Heritage Sector Support Fund
The Heritage Council have opened applications for the Heritage Sector Support Fund. This scheme aims to support not for profit, heritage-focused organisations to deliver programmes that contribute to heritage priorities at a national level. Closing date for receipt of online applications is 5pm 15th January 2021. For further details and application criteria go to https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/funding/heritage-sector-support-fund-2021
Decade of Centenaries 2021
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., has just announced funding of €1.75 million for local authorities in 2021 to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries Programme. €50,000 will be allocated to every Local Authority to support their plans for 2021. Further details, including how the public/groups can participate, will be publicised by Kilkenny County Council Heritage Office in early 2021. https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b77b2-minister-martin-announces-funding-of-50000-for-every-local-authority-in-2021-under-the-community-strand-of-the-decade-of-centenaries-programme/
Tidy Towns Christmas Newsletter
The Tidy Towns office have issued a bumper Christmas newsletter with articles that tell the story of how Tallow and Avoca Tidy Town groups helped in their communities during lockdown. Swords Tidy Towns were awarded a Community Green Flag for the Rock Garden, originally an old stone quarry, on the Rathbeale Road. Ennis Tidy Town issued their Factsheet No.7 on a Water Bottle Filling Station plus articles on staying healthy and shopping local this Christmas. To read the newsletter go to https://www.tidytowns.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Issue-9-of-2020.pdf
A wish for Irish Town Centres
The Heritage Council have released a special bonus Christmas Episode (as part of their podcast series) titled “Putting Town Centres First – One Wish for Christmas…”. To listen to this episode or any of the other podcasts released as part of this series go to https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/podcast-series-putting-town-centres-first
Waterways Ireland Virtual Open Day 2020
Waterways Ireland hosted their fifth annual Heritage Open Day yesterday 16th December. This was a virtual event where interested parties could discuss potential projects, ideas and supports they offer to stakeholders. The content will be available, online, into 2021. Further details at https://www.waterwaysireland.org/news-centre/news/339/virtual-heritage-open-day
Ireland’s Water Quality report
The Environmental Protection Agency have published the Water Quality Indicators Report 2019 which provides an update on the quality of water in Ireland’s rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters and groundwater using information collected in 2019. To read the report go to http://epa.ie/pubs/reports/water/waterqua/waterqualityin2019-anindicatorsreport.html
