A grant scheme which will fund repairs of traditional farm buildings launched by the Heritage Council has now opened for applications.
The scheme has assisted many Donegal farmers since its establishment, with the picture above showing a barn before and after getting a new roof fitted with money allocated from the grant.
The 2017 GLAS Tradtional Farm Buildings Grant scheme is run in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and farmers approved in the GLAS scheme are eligible to apply.
The award will be capped at 75% of the cost of the works, and will include grant amounts varying from €4,000 to €25,000.
The purpose of the grant is to conserve traditional farm outbuildings and will include related structured such as historic yard surfaces, walls, gates, and gate pillars.
“Farmers have always played an important role as custodians of our rural landscape” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.
“Although the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme is highly competitive, several farm buildings in County Donegal have benefitted under the scheme in recent years. As well as achieving the aims of GLAS, the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme allows traditional farm buildings to retain their relevance to agricultural activities, helps to maintain aspects of our rural built heritage which are important to regional landscape character, and conveys rural ways-of-life and local history to visitors and locals alike.”
They expect to fund 50-70 projects during 2017.
“The emphasis is on essential repairs with restoration works having a low priority. Think of what’s necessary to do rather than what might be nice to do!”
Completed applications should be returned by post to Anna Meenan, Project Manager, Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, The Heritage Council, Á ras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny.
For more see www.heritagecouncil.ie