Meet the eight communities who have ‘Adopted’ their local monuments

Eight monuments across Ireland have been selected for inclusion in the Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Programme. This innovative programme offers communities direct access to expertise, mentoring and support to help them to protect, preserve, and promote their local heritage.

The sites included in this year’s scheme are a historic church and graveyard in Kilbride, Co. Leitrim, a ringfort beside Inch National School in Co. Clare, a church and graveyard located on the tip of the Maharees in Co. Kerry, Ballyboro Tower House in Castleboro Demesne, Co. Wexford, a ruined medieval church and graveyard on the site of St Lachtin’s early medieval monastery at Dououghmore in Co Cork, a sweat house located in the forest at Doonane, Co. Tipperary, a historic graveyard at Annagelliffe on the outskirts of Cavan town and Glenkeen church and graveyard in Co. Tipperary.

Working in partnership with communities and state bodies, the Adopt a Monument Programme helps to ensure the sustainable future of the adopted monuments. It also offers communities a way of promoting pride in place and pride in Ireland’s past, as well as opportunities to develop and understand the story of a locality, to work collaboratively, to get active, participate in community development and to boost tourism, business and employment opportunities.

Following a call for applications in March 2025, a large number of community groups applied to adopt a monument in their locality. The eight sites were chosen following a selection process that also involved the National Monuments Service, The Heritage Council, The Discovery Programme, a community archaeologist, and Abarta Heritage.

Speaking about the sites chosen, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said:

"As custodians of our nation's heritage, we recognise that this programme is not merely about safeguarding our historic monuments; it's about safeguarding our collective memory, our identity, and our stories, and the active involvement of local communities is paramount. We aim to empower these individuals, providing them with the resources and support they need to make a tangible difference. The impact of caring for our local monuments transcends mere restoration; it fosters a profound sense of pride within communities, transforming sometimes forgotten spaces into vibrant ones, and presents an opportunity to educate through community engagement.”

The Adopt a Monument Programme is an initiative of The Heritage Council and is managed by Abarta Heritage. Support in surveying and investigation work for several sites will be provided by the Discovery Programme, which is the State’s leading body for archaeological research.

Glenkeen Church and Graveyard, Co. Tipperary

A significant church site that has a connection to the 7th century saint Culán, whose holy bell was found in the hollow of a nearby tree, (this important reliquary is now on display in the British Museum).

The site features a medieval church in ruins surrounded by a historic graveyard. Glenkeen Heritage and Cultural Society is keen to ensure the long-term preservation of this site and promote it as a local attraction.

Inch Ringfort, Co. Clare

Located beside the National School in Inch, Co. Clare, this ringfort has enormous potential to engage school children with the past. Currently overgrown and inaccessible, Inch Tidy Village in partnership with Inch National School want to understand more about the history and ecology of the site, and to make it more accessible for the school children and wider community.

Donoughmore Church and Graveyard, Co. Cork

A medieval church and graveyard stand on this site today, but it was once an early medieval monastic site associated with St Lachtin. The 12th century shrine of St Lachtin’s Arm (now displayed in the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street) is believed to have come from here. Donoughmore Historical Society want to celebrate and conserve the site, to learn more about its story, and to continue to raise awareness about it locally.

Ballyboro Tower House, Castleboro Demesne, Co. Wexford

Known locally as Butler’s Castle, this large tower house, which later became a fortified house, is in need of conservation work to protect it for future generations. Courtnacuddy Development Group, working with the landowner, want to provide safe access for visitors to a nearby walking trail to view the monument, they also want to find out more about the site and secure funding to conserve the building to protect it for years to come.

Kilbride Church and Graveyard, Co. Leitrim

Located in the townland of Killadiskert, in rural Co. Leitrim, Kilbride church and graveyard dates back to the late 1600s or early 1700s. It is thought that the church may have been built on an earlier site as there is a holy well nearby dedicated to St Brigid. Kilbride Church and Graveyard Restoration are adopting this site to discover more about it, to protect and preserve the biodiversity of the site and the conserve the ruins for future generations.

Doonane Sweat House, Co. Tipperary

Hidden away in the side of a hill beside a stream in Doonane Forest, you can find one of the few remaining sweat houses in Co. Tipperary. Sweat houses were a type of traditional sauna, and many date to the 17th–19th century. The sweat house in Doonane is in a very vulnerable state after deteriorating rapidly over recent years. Killoscully Development Association want to work with Coillte (the landowners), to find out more about the site and conserve it so that it is safe for many years to come.

Annagelliffe Church and Graveyard, Co. Cavan

The square graveyard at Annagelliffe was a shared burial place on the outskirts of Cavan town with memorials dating back to the 1700s. The graveyard also contained a church, but little visible remains can be seen today. Cavan Tidy Towns want to conserve this historic site, protect the biodiversity and discover more about those resting here.

Kilshannig Church and Graveyard, Co. Kerry

The medieval church and graveyard at Kilshannig, located at the tip of the Maharees near Castlegregory, may be on an earlier site dedicated to St Senach. An early medieval cross slab decorated with a type of cross known as a Chi Rho can be found on site and a nearby boulder known as Cloch an Turais was a place of pilgrimage for generations. The Maharees Conservation Group want to conserve this site which faces significant challenges from coastal erosion and climate change.