Longford awarded over €130,000 to protect archaeological monuments

Four projects in Longford are set to receive €133,103 through the 2024 Community Monuments Fund (CMF) to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future.

The CMF supports essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments and also the development of Conservation Management Plans to identify measures that may be needed to conserve monuments. Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, announced that over €7.4 million will be awarded to 140 projects around the country and the four Longford projects awarded funding this year include:

Clondra - €51,000
Abbeyshrule Abbey - €29,213
Saints Island - €28,905
Abbeylara Cistercian Abbey - €23,985

Local election candidate Marett Smith welcomed the €24,000 in funding for the Abbeylara Cistercian project.

The first-time Fianna Fáil local election candidate has been engaging with and working with the local committee. She says the funding will help safeguard an important archaeological monument for the local community.

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She added: “The funding will assist conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and the local committee has been working tirelessly in this regard.”

Siobhan Quinn, committee member, commented, “Abbeylara Cistercian Abbey is a wonderful historic structure dating back to 1205, when it was founded by Richard de Tuite, a Norman knight who was part of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke’s retinue and who also established his impressive motte-and-bailey castle in Granard. deTuite is said to have been interred in the abbey grounds after his death in 1210/1211.

“Today, what remains above ground is the crossing tower, which is also noteworthy for its Sheela-na-gig. The abbey ruins are the most important monument in our village, give Abbeylara its name, are a central and defining feature of the village and one of the most important ecclesiastical sites in Longford County.

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“The Tidy Towns Committee and the local community had concerns regarding the deteriorating condition of the abbey ruins and grounds, which is a protected site that can only be worked on by suitable qualified professionals with experience in conservation of historic monuments.

“After investigation, the committee established that the best way forward was to seek funding to have the monastery ruins and site assessed and evaluated to establish what conservation works are required to stabilise and repair them and develop a conservation plan t accordingly. This plan will also include public accessibility, integration and management of the site in the longer term. This work is vital in order to preserve this wonderful historic structure for future generations and in the shorter term, to make people aware of this great local asset, its history and to promote access to it.

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“Abbeylara Tidy Towns Committee applied under Stream 2 of the Communities Monuments Fund 2024 and were delighted to hear this week that their application had been successful. We look forward to working with the team from 7L Architects who were the successful tenderers on this important long term project for our village.

“We would like to thank Longford County Council and in particular, Máiréad Ní Chonghaile, Heritage Officer for all their ongoing support and advice.”