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Heritage Funding

The Heritage Council offer grants annually, usually in October each year. Applications are invited for funding under the following schemes:

• Heritage Research provides assistance for data collection and research relating to Ireland’s heritage

• Heritage Management supports projects that apply good heritage practice to the management of places, collections or objects (including buildings).

• Heritage Education, Community and Outreach supports initiatives linking heritage to communities, promoting active engagement with and raising public appreciation of our heritage.
Heritage Council

GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme

The Heritage Council, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has opened the annual grant scheme to GLAS (Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme) participants for the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings and other related structures. Only farmers approved in the GLAS Scheme are eligible to apply.

The grant is available for the conservation of traditional farm outbuildings, including roof, walls, structural repairs, windows and doors. The grant is also available for other related structures including historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates. For further information, application forms and terms and conditions

GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland offers tourism professionals and service providers a wide range of support services at local, regional and national levels across five regions.

They also lead an extensive domestic holiday campaign via Discover Ireland which features comprehensive information and listings for Irish accommodation, activities, events, tourist attractions and Irish holiday special offers.

For information on future Fáilte Ireland grants, see the Fáilte Ireland funding section

Clare Local Development Company (CLDC)

Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) was established in 2008. The company is responsible for the delivery of a range of rural and enterprise development projects, social inclusion, community development and environmental initiatives in Co. Clare. There are 24 directors on the board of CLDC from a broad range sectors; the current chair is Mr. Stephen Walsh, who represents the community and voluntary sector. Chief Executive is Ms. Doirin Graham.

CLDC administers a number of major programmes along with other smaller schemes and initiatives i.e. LEADER Rural Development Programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), Rural Social Scheme (RSS), Tus, Clare Warmer Homes, Rural Recreation and Walks Scheme, Clare Wood Energy Project and Community Employment Scheme.

CLDC administers the LEADER RDP Programme in County Clare and allocates funding to eligible projects. The role of the LEADER RDP is to stimulate new innovative ideas and offer practical support to businesses, farm families and community groups in getting their ideas off the ground. The current programme provides attractive incentives for new micro-enterprise projects. It provides support for farm-diversification projects into non-agricultural activities, business creation and development as well as opportunities in rural recreation and rural tourism, all of which are vital to the rural economy of County Clare.

For community and voluntary groups, there are opportunities to develop new and existing local facilities and services, as well as pursuing projects in village renewal and development. Environmental projects, including energy conservation and renewable energy, and for the conservation of the rural heritage. There are also opportunities to benefit from training projects in many areas of the county. Businesses, individuals, farm-families or community and voluntary groups who have a project idea should contact the CLDC LEADER Projects personnel as follows:

CLDC also delivers the Local Community Development Programme for the county on an annual basis. In addition to training and community supports for disadvantaged areas, it provides some small scale enterprise grants and from 2012 deals with ‘Back To Work Enterprise Allowance’ applications.

Communities can apply through the Greener Clare programme for funding under the Community Environment Action Fund previously known as the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund.

Eligible projects should support and complement national environmental policies however priority will be given to climate change and biodiversity projects this year. A wide variety of projects have been supported under the fund in previous years including community gardens, compost schemes, rainwater conservation schemes, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions. Lists of previously funded projects can be viewed on the Department of Enivoronment, Climate and Communications website.

Clare County Council welcomes small to medium size community project proposals from schools, tidy town groups, community development associations, youth groups or any group with an interest in completing an environment themed project or activity.

For further queries relating to this grant scheme please email us at greenerclare@clarecoco.ie