The Community Monuments Fund was first established in 2020 to provide investment in Ireland’s archaeological heritage.
Funding is prioritised for local authorities, private owners and custodians and community groups for the care, conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments.
Total funding available nationally for projects under Community Monuments Fund 2025 will be €7,400,000 .
The Community Monuments Fund invests in archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.
The impacts of climate change on our monuments is increasingly evident. With increased weathering and severe climate events, the repair cycle on built heritage is likely to become shorter. Increased maintenance and repair will be key to building resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment.
Core Aims of the Fund
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 Department encourages project promoters to incorporate a traditional skills training element in projects.
Streams 1-3
The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams:
- Stream 1 will offer grants up to €100,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments
- Stream 2 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are 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.
Community Monuments Fund Eligible Projects
The Community Monuments Fund provides funding for projects in relation to:
- Archaeological Monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended)
- 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:
- projects proposed by a Local Authority in relation to archaeological monuments in public ownership , where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated
- 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
- 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.
Applications for community groups etc. must be made through the relevant Local Authority (LA). See below for deadline dates and links to relevant LA info. pages. We will update this as we find new listings, but do contact your own LA if not listed below. Most deadlines are the 31st January 2025, but some LAs may have an earlier date.
Clare – 31st January 2024 – https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/planning/news/community-monuments-fund-2025-handbook-56493.pdf
Cork – 31st January 2025 – https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/news-room/latest-news/community-monuments-fund-2025-announced/
Donegal – 31st January 2025 – https://www.donegalculture.ie/en/services/heritage/heritage-funding/community-monuments-fund
Dublin – Dublin City – 31st January 2025 – https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/planning/archaeology-conservation-heritage/archaeology/community-monuments-fund-2025
Dublin – Fingal – 31st January 2025 – https://www.fingal.ie/news/community-monuments-fund-2025-launched
Dublin – South Dublin – 3rd February 2025 – https://sdcc.ie/en/services/planning/heritage-and-conservation/financial-support/
Galway – 27th January 2025 – https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2024/community-monuments-fund-2025
Kerry – 31st January 2024 – https://www.kerrycoco.ie/community-monuments-fund-2025/
Kildare – 30th January 2025 – https://kildarecoco.ie/News/ApplicationsarenowopenfortheCommunityMonumentsFund2025.html
Kilkenny – 31st January 2025 – https://kilkennyheritage.ie/2024/11/applications-open-for-community-monuments-fund-2025/
Limerick – 31st January 2025 – https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/planning-and-placemaking/heritage-conservation-and-biodiversity/community
Longford – 31st January 2025 – https://www.longfordlibrary.ie/heritage/heritage-funding/community-monuments-fund/
Mayo – 31st January 2025 – https://www.mayo.ie/heritage/cmf2025
Roscommon – 5pm Friday 31st January 2025 – https://www.roscommoncoco.ie/coco/en/services/community/heritage/archaeology/community-monuments-fund-2025/
Tipperary – 31st January 2025 – https://www.tipperarycoco.ie/heritage-and-conservation/monuments-maintenance/community-monuments-fund-2025
Waterford – 31st January 2025 – https://waterfordcouncil.ie/documents/grants/
Wicklow – 31st January 2025 – https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/News-Events/community-monuments-fund-cmf-2025-now-open-for-applications
