Heritage grants of €154,000, which will be allocated to heritage projects in County Mayo, were announced this week by the Heritage Council Chief Executive Michael Starrett. The grants will provide funding to heritage projects in Mayo that support entrepreneurship, conservation and knowledge building in the community.
Examples of projects that will receive funding in Mayo include a project by Mayo County Council to prevent the spread and damage created by Gunnera Tinctoria to Clare Island and Achill Island; a project to increase biodiversity and enhance the conservation value of the woodlands of Partry House Estate; a celebration of the centenary of the multidisciplinary Clare Island Survey; a pocket guide to the old railway line walk in west County Mayo; a study of the lives and times of rural communities in County Mayo prior to rural electrification; a survey of Mayo wetlands; and a training programme on the ‘Care and Conservation of Local Heritage’ for community groups.
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.
This year has seen an increase in the range of applications for funding by 20 per cent, with many smaller and community led projects receiving funding. Behind many of the projects are teams of volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that our heritage can be enjoyed. The Heritage Council’s grants programme recognises the significant contribution volunteers make to the protection and enhancement of our national heritage.
