Louth County Council has been allocated funding of almost €330,000 in grants to help protect several archaeological monuments around the county.

The Community Monuments funding was announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD ahead of World Heritage Day on Friday, 18th April.

A total of €7.5 million has been awarded nationally to 122 projects under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund (CMF), which supports initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect, and promote local monuments and historic sites.

The funding helps preserve monuments for the benefit of communities and the public by enabling conservation works and repairs, building resilience against extreme weather and climate change, and encouraging public access and improvements to the presentation of local monuments.

In Louth, the funding includes three Stream 1 grants of €100,000 each, which will support continued conservation works at the following historic tower house castles:

• Bellew’s Castle, Castletown, Dundalk (part of Saint Louis Convent School)
• Glaspistol Tower House, Clogherhead
• Taaffe’s Castle, Carlingford

An additional €30,000 in Stream 2 funding has been awarded to carry out a research study on Hatch’s Castle, Ardee, with a focus on ensuring its future conservation aligns with international best practice.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, said: “I am delighted to announce these awards under the 2025 Community Monuments Fund. The importance of our archaeological heritage cannot be overstated, and this fund has a very real and profound impact on the custodians and communities in our cities, villages, towns and countryside. I sincerely thank the owners of archaeological monuments for their dedication to the preservation of our wonderful heritage. This investment will ensure that our built heritage can continue to be enjoyed by local and visiting communities, as well as acting to create work and preserve important traditional skills in towns and villages right across Ireland.”

Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway, also welcomed the news: “Louth is a county rich in natural and cultural heritage. As part of our plans for sustainable development, Louth County Council is committed to protecting, preserving, and promoting this heritage. I would like to thank our Heritage Officer, Brendan McSherry, who led the preparation of these successful CMF applications. We look forward to working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the respective monument owners to ensure a sustainable future for these important sites.”