Rathcroghan is among the heritage sites eligible to apply for support under a renewed national funding scheme aimed at safeguarding Ireland’s UNESCO World Heritage and Tentative List sites.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage confirmed today (Wednesday, January 28, 2026) that the Pilot World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund is being continued this year, with €350,000 available nationally for capital investment projects that support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological and built heritage within eligible sites.
The scheme is managed by the National Monuments Service, working with relevant local authorities. It follows the 2025 pilot programme in which €240,000 was allocated across multiple projects nationally.
For Roscommon, the key point is that Rathcroghan forms part of the “Royal Sites of Ireland” UNESCO Tentative List property, alongside Tara, the Hill of Uisneach, the Rock of Cashel and Dún Ailinne. As a result, projects connected to Rathcroghan can be progressed through Roscommon County Council under the fund’s local authority application process.
Funding is available under two separate streams:
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Stream A: grants of up to €30,000 for projects to improve public understanding, interpretation and presentation of a site, including access infrastructure (including virtual/online elements).
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Stream B: grants of up to €100,000 for protection and conservation works, including essential repairs, conservation advice, and the preparation of documents such as Conservation Management Plans or Archaeological Impact Assessments.
Local authorities can submit up to three applications per World Heritage Property or Tentative List Site. The 2026 handbook also sets out that local authorities must submit applications to the Department by 6 March 2026, meaning interested groups and landowners are encouraged to engage with their local authority as early as possible.
Among the wider list of eligible UNESCO/Tentative List sites are Brú na Bóinne (with exclusions as set out by the Department) and several Tentative List sites across multiple counties.
