Archive News

Fund for 2011 for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage Projects

A new fund which has just been announced by Dept of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Bodies such as charities, academic institutions. local authorities and professional organisations can apply  for funding in 2011 for Architectural and Archaeological Heritage Projects from the Environment Fund (copy of guidelines for applications attached).

The deadline for receipt of applications by the Department of Arts. Heritage and the Gaeltacht is 3.00 pm on Wed 22nd June 2011.

 Any queries may be directed either to Muiris Ó Conchúir or to Marian Doyle, Built Heritage and Architectural Policy Section, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (contact details are included in the attached guidelines).

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day, which falls on 2^nd February each year,  celebrates the value of wetlands and promotes the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystems.  This date marks the signing of the International Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar and Ireland is a signatory to this Convention also known as the ‘Ramsar Convention’.

Waterford county has a great diversity of wetlands; coastal wetlands, such as at Dungarvan and Tramore, river-side wetlands such as along the Suir and Blackwater, upland bogs as found in the Commeragh mountains, low-lying marshes such as the nature reserve at Fenor village. Importantly, the Ramsar Convention is relevant to all kinds of wetlands, not just those designated for special protection as Ramsar sites. This relevance includes the various innovative ‘Integrated Constructed Wetlands’ (ICW) built to clean sewage and soiled water from domestic dwellings, villages, farmyards and agricultural lands in County Waterford. The integrated nature of these wetlands demonstrates the range of benefits wetlands can provide from improving water quality, enhancing wildlife and delivering recreational and tourism opportunities.  

The theme of this year’s World Wetland Day is ‘Tourism’. Wetland tourism has known benefits both locally and nationally as places for people to visit, thus helping; our local and national economies, our wildlife and biodiversity, and providing essential habitat support for the wider environment through regulating water flow and quality, and other ecosystem services such as carbon capture. 

To celebrate Waterford’s wetlands  and raise awareness of the work being done in the county  on constructed wetlands and their value,  a guided walk will take place along the mid section of the Anne Valley at 2.00 pm on Sunday February 26^th  meeting at the bridge in Dunhill Village.  The walk is  supported by Waterford County Council, Hercules Project  (Interreg IVA), Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd and the local community . Come along and find out more about  wetlands and their importance for biodiversity, climate change  and tourism.

Faite Ireland Historic Properties and Gardens Heritage Fund 2011

Failte Ireland has  launched an Investment Fund for Historic Properties and Gardens, which will be a sub-programme of the current Tourism Capital Investment Programme.  This new Heritage sub-programme has been specifically designed to provide funding for small scale investments into Historic properties and Gardens, in the areas of Restoration / Preservation and some Capital works relating to enhancing the visitor experience at the site.  Works of less than €200,000 would qualify for this programme and De Minimis rules would apply.  Full details on the scheme, including qualifying criteria and the application form is due to be uploaded onto the Failte Ireland website by close of business today, April 27^th, at the following link, with June 30^th 2011 being the closing date for submission of applications: www.failteireland.ie/grantsandfunding.