Archaeology & Built Heritage

• Other relevant links
• About Us & What is Heritage?
• Heritage Online
• News & Events
• Archaeology & Built Heritage
• Cultural Heritage
• Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
• Heritage Plan & Heritage Forum
• Heritage & Communities

This section includes monuments, archaeological objects, wrecks, architectural heritage, heritage gardens and parks, heritage objects and inland waterways.

Archaeology: A definition

Archaeology is the study of past societies and cultures through an assessment of the material remains left by them and the evidence of their environment. It investigates their houses, settlements and tombs and everyday implements. It seeks to understand the landscape, vegetation and climate of previous times as they affected, and were affected by, past peoples.

Monument
Includes the following, whether above or below the surface of the ground or the water and whether affixed or not affixed to the ground:
(a) any artificial or partly artificial building, structure or erection or group of such buildings, structures or erections,
(b) any cave, stone or other natural product, whether or not forming part of the ground, that has been artificially carved, sculptured or worked upon or which (where it does not form part of the place where it is) appears to have been purposely put or arranged in position,
(c) any, or any part of any, prehistoric or ancient tomb, grave or burial deposit, or
ritual, industrial or habitation site, and
(d) any place comprising the remains or traces of any such building, structure or erection, any such cave, stone or natural product or any such tomb, grave, burial deposit or ritual, industrial or habitation site, situated on land or in the territorial waters of the State, but does not include any building, or part of any building, that is habitually used for ecclesiastical purposes.

Wreck
A vessel, or part of a vessel, lying wrecked on, in or under the sea bed or, on or in land covered by water, and any objects contained in or on the vessel, and any objects that were formerly contained in or on a vessel and are lying on, in or under the sea bed or on or in land covered by water.

Architectural Heritage

All structures, building, tranditional and designed, and groups of buildings including streetscapes and urban vistas, which are of historical, archaeological, artistic, engineering, scientific, social or technical interest, together with their settings, attendant grounds, fixtures, fittings and contents, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, including railways and related buildings and structures and any place comprising the remains or traces of any such railway, building or structure.

Heritage Gardens & Parks
Areas of natural heritage, and gardens and parks whose plant collections, design, design features, buildings, setting, style or association are of significant scientific, botanical, aesthetic or historical interest or which illustrate some aspect of the development of gardening or of gardens and parks.

Inland Waterways
Canals, canalised sections of rivers and lakes, navigation channels in rivers and lakes, and their associated navigational features.

Community Monuments Fund 2021

Applications due 12th April 2021

Galway County Council in conjunction with the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are inviting applications for the Community Monuments Fund 2021. The grant scheme offers funding for the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments.

The Community Monuments Fund will invest essential capital to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. Proposed projects shall

• enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;
• encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation;
• build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

The Department encourages project promoters to incorporate a traditional skills training element.

Who Can Apply?

Private applicants or community groups who are the owners or custodians of monuments may apply.

(State-funded organisations working in the heritage area may apply directly to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for projects with a clearly defined heritage focus and community or public benefit.)

Up to 100% of project costs may be funded.

How to Apply?

Applications from landowners, custodians and community groups within the County of Galway must be completed and forwarded in Word Format to mmannion@galwaycoco.ie, Subject Line CMF2021(+Project Name) by Friday 12th April 2021.

Further information and CMF-A application form for individuals and community groups may be downloaded below.

A link to a recorded information evening on funding for community groups is available HERE. 

A link to information on how to identify Recorded Monuments in your area is available HERE

For further information or queries regarding applications contact

Marie Mannion, The Heritage Officer, Galway County Council   mmannion@galwaycoco.ie 087 908 8387

Bernie Doherty, Galway County Community Archaeologist       g.c.archaeology@gmail.com 086 1003888.

CMF-A-Application Form

Explanatory Memorandum CMF2021