Four community initiatives have received approximately €23,000 in Heritage Council funding, it has been confirmed.
Athlone Castle, Athlone Town Walls, Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project and Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate are the recipients of the essential funding which will assist in the conservation and restoration of natural heritage at the four locations.
Work on these initiatives may commence immediately and will result in the conservation of Athlone’s medieval town defence walls, the digitisation of otherwise vulnerable materials and the supporting of endangered wildlife to thrive in their natural habitats. It is expected that all initiative works will be completed by the end of the year.
Following its call for applications, the Heritage Council received numerous proposals from those who care for local heritage, including individuals, heritage volunteers, community groups, organisations and local authorities.
The Midland Amenity Park, or Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Westmeath will use its €3,419 funding to develop and enhance the overall visitor experience of Dún na Sí Heritage Park and enable visitors to learn more about rural heritage in Ireland through the use of an interpretive visitor app.
Some €5,500 has been allocated to the Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project to provide best-practice community-led conservation actions, including awarenessraising, aimed at maintaining and increasing the red grouse and breeding curlew numbers on Ballydangan Bog,
Westmeath County Council will use its €5,903 funding to improve the Athlone Town Wall by undertaking localised vegetation clearance, condition survey and preparation of a report outlining the current condition of a stretch of Athlone Town Wall and conservation works specification for it, while €8,000 has been allocated for a History Alive programme of events at Athlone Castle during Heritage Week 2022.
