Three World Heritage Tentative List sites and one World Heritage Property will be awarded just under €240,000 in funding under the 2025 Pilot World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund. 

These grants help owners and custodians of structures located within World Heritage Properties and Tentative List sites to safeguard them for future generations, while improving their accessibility for communities and the public.

The pilot aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote archaeological and built heritage within World Heritage Properties and Tentative List Sites in Ireland.

The awards granted as part of this pilot fund include:

€125,000 for the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble, Valentia, Co. Kerry;
€87,000 for the Royal Sites of Ireland;
€22,000 for the Passage Tomb Landscape of Sligo;
€3,500 for Brú na Bóinne, Co. Meath.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said the awarding of these grants "recognises the important work carried out by the custodians of these internationally significant structures and will assist in their ongoing protection and presentation".

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan said this pilot fund "helps to improve the interpretation and presentation of structures, enhance accessibility, and enable the protection and conservation of structures in need of urgent support".

This includes "building resilience to withstand the effects of climate change", he said. 

“I wish all of the award recipients, including the many spearheaded by local communities, the best of luck in rolling out their projects," he added.

The World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund has two streams.

Stream A provides grants of up to €25,000 to improve access infrastructure, interpretation projects and the presentation of structures (including virtually and/or online).

Stream B provides grants of up to €100,000 for the protection and conservation of structures including essential repairs, conservation advice, the preparation of a conservation management plan and detailed specifications of works.

World Heritage sites can apply for funding under both streams up to a total amount of €125,000.