Community Monuments Fund 2024

Update:

The Community Monuments Fund (CMF) 2024 is closed for this year.
Call back soon for details of any future funding opportunities under this, or other, built-heritage grant schemes.

The Community Monuments Fund 2024 helps to protect archeological monuments into the future. It provides investment into our archaeological heritage for the benefit of communities and the public. Funding may be used for the care, conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments by:

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

Funding streams

There are three Community Monuments Fund 2024 streams:

Steam One:
Grants for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments
Maximum funding: 100% of eligible costs, up to €100,000

Stream Two:
Grants for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
Maximum funding: 100% of eligible costs, up to €30,000

Steam Three:
Grants for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual or online) at archaeological monuments 
Maximum funding: 100% of eligible costs, up to €30,000

Traditional skills training element

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage also encourages projects to incorporate a traditional skills training element:

  • This is to help preserve traditional building and craft skills that are of benefit in the conservation of archaeological monuments and to build capacity in the sector
  • Training may be recommended where there is a gap in traditional skill sets available
  • This may include training and upskilling in traditional masonry and use of lime mortars, dry stone walling, roofing, thatching, joinery and ironwork
  • The application should be clear as to who will receive the training and who will provide the training
  • The application should also demonstrated that training providers have appropriate accreditation

Who is eligible to apply?

The Community Monuments Fund 2024 provides funding for projects in relation to:

  1. Archaeological monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended)
  2. Archaeological monuments that are identified in the Sites and Monuments Record compiled by the National Monuments Service

Eligible projects will be drawn from the following categories:

  1. Projects proposed by a local authority relating to archaeological monuments in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated
  2. Projects proposed by a local authority on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of relevant archaeological monuments where there is a tangible public benefit
  3. Projects with a clearly defined heritage focus and community or public benefit proposed directly to the Department by a state-funded organisation working in the heritage area

Please visit the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage's Historic Environment Viewer to see if your monument is included within the Record of Monuments and Places. The monuments are denoted by a red dot; click on the red dot to reveal the 13 digit monument number (LF0**-****---), the monument class (type) and a description. Please include the full monument number, including ALL hyphens in your application. 

How to apply

Complete the Community Monuments Fund 2024 application form. The application form is also available as Gaeilge. 

Before completing your application, you must read the Community Monuments Fund Handbook. The Community Monuments Fund Handbook 2024 is also available as Gaeilge.

Email your completed application form, along with method statements, mapping, images and costings to heritage@longfordcoco.ie, with the subject line: CMF24_[Name of your Project/Monument]_Longford County Council

Closes for applications on Thursday, 1 February 2024.