Historic graveyards maintenance scheme opens in Waterford

Waterford City and County Council is inviting applications under a new grant scheme for the maintenance of historic graveyards.

There are over 130 historic burial grounds across Co. Waterford that are vested in the care of the local authority and many of those are protected as archaeological sites on the Record of Monuments and Places (www.archaeology.ie- Historic Environment Viewer). 

"These sites require ongoing maintenance and in recognition of the work by local communities Waterford City and County Council are providing a maintenance grant scheme in 2025," said a spokesperson for the local authority.

Details and application forms relating to the scheme are available online at https://submit.link/3E5 

However, the closing date for online applications is May 25.

Waterford Heritage Officer, Bernadette Guest said: “Support for the maintenance of closed or historic graveyards is one of the most frequent enquiries we receive to the Heritage Office and we hope this grant scheme can go some way towards helping the efforts of local communities in maintaining their local graveyard."

"We will host training days in East and West Waterford on the care and conservation of historic graveyards over the summer and we looking forward to working with groups across the county on this important area of our heritage," she said.