeguarding the building's rich heritage, allowing for ongoing restoration efforts that reveal previously unknown aspects of its history. While St. Nicholas functions as a living church, it also serves as a heritage site of immense historical importance to Galway."

Jim Higgins, Heritage Officer for Galway City Council, said: "Menlough Castle is an iconic landmark on the river Corrib, once home to the Blake family until it was destroyed by fire in the early 20th century. Significant works were undertaken to conserve the castle in recent years, with the allocated funding allowing us to continue these critical interventions."

Brendan Dunne, Senior Executive Planner for Architecture and Conservation in Galway City Council, noted that St Nicholas' Collegiate Church is a building with significant rich heritage, describing it as a church in the heart of the city, with the city at its heart. He added that for over seven centuries, this extraordinary site has welcomed worshippers and visitors alike and the funding again this year will ensure its continuance use as a significant attraction within the city.