Community Heritage Grant Scheme

This scheme will open in spring 2026

This scheme is intended to enable communities and heritage non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to continue their work on existing projects or to start new initiatives.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

• Workshops and training events that promote good heritage practice, in particular, we are interested in traditional building skills, craft skills, graveyard recording and biodiversity training.
• Development of Digital Heritage Resources including digitisation, online exhibitions, oral history recordings, podcasts, and films. You need to make sure that the digital outputs you create with grant funding are available, open, and accessible.
• Conservation surveys, reports, plans, and audits that will inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.
• Conservation works to buildings, monuments, habitats, collections, or objects. Conservation works must include an assessment of potential impacts on biodiversity and climate and outline measures to ensure positive outcomes. For example, habitat restoration, sustainable management of invasive species, or improving energy efficiency in heritage buildings.
• Purchase of specialised equipment or items that support conservation or improve access to heritage.

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to:

• Voluntary and community groups for example parish councils, tidy Towns groups, local action groups etc
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including not for profit trusts
• Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI) participants (non governmental organisations only)
• Adopt a Monument Programme participants

The applicant group must have a current bank/credit union account in their name. 

The Scheme is not open to

• Private companies
• Individuals
• Public bodies or organisations controlled either directly or indirectly by any state or other body.

Application Pack

Digitisation Grant Application Guidelines

Please note that digitisation projects will only be considered with evidence that the collection has been catalogued already or will be catalogued as part of your proposal.

Zoom Information Webinar

A zoom information webinar about the scheme was held on Friday 7th February 2025 at 12 noon. View the slides below.

How and when to apply

You must apply through The Heritage Council’s online grants system. We only accept forms submitted online. We do not provide or accept paper forms.

Please note that a new Online Grants System was introduced in 2024. If you did not register on the system in 2024 you will have to register first before you can start your application. Online Grants System Instructions

To consider your application, we must receive your online application along with supporting documents by 14 March 2025 at 11.30pm.

Applications, or additional information will not be accepted after this time. We will let you know, in writing, whether your application is successful or not in early May 2025.

Useful resources for heritage projects

We have put together a list of resources here, which we hope you find helpful when planning and developing your heritage. project. These include ideas for project promotion, access and inclusion, good heritage advice guidance etc

Queries about the application pack

We request that, where possible, all communications are sent to us electronically so that we will be in a position to receive and respond more promptly grants@heritagecouncil.ie

See how the scheme has benefited the Ellen Hutchins Festival in Cork in the video below.