Date: 21 April 2022
Deputy Matthews has welcomed the news that €287,027 has been allocated to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and archaeological heritage sites in Wicklow under the 2022 Community Monuments Fund. The following projects have been awarded funding:
· Mullinacuffe Church & Graveyard, Stranakelly, west of Tinahely - €14,954.00
· Arklow Castle - €44,621.00
· Castlekevin Castle, south-east of Annamoe - €18,682.00
· Abbey Lane, Abbeylands, Arklow - €7,072.50
· Castlekevin Podcast, south-east of Annamoe - €7,748.70
· West Wicklow Historic Graveyards: Ballymaghroe, Moyne; Mullinacuffe and Whitefield, near Tinahely - €30,000.00
· Baltinglass Hills - €29,362.00
Speaking following the announcement of the scheme, Deputy Matthews said:
“I am delighted that so many heritage sites in Wicklow will benefit from the grants announced under the Community Monuments Fund. The amount of funding awarded to projects in Wicklow under this funding scheme is the largest since the scheme opened in July 2020 and represents a four-fold increase on last year’s allocation for the county.
“This is a massive investment in the rich archaeological heritage of Wicklow. The projects awarded funding will enable urgent conservation works to be carried out, improve accessibility to heritage sites, enhance online information resources, and protect our local monuments from the impacts of extreme weather and climate change.
“My Green Party colleague and Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has worked hard to deliver this scheme which will create more job opportunities in the heritage sector and provide a much-needed boost for local development and tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Community Monuments Fund is essential to protecting our archaeological monuments for the benefit of local communities and future generations. I look forward to visiting some of the sites awarded funding in Wicklow and examining the progress of these projects, concluded Deputy Matthews.
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