Adopt A Monument sites receive Heritage Council/ Creative Ireland funding of €80,000
In July 2019, the Heritage Council announced the Adopt a Monument / Creative Ireland funding grant scheme. The scheme was intended to enable Adopt a Monument programme participants to continue their work in conserving and protecting their adopted monuments or to start new initiatives to improve the condition, accessibility and interpretation of their chosen site. A total of €80,000 was allocated by the Heritage Council through the Creative Ireland Programme 2019.
15 Adopt a Monument groups submitted grant applications and Abarta Heritage was delighted that all 15 groups were awarded funding for a wide variety of projects which included conservation works, research and investigation, community engagement projects and interpretation materials. All projects were completed and reports submitted by mid-November 2019. The groups are now planning their next steps and planning projects for 2020.
Works Undertaken at Adopt a Monument Groups with support from the Heritage Council and Creative Ireland Funding:
Malin Well Old Church, Co. Donegal
Malin Well Old Church Conservation Group engaged experts to produce both a Conservation Plan for the repair and conservation of the early-Christian church which is in ruins, along with an Impact Assessment to assess the potential archaeological impact of the conservation works on the site. Duncan McLaren of Dedalus Architecture undertook the Conservation Plan and Richard Crumlish undertook the Impact Assessment.
Doon Fort, Co. Donegal
Donegal GAP Heritage & History Group engaged artist, Seán Ó Brógáin to work alongside local schools to create a public mural in Ardara village which reflects the history and heritage of Doon Fort.
Kilbarron Castle, Co. Donegal
Kilbarron Castle Conservation Group appointed Earthsound Geophysics to undertake a Geophysical Survey of Kilbarron Castle and its immediate environs with the aim of learning more about the site and to investigate if buildings once existed outside the castle ditch.
Rath Church, Co. Cavan
Killeshandra Tidy Towns engaged experts in historic brick to work with the community to increase their understanding of the historic bricks of Rath Church, Killeshandra. The engagement included research, demonstrations and workshops on brick-making. Barney Devine and Susan Roundtree were the experts who worked with the group.
Moygara Castle, Co. Sligo
Moygara Castle Research & Conservation Project appointed Duncan McLaren of Dedalus Architecture to consider previous conservation reports on Moygara Castle and to produce a detailed and structured Conservation Management Plan to form the basis for future conservation works and funding applications.
Mountbellew Walled Garden, Co. Galway
Mountbellew Heritage & Tourism Network appointed Digital Heritage Age to provide a Digital Heritage Metric Survey and Community Workshop which enabled local second level students and community volunteers to learn the skills needed to complete a photogrammetry project on Mountbellew Walled Garden.
St. Finian’s Church & Graveyard, Lucan, Co. Dublin
The Society for Old Lucan commissioned a Geophysical Survey, an Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment and Method Statement for the conservation and stabilisation of St. Finian’s Church & Graveyard, Lucan. J.M.Leigh carried out the Geophysical Survey and James Powell, Conservation Engineer, prepared the Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment and Method Statement.
St. Peter’s Church & Graveyard, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Portlaoise Tidy Towns undertook the conservation and reinstatement of historic ironwork around the Jacob’s Family grave plot in Old St Peter’s Graveyard, Portlaoise, as part of a wider graveyard conservation project.
Graves of the Leinstermen, Co. Tipperary
Arra Historical & Archaeological Society appointed Earthsound Geophysics to undertake a topographical survey and a photogrammetry survey of the site to increase community understanding of the monument.
Kilmurry Lime Kiln, Co. Clare
Kilmurry Tidy Towns undertook an Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment along with emergency conservation works to the 19th century Kilmurry Lime Kiln, Co. Clare in order to make it an accessible heritage destination for the local community. James Powell, conservation engineer carried out the Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment and Eoin Madigan, conservation mason undertook the conservation works.
Kilkerrin Battery Fort, Labasheeda, Co. Clare
Labasheeda Projects Group/ St Kieran’s Community Group commissioned an Ecological Survey of Kilkerrin Battery Fort and immediate environs with community involvement to increase understanding of the fort’s ecological significance. Ecologist, Tony Nagle worked with the group.
Ballyogan / Brandon Hill Moated Site
Tyndall Mountain Club commissioned Geoaerospace to undertake a LiDAR survey of Brandon Hill moated site in Co. Kilkenny as a first step to discovering more about the site which is situated in a forest plantation.
Knockboy Church, Co. Waterford
Knockboy Church Conservation Group commissioned stonemason, Tom Pollard to continue conservation and stabilisation of the church ruin and ogham stones at Knockboy Church, particularly an ogham stone situated in the north window.
Roundhill Motte & Bailey, Lismore, Co. Waterford
Lismore Heritage Company commissioned Dave Pollock to produce an interpretive panel on the Roundhill Motte & Bailey site which includes a conjectural sketch and information on the site gleaned from various reports.
Gallowshill Motte, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Gallows Hill Community Archaeology engaged local children through a community archaeology project entitled ‘the Big Dig’ so that the children could engage in the history of Gallows Hill and Dungarvan.
