Louth to receive €200,000 for heritage projects

TWO Dundalk churches, St Patricks Cathedral, and St Nicholas Church of Ireland, (The Green Church), are among 21 historic buildings in the county which stand to benefit from over €200,000 in funding.

‘Providing funding under these schemes is a commitment in Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Rural Development, ‘Realising Our Rural Potential’,’ said Deputy Fergus O’Dowd. ‘ This funding is part of €4.8 million for 569 heritage projects across the country.

‘ This funding will allow for the conservation and repair of protected structures across Louth,’ he continued. ‘ These buildings and structures are so important to our heritage and identity as a county, and maintaining and repairing them is a crucial part of the regeneration of our communities.’

The structures at risk funding scheme is allocating €30,000 for Whitemills, Ardee and €29,000 to Rathescar House, Dunleer. Under the Built Heritage Scheme Funding, €10,000 is being made available for roof and decorative ceiling repairs to St Nicholas Church of Ireland and €6,000 for repair and consolidation of standstone wall and wrought iron railings at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Daniel O’Connell & Son solicitors, 14 to 15 Francis St will receive €10,000 for chimney repairs and €6,600 for consol- idation and structural stability works to the medieval wall, Carlingford. A further €6,600 is being made available for the underpinning of a bay window at No 1 Castle Road with similar amounts allocated to No 2 Kelso Terrace, St Mary’s Road for repairs to chimneys and to Nos 1 & 2, The Square, Blackrock for roof, window and gutter repairs, while €1,123 has been allocated to 3 St Mary’s Road for refurbishment of original staircase. Grants have also been allocated for thatched properties at Drumgoolin, Louth Village, Mooremount Thatch, Dromin, Reaghstown, Whiterath, Dromiskin, Whitemills, Dromin, Reaghstown, and Old Coach Road, Dunleer.