Cork benefits from heritage scheme
A scheme supporting property owners to conserve and enhance historic buildings and streetscapes is to help more than 30 projects in Cork, it was recently announced.
More than €220,000 has been awarded to 14 projects in Cork city and more than €440,000 has been awarded to 18 projects in Cork county under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2025.
It’s hoped the scheme will also help to preserve and develop traditional building skills. This year’s grants will be used to repair, restore, and protect historic structures from modest traditional homes to landmark public buildings.
Examples of projects being funded are:
€24,000 for Kinsale Yacht Club
€36,000 for St Patrick’s Cathedral, Skibbereen
€31,000 for Patsy's Corner, Market Square, Kinsale
€44,000 for Ma Murphy’s Bar
€43,000 for Macroom Castle Gate Lodge
€41,000 for the Sirius Arts Centre
€30,000 for St Laurence's Cheshire Home, Lower Glanmire Road
€30,000 for the YMCA Building, 11-12 Marlborough Street
In addition to the funding provided, owners and custodians across the country will themselves commit an estimated €29.5m to these projects from private sources, marking this as a very significant investment in our built heritage and the traditional building skills which support it.
€1.25m of the €8.1m in total funding will be allocated to thatched buildings. This consists of €600,000 from the dedicated Historic Thatched Buildings stream, and an additional €650,000 awarded from the main stream of the BHIS. A total of €42,753 in thatch funding will be awarded to four projects in Cork.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage, and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, announced details of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2025. “In keeping with the commitment outlined in our newly ratified Programme for Government to cherish and protect our heritage as a vital national asset, I am pleased to announce today the projects which will receive funding under this year’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme.
“Ireland’s built heritage is a national asset which enriches our countryside, villages, towns, and cities. In maintaining and caring for our historic buildings, owners and custodians perform a valuable public service, and I am delighted to be able to support their efforts.”