Community groups in Dublin are being encouraged to apply to join the Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument scheme which is all about empowering local communities to become involved in the care and conservation of a much-loved local monument. The Adopt a Monument scheme offers communities expertise, mentoring and support to help them to care for their local heritage.
St. Finian’s Church & Graveyard, Lucan, Co. Dublin was ‘adopted’ by the Society for Old Lucan in 2019 to learn more about it, raise local awareness, and to ensure its protection. St. Finian’s medieval church and graveyard is known colloquially as ‘Esker Church’, reflecting its location on the Esker Riada, a glacial feature which formed a highway across ancient Ireland known as the ‘Slí Mhór’. Located in the middle of modern housing, it is one of the most historic structures in the area, but has recently suffered from anti-social behaviour.
Thanks to funding from the Heritage Council and Creative Ireland, an architectural assessment and a geophysical survey were undertaken in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, funding and support from South Dublin County Council and the National Monuments Service Community Monuments Fund led to the conservation of the church and the group have continued to promote the site as an important part of Lucan’s heritage.
Since the scheme first began in 2016, 30 groups across Ireland have ‘adopted’ monuments in their locality ranging from ring forts to 19th century industrial buildings to medieval churches as well as a Gaelic castle.
All over Ireland there is an incredible variety of heritage sites, including ancient tombs, stone circles, early monasteries, castles, churches and graveyards, landed estates, mines, kilns, mills, traditional houses and battlefields. The Adopt a Monument Scheme takes a very broad view of heritage and is open to applications from enthusiastic community groups all over Ireland to apply to the scheme to adopt a site that is important to them.
The aim is that the chosen monument will serve as a focal point for heritage-related, educational and recreational activities and will encourage greater appreciation and understanding of local heritage.
Speaking in support of the scheme Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, at the Heritage Council, said “The Adopt a Monument Scheme is a wonderful way of ensuring our monuments remain an integral part of a community. Maintaining them and caring for them requires much-needed expertise and resources which is exactly what the scheme provides. We can already see the positive effect the scheme has had on the areas where a monument was adopted, and the pride of place and increased civic value brought about the efforts of our dedicated community groups is very satisfying to see.”
The Heritage Council is now calling for interested groups to apply for the scheme. The closing date for applications21st March 2025. Further information about the scheme and the application process can be found here: https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/aam.
Pictured: St Finian’s Church, Esker, Lucan.
