Close to €300,000 invested in protecting heritage buildings in Fingal area
Close to €300,000 has been spent on preserving heritage buildings by Fingal County Council and the Department of Housing.
The council has now invited applications from owners and custodians of historic buildings in the county who are looking to fund maintenance work for next year.
This includes the Stitch in Time grant fund – out of the council’s own budget – for minor repair, maintenance work or restoration of features to historic buildings.
Funding offered through this scheme can range from €100 to €2,500, depending on the individual project.
“To ensure the survival of these buildings, these places must be maintained in good repair,” said Helena Bergin, Senior Executive Architectural Conservation Officer for Fingal County Council.
“Across Fingal, there are older buildings and historic structures that give our towns, villages and countryside their unique character and are of real significance to the local community.
“This scheme is a fantastic opportunity for property owners to take practical steps in caring for our shared heritage.
“Every successful project not only preserves the story of the building itself, but also keeps traditional building skills alive in our communities.”
Other schemes that offer protection for heritage buildings include the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Historic Thatched Building scheme (HTB).
The latter is aimed at supporting small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic buildings and to financially support local tradespeople and conservation experts.
Both schemes are currently open for applications. Funding grants range from €2,500 up to €50,000, depending on the specific category that a restoration project falls under.
In 2024, a total of 47 projects were funded in the county through the BHIS, Stitch in Time grants, and the Historic Structures Fund.
“The grants play a vital role in enabling high-quality conservation works to be undertaken and ensuring Fingal’s architectural heritage is preserved,” a council spokesperson said.
“This has been instrumental in protecting Fingal’s rich architectural heritage, supporting essential repairs on historic buildings and sustaining the traditional skills of conservation craftspeople and trades.”
Projects eligible under the schemes include the repair and conservation of major protected structures, historic shopfronts and non-protected vernacular buildings (structures built using local materials and methods) and buildings in Architectural Conservation Areas – areas with a unique architectural style.