Two historic Laois buildings to share €229,000
Clonreher Castle near Portlaoise, which is part of an ongoing conservation project
TWO historic buildings in Laois will share almost €230,000 in conservation funding announced today.
Clonreher Castle near Portlaoise will receive €129,000, while €100,000 has been approved for works on Tankardstown Church near Barrowhouse.
Laois County Council made successful applications for both projects under the national 2025 Community Monuments Fund (CMF).
The grants go towards protection, conservation, repair and maintenance of important heritage monuments in local communities.
Ongoing work by the Clonreher Castle Conservation Group, led by owners the Broomfields, is conserving the 15th century O'Dowling castle to secure it for future generations.
Previous CMF funding led to extensive work on the castle’s magnificent North East Tower, where the centuries-old walls were pinned, repointed and capped, with cracks infilled and vegetation removed.
Confirming the funding, Laois TD Seán Fleming commented: ‘It is important that these historic buildings which are part of our heritage are protected and ultimately improved, so that people can visit and learn more about the significance that Clonreher Castle and Tankardstown Church played in their local communities over many years in the past.
‘This generation must make a good effort to protect significant archaeological monuments in their local communities for future generations.’
Deputy Fleming thanked Laois County Council for the role it played in examining both historic structures and submitting them to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for conservation project funding.
