Fund seeks to refurbish Irish language shopfronts

Following on from the successful introduction of the Historic Structures Fund Irish-language shopfront stream in 2021, the initiative is again running in 2022, with individual grants of between €15,000 and €50,000 awarded for eligible projects.

While Irish language signs were once common on shopfronts around the country, they have become an increasingly rare sight. It is hoped that this funding will help to increase the visibility of the Irish language, while also protecting our shared built heritage.

Jointly funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the stream will have a fund of €100,000 to support the conservation of traditional Irish-language shopfronts.

Eligible projects include refurbishment and conservation works to historic shop facades, windows and traditional Irish-language signage. To qualify, structures must be included, or eligible for inclusion, in the Record of Protected Structures of the relevant local authority.

APPLICATIONS ENCOURAGED

One such project awarded funding in 2021 was Thomas Clarke’s tobacco shop on 55 Amiens Street, Dublin. €50,000 was awarded to conserve and restore the original Irish-language shopfront, including necessary structural works to safeguard it and the reinstatement of gilded signwriting.

Announcing the scheme for 2022, Minister of State for Sport and An Ghaeltacht, Jack Chambers, TD, stated: “It is wonderful to see the continuation of this initiative to preserve the Irish language. I would like to take this chance to encourage any eligible shop owners, or owners of premises that were once shops, to apply and look forward to seeing the results of the projects funded under this stream.”

Owners of eligible structures should apply through their local authority.

Further details may be found at www.gov.ie or from local authority Architectural Conservation Officers and Heritage Officers.