Kildare projects receive over €25,000 under Heritage Council scheme

Two projects in Kildare have secured a total of €25,381 in funding under the Heritage Council’s 2025 Community Heritage Grant Scheme.

The Heritage Council is distributing more than €1.9 million through the Scheme this year to support 132 heritage initiatives across Ireland.

These grants will enable local communities to conserve and celebrate Ireland’s built, cultural, and natural heritage. The allocation follows a national call for applications in February, which attracted hundreds of proposals from heritage groups, volunteers, and community organisations across the country.

The funding recipients in Kildare are as follows Butterfly Conservation Ireland with €2,881 (across multiple counties) and €22,500 for Newbridge Tidy Towns Association.

The €22,500 in funding awarded to Newbridge Tidy Towns Assosciation will commission a Conservation Management Plan for the standing remains and graveyard (Religeen) of Great Connell Priory in Newbridge. Once among the wealthiest and largest monastic sites in Ireland, little of the priory now survives — just a few crumbling walls and an overgrown graveyard. Despite its historical importance, the site remains largely unmarked and overlooked. This project aims to assess the site’s condition and develop a clear strategy for its conservation, interpretation, and potential future access.

Several funded initiatives operate across Ireland including the second phase of the ‘Gardening for Bats’ project by Bat Conservation Ireland, which has been awarded €15,583, and a project on the oral histories of Irish show people by the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network, which has been awarded €22,525.

Projects such as these reflect the wide range of initiatives supported by the scheme — from safeguarding historic structures to researching local heritage, restoring habitats, and building biodiversity expertise within communities. A full list of funded projects is available from here.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “Community groups and heritage organisations do incredible work in preserving and our natural, cultural and built heritage for generations to come. From conserving historic buildings and graveyards, to digitising archives, restoring monuments, and promoting biodiversity, these initiatives ensure that Ireland’s unique stories, traditions, and places are protected for future generations. I am inspired by the creativity and commitment shown by groups across the country, and proud that this scheme continues to empower local communities to safeguard our heritage in all its forms." 

All funded projects can begin work immediately and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Previous recipients in Kildare have used this funding to restore architectural features, digitise local archives, and carry out conservation training — strengthening both the preservation of heritage and the local economy.

Dr. Martina Moloney, Chairperson of the Heritage Council added: “The Heritage Council is committed to empowering communities and ensuring that our shared heritage is preserved and celebrated by all. This scheme reflects that commitment, supporting a diverse range of projects—from conservation and skills training to research and interpretation—that might not otherwise receive funding. Initiatives like the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, Adopt a Monument, and Heritage in Schools show how local engagement and national support can combine to deliver real, lasting benefits. The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is a vital part of this approach, helping communities across Ireland protect the places, stories, and traditions that matter most to them.”

In 2024, the scheme funded the Irish Peatland Conservation Council to produce an educational raised bog flora identification swatch, which was given to peatland educators involved in the Heritage in Schools scheme and peatland communities nationwide to support them share the diversity of peatland plants with students and community members.

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, said: “Through the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, we are proud to support the work of local groups who care deeply about their heritage and who are taking meaningful action to protect and promote it. Whether it’s restoring a local landmark, recording oral histories, or creating habitats for biodiversity, these projects have a tangible and lasting impact. They strengthen local identity, drive tourism, and create opportunities for learning, connection, and employment. We see time and again how this scheme brings people together and builds pride of place across the country.”

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