Heritage grants of €58,000, which will be allocated to heritage projects in County Westmeath have been approves by the Heritage Council. The grants will provide funding to heritage projects in the county that support entrepreneurship, conservation, and knowledge building in the community.
Over 540 heritage projects nationwide will receive funding under the Heritage Council’s 2009 grants programme, to assist in the management, development, and conservation of different aspects of our national heritage.
Examples of projects that will receive funding in Westmeath include: a geophysical survey at Uisneach; an assessment of the application of an underwater remote sensing device at Lough Ennell, Mullingar; and roof repairs to St Etchen’s Church, Killucan and Turbotstown House, Coole under the Heritage Council’s Buildings at Risk Programme.
Speaking at the announcement of the grant allocations, the Heritage Council chief executive, Michael Starrett, commented, “Heritage in Ireland is not a luxury but essential to our quality of life and sustainable economy. There is often a real disconnect between economic development policies and sustainable management of our vital resources. At a time of global economic crisis, it is timely to remember how cost effective and strategic a small spend on our heritage can be. The Heritage Council’s grants programme, which provides grants for projects of all sizes nationwide, aims to encourage and enable people to enjoy, record, conserve, and restore the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, community, and environment.
“While recognising that this is a time of scarce resources, it is crucial that we do not allow the disconnect that exists between our ongoing economic development policies and the sustainable management of our vital resources, to widen. The danger if this disconnect is ignored, is that we will be losing a vital opportunity now and leaving behind a bigger bill for future generations to pay,” added Starrett.
For further information log onto www.heritagecouncil.ie
