Almost €200,000 has been allocated to conservation works at five historic sites in Donegal.
The Community Monuments Fund will support works at St.Catherine’s Church and Graveyard Killybegs, Kilmacrennan Church and Graveyard, Malin Well Church, Doon Fort and O’Doherty’s Keep Tower House, Buncrana.
The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites.
A total of €188,688 in funding will be administered in Donegal. The largest allocation of €76,539.00 will go to Kilmacrennan Church and Graveyard.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal T.D., Charlie McConalogue, today welcomed the announcement of the fund by his colleague Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD.
Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted that community monuments right across our county have been selected for funding. All five of these projects, including almost €80,000 in funding for the Kilmacrennan Church and Graveyard, are a testament to the local people who care passionately for these heritage sites. Their preservation is crucial to maintaining the history and culture of these sites for years to come.
“The Kilmacrennan project in particular is historically important, located in the cemetery adjacent to the 16th century Franciscan church wall, the Kilmacrennan Old Church, built post 1622 was in use and repaired during the 18th century, and the surviving tower is probably an addition of that date. The tower is in a state of disrepair with potential collapse of elements in the future. A small vaulted masonry structure adjoining the external NE angle of the ruined church is also in a state of potential collapse.
“This funding will enable removal of ivy and structural conservation of tower and small vaulted masonry structure, repointing and repining stonework, with lime mortar matching existing walls.”