News and Events

CORK CITY COUNCIL HERITAGE GRANT SCHEME 2024

Cork City Council acknowledges and supports the tremendous work that is carried out by local heritage groups and organisations across the city to protect, enhance and promote the heritage and biodiversity of Cork City. To that end there are two grants available for heritage and biodiversity in the city.

 The Local Heritage and Biodiversity Community Grant Scheme is aimed at providing core funding in the form of small grants for local, community-based heritage groups and individuals who are involved in ongoing work that benefits the heritage and biodiversity of Cork City.  Funding of between €200 and €1,000 is available per grant. Previous projects funded include a winter series of archaeological lectures, training on natural heritage, exhibitions on local history, podcasts on the bridges of Cork and events such as the Coal Quay Festival and the Mother Jones Festival.

The Local Heritage and Biodiversity Publication Grant Scheme is aimed at supporting the publication and printing of high-quality publications on local heritage topics, which raise awareness and appreciation of local heritage and biodiversity.  Funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is available per publication grant. A total of up to €12,000 will be available for this grant scheme.  13 books have been supported through this grant since 2015 and include publications on topics such as St Josephs Cemetery, The contribution of Cork women during the revolutionary years, the history of the LGBT community in Cork and the history of the Fire Service in Cork to name a few.

The closing date for receipt of application forms for this grant scheme is 11 am on 1st Feb 2024.

For an application form please contact:

The Heritage Officer, Strategic Planning & Heritage, Strategic & Economic Development, Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork at email heritage@corkcity.ie.

 Application forms can also be downloaded at the links below.

Local Heritage and Biodiversity Publication Grant Application Form 2024

Local Community Heritage and Biodiversity Grant Scheme Application Form 2024

These grant schemes are an action from the Cork City Heritage Plan 2021-2026.

Good Day News

Cork City Firefighters A Proud Record

Gardening For Biodiversity Course

Wildflowers

A very successful “Gardening for Biodiversity” course was held on the 19th of February in Ballyphehane Community Centre. Organised by Cork City Council Heritage Officer, Scientific Officer and Cork City Horticulturist and run by Aoife Munn, the training day was very well received with excellent feedback from all the participants.

Course coordinator Aoife Munn stated “The success of the project is due to its simplicity and interactive design.  Participants learn why they should protect the environment, how to protect it and who to turn to for support in doing so.  The course is tailored to the local community which allows attendees to network with other groups in the area to get more support and they enjoy the course”. 

This one-day course covered topics such as avoiding chemicals, vegetable growing, pollinators, rewilding, pond building and composting.

Speaking after the event the Heritage Officer, Niamh Twomey said, “this is a very practical training course showing people simple and cost effect ways for all of us to manage our green spaces, big and small, in an environmental and sustainable way”.

Wildflower Meadow

Mangan's Clock

Mangans Clock

Mangan's Clock has been a landmark on Saint Patrick's Street since the 1850s. Located near Merchants Quay it is a much-loved piece of heritage street furniture in Cork city.

Mangan Jewellers was a family business of clock makers and jewellers in Cork City from 1817 to the late 1980s and were responsible for the installation of Mangan's Clock as well as the iconic clock on St Anne’s Shandon.  A Cast-iron clock, comprising of square-profile base, tapered shaft having square-profile capital, with two faces having decorative surrounds and surmounted by finial.

This clock has witnessed the ebb and flow of Cork city’s history from narrowly escaping destruction during the burning of Cork to the construction of Merchant’s Quay shopping centre in the 1980s to the refurbishment of the public realm on St Patrick Street in more recent times. On a more romantic note, it is said that many a happy marriage started with a couple meeting for their “first date” under the watchful eye of Mangan’s clock!

Cork City Council recognise the importance of Mangans Clock from both a social and technical heritage point of view and have commissioned Stokes Clock and Watches to carry out repair works to restore the clock to working order by refurbishing the clock hands, repairing and replacing damaged parts and cleaning and painting the supporting pillar. At a cost in the region of €7,500 the work will start at the end of January and is estimated to take about 3 months, when this special piece of street furniture will be back in full working order and continue its role as a silent witness to the life of Cork city.