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Home > Your Council > Communications Office > Press Release from Jan 2021 > Funding for the conservation of five monuments

23/06/21 Funding announced for the conservation of five archaeological monuments

 

 

Funding announcement Malin Well

Under the Community Monuments Fund, the Malin Head Community Association has secured funding to undertake detailed engineering and conservation proposals to stabilise and conserve Malin Well Church, an archaeological monument in private ownership in Ballygorman townland, Inishowen.

Five archaeological monuments in County Donegal are set to benefit from over €188,000 in funding under the Community Monuments Fund announced by Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister for Heritage & Electoral Reform.  The Community Monuments Fund is an initiative by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage in partnership with local authorities.

 

“All of the archaeological monuments funded under this scheme are protected under the National Monuments Acts” explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “Most of the 3,400 known archaeological sites in County Donegal are in private ownership or guardianship so this scheme offers an ideal opportunity to landowners, community groups or local authorities to undertake conservation works to monuments, encourage greater access to them, improve their presentation or build resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.  There has been tremendous interest in the scheme from owners, guardians and local community groups which is a testament to the strength of the heritage sector in County Donegal and the importance of our archaeological heritage to society, tourism and local economies.  Eleven private and public applications were submitted to Donegal County Council for consideration under the Community Monuments Fund.  Under the assessment criteria, six projects were submitted by Donegal County Council to the National Monuments Service for consideration.  Five of the applications submitted by Donegal County Council to be assessed at a national level have been awarded 100% funding.”

This year, the Community Monuments Fund awarded €4.2 million to 139 projects across Ireland.  “The aims of the Community Monuments Fund are to facilitate the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments and historic sites by private owners, custodians, community groups or local authorities” said Collette Beattie, Conservation Officer.  “Funding has been allocated to Donegal County Council in partnership with Kilmacrennan Abbey Preservation Society (€76,539) for conservation works to Kilmacrennan Church and to Killybegs History & Heritage Committee (€50,000) for the conservation of St. Catherine’s Church, Killybegs.  Both of these sites are in the guardianship of Donegal County Council.  Funding was also awarded to Malin Head Community Association (€19,311) to undertake detailed engineering and conservation proposals to stabilise and conserve Malin Well Church and to Donegal GAP Heritage & History CLG (€22,235) for the preparation of a detailed method statement to inform conservation works to Doon Fort.  Both of these sites are participants in The Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Scheme.  Funding was also awarded to O’Doherty’s Keep Development Group (€20,602) for the appointment of an integrated professional team to facilitate public access to O’Doherty’s Keep in Buncrana.  It is one of 17 National Monuments in County Donegal and is in private ownership but in state guardianship.” 

Funding Doon Fort

Donegal GAP Heritage & History Group has secured funding under the Community Monuments Fund for the preparation of a detailed method statement to inform conservation works to Doon Fort near Portnoo, an archaeological monument protected under the National Monuments Acts. 

                                                                                               

                                                                                            

All the capital works and reports must be carried out by mid-October and Donegal County Council’s Heritage Office and Conservation Office will administer, advise and support applicants in the delivery of these projects over the coming months.  Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan T.D., said “There are communities in every county who care for and champion their local monuments, and I’m delighted that they will benefit from this scheme.  And it is a massive support to the heritage sector, providing job opportunities across these projects for archaeologists, conservation architects, stone masons, and other professional trades.  I want to thank the Local Authorities for their support of the Community Monuments Fund and for submitting such a wide range of wonderful heritage projects.  The quality of this year’s applications was particularly impressive and I am delighted that we are able to meet the ambition of local communities across the country in protecting and caring for their heritage.”

 

If you would like to find out what known archaeological monuments are in your area, you can consult the National Monuments Service website at www.archaeology.ie  Advance consent for any works to, or in the vicinity of, an archaeological monument must be obtained from the National Monuments Service.  If you are the owner or guardian of an archaeological monument or historic site or are involved with a community group that would like to conserve your local archaeological heritage, advice is available from the County Donegal Heritage Office by e-mail at [email protected] or on (074) 917 2576.

 

 

Maoiniú fógartha le cúig shéadchomhartha seandálaíochta a chaomhnú

 

Tá cúig shéadchomhartha seandálaíochta i nDún na nGall ar tí leas a bhaint as breis agus €188,000 de mhaoiniú faoi Chiste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail atá fógartha ag Malcolm Noonan T.D., An tAire Stáit Oidhreachta agus Athchóiriú Toghchán. Is tionscnamh de chuid Sheirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta sa Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta é Ciste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail, i gcomhpháirt leis na húdaráis áitiúla.

