Two of Galway city’s most celebrated heritage buildings - St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and Menlo Castle - are to benefit from significant funding announced under the Community Monuments Fund this week.
Funding totalling €260,000 was announced yesterday (Wednesday ) as part of grant allocations from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The funding will be split evenly between the two buildings, regarded as among the city’s most significant heritage sites, with €130,000 dedicated to Menlo Castle and €130,000 allocated to St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
Galway City Council has officially welcomed the funding, along with a second grant of €25,000 from the Heritage Council, under the 2026 Community Heritage Grants. The city council’s Heritage Section supported the preparation of the application for this funding.
These financial injections will fund essential repairs, structural conservation, and capital works designed to protect, conserve, and improve the presentation of both structures.
Cllr John McDonagh, deputising for the Mayor of the City of Galway at this week’s announcement, enthusiastically welcomed the investment in the city’s heritage sites.
“Galway City Council’s heritage sector has secured a significant boost with a €260k allocation from the Community Monuments Fund to protect Menlo Castle and St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church,” Cllr McDonagh said. “This critical funding guarantees the structural repair, long-term conservation, and enhanced presentation of these two iconic landmarks, safeguarding local history for the community’s future enjoyment.”
Restoration and conservation
The €130,000 allocation for St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church builds on a successful three-year restoration period that has already transformed the building’s south transept. The new funding will target urgent structural repairs to ensure the historic space remains safe for the public.
The Very Rev Lynda Peilow, Rector of St Nicholas’, emphasised the dual role of the landmark as both an active parish and a critical piece of regional history.
“This funding is vital for safeguarding the building’s rich heritage, allowing for ongoing restoration efforts that reveal previously unknown aspects of its history,” Rev Peilow said. “While St Nicholas functions as a living church, it also serves as a heritage site of immense historical importance to Galway.”
Menlo Castle, an iconic 19th-century riverfront ruin along the River Corrib, will use its €130,000 share to advance critical conservation work. The site has been undergoing continuous stabilisation and maintenance in recent years.
Jim Higgins, heritage officer for Galway City Council, noted the importance of the castle’s ongoing management. “Menlo Castle is an iconic landmark on the River Corrib, once home to the Blake family until it was destroyed by fire in the early 20th century,” Mr Higgins said. “Significant works were undertaken to conserve the castle in recent years, with the allocated funding allowing us to continue these critical interventions.”
Brendan Dunne, senior executive planner for architecture and conservation in Galway City Council, noted that St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is a building with significant rich heritage. a church in the heart of the city, with the city at its heart for the past seven centuries.
