Castle Street Awarded €100,000 Under 2025 Historic Towns Initiative
14 historic towns will share €2m in funding under the 2025 Historic Towns Initiative (HTI).
The Heritage Council, along with Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan TD and Minister James Browne TD, today announced that 14 historic towns will share €2m in funding under the 2025 Historic Towns Initiative (HTI). The HTI is a joint initiative between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council. The €2m funding will promote heritage-led regeneration and support traditional building skills.
This year’s scheme follows on from highly successful programmes from 2018 to 2024. The HTI welcomes proposals to conserve and re-use historic buildings, and this year’s awards will support residential, business, and community uses in towns across Ireland.
Funding will be awarded to the relevant local authorities for ten conservation projects in:
- Tralee, Co Kerry;
- Glenties, Co Donegal;
- Strokestown, Co Roscommon;
- Lismore, Co Waterford;
- Clones, Co Monaghan;
- Macroom, Co Cork;
- Castletownbere, Co Cork;
- Midleton, Co Cork;
- Ballina, Co Mayo;
- Ballymote, Co Sligo;
As well as four plans to aid heritage-led regeneration in
- Youghal; Co Cork;
- Kilmainham, Dublin City;
- Raphoe, Co Donegal;
- Greystones, Co Wicklow;
Commenting, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said:
“Investing in our historic towns is about more than just preserving buildings—it’s about breathing new life into communities, supporting local economies, and ensuring our heritage continues to enrich future generations. This funding will help towns across Ireland to unlock their potential through streetscape enhancement, creation of visitor attractions, community spaces and accommodation whilst protecting their unique historic heritage.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, added:
“The Historic Towns Initiative is making a real difference by tackling vacancy and dereliction while respecting the character of our built heritage. By supporting the reuse of historic properties, we are helping to create vibrant town centres that are great places to live, work, and visit.”
Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan commented:
“Heritage-led regeneration strengthens communities by fostering pride of place and sustaining traditional skills. Through the Historic Towns Initiative, we are working closely with local authorities and communities to ensure our historic towns remain at the heart of Ireland’s cultural and economic life.”
Photo Credit- Dominick Walsh, Nolan & Hilsers Jewellers