Historic Laois workhouse gets €200,000 grant

A HISTORIC building in Laois that captures the devastation of the Great Famine has been awarded €200,000 for restoration works.

Donaghmore Workhouse and Agricultural Museum will get the maximum possible grant under the 2025 Historic Structures Fund (HSF), whose recipients were announced today.

The funding will go to Laois County Council for repairs to the roof, chimney and rainwater goods in the building’s infirmary block, to prevent water ingress and damage.

Donaghmore is one of 28 centres nationwide that will receive HSF grants for restoration works, as part of a €3.5m fund.

The workhouse and museum has become an important centre for visitors and educational tours and the restored dining hall is an impressive entertainment venue. The visitor centre near Rathdowney had almost 2,500 visitors last year, according to the Office of Public Works.

Built in the 1840s during the devastating famine, the workhouse gives visitors a glimpse of the harrowing conditions faced at the ‘last resort’ where thousands of people died.

Local TD Seán Fleming pointed out that Laois County Council acquired the historic property in recent times and applied to the government for funding to carry out essential roof and chimney repairs, to improve the safety and structure of the building.

He said: ‘Even though this building was built in difficult times during the Great Famine, because of the scale and structure involved it is important that it be used in this century for the benefit of the public.

‘This substantial allocation of funding will now allow Laois County Council proceed with these important restoration and improvement works.’

Welcoming the grant, Laois TD Willie Aird (FG) said the success of the HSF resulted from a close working relationship between the Department of Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity and the local authorities, particularly architectural conservation officers, heritage officers and planning and administrative staff at local level who help to ‘ensure that historic structures are maintained and restored for the benefit of communities, visitors and future generations’.

The HSF operates on a match-funding basis with local authorities. Alongside other heritage funding streams such as the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the recently reopened Conservation Advice Grant Scheme, the fund aims to conserve, protect and promote the use of landmark buildings around the country.