Heritage sites get funding boost
Three Cavan heritage sites will receive a boost with news that funding has been assigned to enhance the visitor experience. Significant funding has been allocated to Cavan County Council under the National Community Monuments Fund for the three important sites in West Cavan.
Drumlane Abbey has been allocated €84,690.50 under Stream 1 to complete urgent conservation work in particular to the perimeter wall.
Welcoming the announcement Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) said: “In recent years community engagement at this site has greatly improved and working closely with Cavan County Council progress has been made on a number of small projects all of which will greatly enhance the visitor experience at Drumlane Abbey which is a Cuilcagh Lakeslands Geopark Site, protect the archaeology and also acknowledge that the site remains the burial ground for the local community.
“I met with members of Drumlane Heritage Group around this time last year and again earlier this year as well as many calls and e-mails to advance this project,” Cllr Feeley told.
Moneygashel Cashel, located near Cavan Burren Park is regarded as one of the best preserved ring forts in Ulster. Cavan County Council has, over recent years greatly improved access to the site but it still is well below the standard which we all would like for a site of this importance. The allocation of €15,473.40 will go some of the way to carrying out further improvements.
St Mogue’s Island, near Bawnboy is a very important site closely associated with the life of St Mogue and from which the famous ‘Mogue’s Clay’ is taken. The allocation of €14,491.86 will allow Cavan County Council prepare a detailed management plan to identify future measures to improve public access and conserve the archaeology of the site.
Cllr Feeley said a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to secure the funding for the heritage projects: “I want to acknowledge the work of Deputy Brendan Smith in engaging with the Department of Heritage over recent months to make the case for this funding based on the very comprehensive applications prepared by Anne-Marie Ward, Heritage officer of Cavan County Council and Gráinne O’Connor Geopark Manager both of whom have done a massive amount of work on these applications and will lead on the implementation of the works.”