Community Monuments Fund 2026

The Community Monuments Fund (CMF) 2026 is now open for applications.

The Community Monuments Fund was first established in 2020 to provide investment in Ireland’s archaeological heritage. In County Longford, this grant has supported the urgent repair and conservation of the towerhouse at Abbeyshrule Abbey and the medieval chapel at St. Brendan's Church, Clondra, in addition to conservation management plans for other monuments including Abbeylara Abbey, the medieval church ruins at Abbeylara Abbey, and the ruins of the Augustinian Priory on Saints Island.  These were community-driven projects which have secured the monuments for future generations. 

The Community Monuments Fund will invest essential capital in our valuable archaeological heritage and help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. Total funding available nationally for projects under Community Monuments Fund 2025 will be €7.5 million. 

The core aims of this Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments. It will: 

• enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support
• build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change;
• encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation.

The Community Monuments Fund has 3 streams:

• Stream 1 - will offer grants up to €100,000 for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments.
• Stream 2 – will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports and detailed Specification of Works aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
• Stream 3 – will offer grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments

How to Apply:

To find the Sites and Monument Record/ Record of Monuments and Places Number for your monument, it is recommended that you review the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Historic Environment online mapping viewer. Click here to open. Click on the red dots to see the monument number, the monument type, and a short description. Some locations may have more than one number. 

Please read thoroughly the CMF 2026 handbook linked below, paying note to the information required to properly assess the application. 

Gaeilge: CMF2026-Lamhleabhar-GAE

English: CMF2026-Handbook-English-

The application forms are available in English agus as Ghaeilge 

Gaeilge: CMF2026---CMF-A-Foirm-Iarratais-GAE 

English: CMF2026---CMF-A-Application-Form-ENG

Please email the signed application and supporting documentation, to heritage@longfordcoco.ie by Friday 30th January 2025.

Please include in the subject line the following: 'CMF 2026, Stream [1, 2 or 3] and [name of the monument]. 

Unfortunately hardcopy or postal applications cannot be accepted. 

NOTES

1. The applications will be subject to the Data Protection policies of Longford County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Monument Service. Data collected from the application process will be for the purposes of assessing the application to the CMF 2026. 
2. The Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage will publish notification of successful applications in the national press and on their websites. They will undertake periodic visits to the sites as part of the overall management of the fund. Photographs will be taken of the works in progress for use on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the National Monuments Service, Longford County Council and Longford Library Services websites, publications and social media sites. 
3. As the awards for successful applications will typically be over €10,000 applicants must be tax compliant. A Tax Clearance Access Number or valid Tax Clearance Cert will be required. This includes applicants that have charitable status. 
4. While all applications will be assessed fairly and thoroughly, it may not be possible to shortlist all applications. The final decision on funding will be made by the relevant Minister and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.