 

“Tá gach ceann de na séadchomharthaí a fhaigheann maoiniú faoin scéim seo faoi chosaint ag na hAchtanna Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta” a mhínigh Joseph Gallagher, an tOifigeach Oidhreachta le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. “Tá an chuid is mó den 3,400 suíomh seandálaíochta, a bhfuil eolas fúthu i gContae Dhún na nGall, faoi úinéireacht phríobháideach nó faoi chúram príobháideach, agus mar sin de, tugann an scéim seo deis iontach d’úinéirí talún, do choistí pobail nó d’údaráis áitiúla oibreacha caomhnaithe a dhéanamh ar shéadchomharthaí, rochtain níos fearr orthu a spreagadh, a gcuma agus a riocht a fheabhsú, nó seasmhacht na séadchomharthaí a neartú le go mbeidh siad in ann éifeachtaí ón athrú aeráide a sheasamh. Chuir úinéirí, caomhnóirí agus coistí pobail áitiúla suim mhór sa scéim, rud a léiríonn neart na hearnála oidhreachta i gContae Dhún na nGall agus tábhacht na hoidhreachta seandálaíochta don tsochaí, don turasóireacht agus do gheilleagair áitiúla. Cuireadh isteach aon cheann déag d’iarratais phríobháideacha agus phoiblí chuig Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall le go measfaí iad faoi Chiste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail. Faoi na critéir mheasúnaithe, chuir Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall sé cinn de thionscadail ar aghaidh chuig Seirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta lena gcur san áireamh. Tá maoiniú 100% bainte amach ag cúig cinn de na hiarratais a chuir Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall isteach lena meas.”

 

I mbliana, bhronn Ciste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail €4.2 milliún ar 139 tionscadal ar fud na hÉireann. “Is é is aidhm le Ciste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail ná cuidiú le húinéirí príobháideacha, caomhnóirí, coistí pobail, nó údaráis áitiúla séadchomharthaí seandálaíochta nó suíomhanna stairiúla a chaomhnú, a chothabháil, a chosaint agus a chur i láthair” a dúirt Collette Beattie, Oifigeach Caomhnaithe. “Tá maoiniú bronnta ar Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall i gcomhpháirt le Cumann Caomhnaithe Mhainistir Chill Mhic Réanáin (€76,539) le haghaidh oibreacha caomhnaithe ar Eaglais Chill Mhic Réanáin, agus ar Chumann Staire agus Oidhreachta na gCealla Beaga (€50,000) chun Eaglais Chaitríona sna Cealla Beaga a chaomhnú. Tá an dá shuíomh seo faoi chúram Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Tá maoiniú bronnta fosta ar Chumann Pobail Chionn Mhálanna (€19,311) chun mionphleananna innealtóireachta agus caomhnaithe a chur i gcrích le Seaneaglais Thobar Mhálanna a shlánú agus a chaomhnú, agus ar Ghrúpa OIdhreachta agus Staire GAP Dhún na nGall (€22,235) le ráiteas modheolaíochta mionsonraithe a ullmhú chun bonn eolais a chur faoi oibreacha caomhnaithe ar an Dún sa cheantar. Tá an dá shuíomh seo páirteach i Scéim Uchtaithe Séadchomharthaí na Comhairle Oidhreachta. Bronnadh maoiniú fosta ar Choiste Forbartha Dhaingean Uí Dhochartaigh (€20,602) chun foireann ghairmiúil chomhtháite a cheapadh le rochtain phoiblí a éascú go dtí Daingean Uí Dhochartaigh i mBun Cranncha. Is Séadchomhartha Náisiúnta é seo, i measc seacht gcinn déag acu i gContae Dhún na nGall, agus tá sé faoi úinéireacht phríobháideach ach faoi chúram an stáit.”

 

Is gá na hoibreacha caipitil ar fad, agus na tuairiscí, a bheith déanta faoi lár mhí Dheireadh Fómhair agus is iad Oifigí Oidhreachta agus Caomhnaithe Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall a dhéanfaidh an obair riaracháin, agus cuirfidh siad comhairle agus tacaíocht ar fáil maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na dtionscadal seo sna míonna amach romhainn. Dúirt Malcolm Noonan T.D., Aire Stáit Oidhreachta agus Athchóiriú Toghchán: “Tá pobail in achan chontae a thugann cúram agus cosaint dá séadchomharthaí áitiúla agus tá lúcháir ormsa go mbainfidh siad leas as an scéim seo. Agus is mór an tacaíocht é d’earnáil na hoidhreachta, ag cruthú deiseanna fostaíochta sna tionscadail seo le haghaidh seandálaithe, ailtirí caomhnaithe, saoir chloiche, agus ceirdeanna gairmiúla eile. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na hÚdaráis Áitiúla as a dtacaíocht do Chiste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail agus as réimse leathan de thionscadail oidhreachta den chéad scoth a chur isteach. Bhí caighdeán iontach sna hiarratais i mbliana ach go háirithe, agus tá lúcháir orm go bhfuil muid in ann mianta na bpobal ar fud na tíre a shásamh i dtaca le cúram agus cosaint a thabhairt dá n-oidhreacht.”                                          

 

Más mian leat eolas a fháil faoi na séadchomharthaí seandálaíochta a bhfuil eolas fúthu i do cheantar, thig leat féachaint ar shuíomh idirlín Sheirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta ar www.archaeology.ie.  Is gá cead a fháil roimh ré, ó Sheirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta, chun aon obair a dhéanamh ar shéadchomhartha náisiúnta nó in aice leis. Más tusa an t-úinéir nó an caomhnóir ar aon séadchomhartha seandálaíochta nó ar aon suíomh stairiúil, nó má tá tú páirteach le coiste pobail ar mhaith leo an oidhreacht seandálaíochta áitiúil a chaomhnú, tá comhairle ar fáil ó Oifig Oidhreachta Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall trí ríomhphost ar [email protected] nó ar (074) 917 2576.

 

 

 

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