The Clare Heritage Office has welcomed the allocation of €34,500 to eight local projects.

The regeneration of the seawall at Kilkee, an educational newsletter on Lough Derg's ecosystems and a survey of the old cemetery at Drumcliffe are among the projects in receipt of funding from The Heritage Council.

Welcoming the funding allocation, Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, said: "I am delighted that eight separate community groups have been afforded the opportunity to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment."

Ms McGuire added: "The work carried out on these projects in 2008 will complement the wonderful range of projects that have already been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout Clare over the past number of years."

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The funding recipients in Clare are Kilkee Civic Trust (€8k) for regeneration work to Kilkee Seawall; CELT (Centre for Environmental Living & Training) (€7k) for training courses on traditional and ecological skills; Lough Derg Science Group (€4,500) for an educational newsletter on Lough Derg's ecosystems; Irish Seed Savers (€5k) for a mobile exhibition; Clare Roots Society (€3k) for a survey of old the Drumcliffe cemetery in Ennis; East Clare Heritage (€3k) to host education workshops; Ballyea Pastoral Council (€2,500) for conservation work to St John’s Well and Graveyard; and the Quilty–based Leon Committee (€1,500) for information boards and conference.

"Public understanding about our national heritage has grown dramatically over the past number of years," said Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council.

He continued: "Our grants often promote the lesser-known aspects of our heritage. Each year we see an increase in the range and quality of applications for funding for heritage projects and this correlates with research published by The Heritage Council last year that found 92% of a representative sample of the population think it is important to protect our heritage."

The Heritage Council is an independent statutory body established under the Heritage Act, 1995. The Council's function is to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage.

(JM)