Council Reports Significant Interest From Organisations In Funding For Heritage Projects

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 16, 2007 – Clare County Council has received a significant number of enquiries from groups and individuals interested in obtaining funding for various heritage projects in 2008.  

The Local Authority warned, however, that the application deadline of 2nd November was fast approaching and that the 2008 Heritage Grants Programme represented the best funding opportunity for anyone wishing to carry out projects that conserve or promote the County's heritage.  

More than EUR2.3m of National Lottery funding has been allocated to seven grant schemes for 2008, including Local Heritage, Publications, Buildings at Risk, Museums & Archives, Archaeology, Unpublished Excavations and Wildlife.

Ms. Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council explained, "The Clare Heritage Office regards the Community Grants Programme for 2008, which is administered by the National Heritage Council, as an important opportunity to develop the role of communities in the preservation and promotion of our heritage.  It is our intention that County Clare will again benefit considerably from the Programme."

The aim of the 2008 Heritage Grants Programme is to encourage and enable people throughout the county to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment.  

According to Ms. McGuire, "We hope to build on the wonderful range of projects that have been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout Clare over the past number of years."

"With just a short time remaining before the applications deadline I would like to reiterate that The Clare Heritage Office would be delighted to offer support and advice in order to assist community groups and individuals in their submission", she added.

Last year 13 voluntary/community groups and individuals received funding under the Community Grants Programme.  

They included Oidhreacht An Chláir for 'Killernan Graveyard inscriptions', the Shannon Wetlands Group for 'Restoration of a wetlands site in Shannon Town', The Old Irish Goat Society for the 'Burren Feral Goat Project', Doonbeg Community Development Ltd for Phase One of the 'Doonbeg Bay Wildlife Project', Leon Committee for the 'Leon Walking Trail Guide - Data Collection', CELT (Centre for Environmental Living & Training) for the 'CELT Ecology and Traditional Skills Training Programme 2007', East Clare Heritage for 'A History of the O'Gradys of Counties Clare and Limerick', the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for the 'Clare Whalelog 2007', the Tuamgraney Development Association for the 'Tuamgraney Community Woodland' project, and the Lough Derg Angling Association & Lough Derg Subaqua Club for the 'Irish Pollan habitat survey'.

Meanwhile, interested groups or individuals are advised to refer to the Heritage Council Plan 2007-11 and the County Clare Heritage Plan 2003–07 before submitting an application.  

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 2nd November 2007 at 5pm.  

For further information contact the Heritage Council: on 056-7770777 or www.heritagecouncil.ie. Alternatively contact The Clare Heritage Office at 065-6821616 or cmcguire@clarecoco.ie.  

Note to Editor:
-   To arrange an interview please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.

Clare County Council's Mission is to pursue excellence through service delivery and inclusive partnership to advance the social, cultural, economic and environmental development of County Clare

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
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