€7.5 Million Fund Opens for Cork's Archaeological Heritage Conservation
€7.5m fund now open for Cork archaeological monument conservation. Private owners and groups can apply for up to 100% funding.
Cork County Council has announced applications are now open for the 2026 Community Monuments Fund, offering up to 100% funding for conservation works on archaeological monuments across the county.
The scheme, backed by €7.5 million nationally from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, supports private owners, custodians, and community groups in caring for Cork's archaeological legacy.
With almost 20,000 recorded monuments across County Cork, the fund aims to build resilience against climate change effects whilst improving public access and interpretation of heritage sites.
Three funding streams are available: conservation works, conservation management plans, and enhanced access and interpretation, including emergency works. All streams cover up to 100% of eligible costs.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said:
"County Cork has a rich archaeological legacy, with almost 20,000 recorded monuments across the County. Through the Community Monuments Fund, vital support has been provided in recent years for a diverse range of important archaeological projects. I strongly encourage owners and groups to apply under the 2026 programme."
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell said:
"The Community Monuments Fund is an initiative of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and has become an important avenue for supporting and promoting archaeological heritage across County Cork. The Scheme is administered at the local level by Cork County Council's Heritage Unit and continues to attract strong interest each year, reflecting the high level of engagement and commitment to heritage protection throughout the County."
The deadline for completed applications is 16:00 on Friday, 30th January 2026.
Applications can be submitted electronically to corkheritage@corkcoco.ie or by hard copy to: Community Monuments Fund, Cork County Council, Heritage and Conservation Office, Floor 3, Planning Department, County Hall, Cork.
Further information and application forms are available at corkcoco.ie.
