That is according to Killaloe Municipal District county councillor Conor Ryan (FG) who has said that Clare is lagging behind in obtaining appropriate funding, which is urgently needed to preserve the historic vernacular architecture and heritage of some of the county’s historic structures and monuments.
A motion was tabled by four county councillors – Conor Ryan, Joe Garrihy, Mary Howard, and Paul Murphy (all FG) at the recent meeting of the local authority, calling on Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne to ensure that Clare receives appropriate funding from the Community Monuments Fund – Stream 1.
The Fine Gael councillors have said that this funding is required so that essential and urgent repair and capital works can be carried out to preserve the historic vernacular architecture and heritage of the county’s historic structures and monuments.
The O’Callaghan’s Mills county councillor told the meeting that it is a very important issue, explaining that funding from the Community Monuments Fund is required in this instance to restore and repair various structures and sites throughout the county.
“Unfortunately, County Clare is lagging behind in terms of gaining stream one funding ground works and actually punting shovel in the ground and restoring these structures,” he said.
“There have been no issues in the past as regards getting the paperwork and the plans in place, but in terms of delivering the actual ground work to keep our heritage with us, we’ve been lagging behind.
“For example, looking at new figures in 2024 and 2025, Galway our neighbour got €300,000 and €550,000 for maintenance works, while we only got €100,000 each year. And for counties of similar size, Westmeath got €250,000 and €200,000 across those two years and county Laois got €250,000 and €200,000 again.
“We are clearly lagging behind, and we have a duty of care in terms of preserving our native and vernacular heritage. In many cases, these are pre-Norman structures. They go back to the time of Brian Boru, and they are our own native architecture. This was before the English came; this isn’t our Edwardian or Georgian facades or streetscapes. It speaks of our own native Irish heritage.
“I want to highlight two key structures, which I am told their survival cannot be measured in a number of months, rather than years. Kilchreest in Ballynacally and Killofin in Labasheeda – two historic structures, which are featured in the Annals of the Four Masters.”
The ruins of Kilchreest Church date from the fifteenth century, and the late medieval building is currently is in a roofless state.
Meanwhile, the Augustinian church in Killofin has ruins which dates back to the fifteenth century although it is believed a church was at the site since the early 14th century.
Both churches have adjacent graveyards and are situated in the barony of Clonderalaw.
He added that it is imperative funding is secured from national government for these baronial churches, saying that the boundaries and parishes we have today are from these original churches.
“We also have Moynoe church and graveyard in Scariff. Funding had been got to develop a plan and a plan was in place however, no Stream 1 funding could be sourced in order to actually do the works. Clare County Council funded this project themselves, but unfortunately the restoration works were diluted from the original plan,” he said.
“This is something very important because when these structures are gone, they are gone, and we are losing a very important part of our heritage,” he added.
North Clare county councillor Joe Garrihy (FG) said it is critical they obtain more funding.
Councillor James Ryan (SF) supporting the motion said it is important as Clare has massive heritage going right back to the time of the O’Brien dynasty.