Funding available for heritage projects in Kilkenny

Applications from community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Kilkenny are now being accepted for the Community Heritage Grant Scheme.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:
- Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;

- Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.

- Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation

- Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites

- Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment and specialised software

- Projects that address the heritage of minority groups for example,  an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage

- Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.

- Citizen science projects on environmental conservation

Last year, two Kilkenny-based projects were funded through the scheme – the Acorn Project in Kilkenny which received funding to train local communities to become guardians of nature and heritage through workshops teaching traditional land management skills and how to map and record the biodiversity of raths, and St Canice’s Cathedral who used the funding to
improve the interpretation plan for the Cathedral with the addition of audio guides. 

The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.

The closing date for applications is March 25 at 5pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by November 15, 2024.

Full details are available here

The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on March 3 with general application advice followed by a question and answers session.

The event will be recorded and available on our website for viewing afterwards.