Historic Structures Fund 2026

Cavan County Council is inviting applications to the Historic Structures Fund 2026.

*The deadline for submission of completed applications is 5pm on Friday, 16th January 2026*

It is a requirement of the Historic Structures Fund that the applicant engages an appropriately qualified conservation professional to oversee the work and all applications must include a comprehensive method statement.

For 2026, the HSF will offer grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 only, and focus on larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where:

  • A clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or
  • A clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary)

The Historic Structures Fund provides capital funding for works to qualifying structures which include the following:

  • Protected Structures: Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS);
  • Structures eligible for or proposed for inclusion in the RPS but not yet formally approved for inclusion. Such structures must meet the criteria for inclusion in the RPS, i.e. must be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view;
  • Structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances apply

Eligible projects will be as follows:

  • Projects proposed by local authorities on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of historic structures
  • Projects proposed by a Local Authority for works to historic structures in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated
    While Cavan County Council facilitates the initial applications, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage operates the fund and determines the final list of nationwide projects to be granted funding.

How to apply

Full details about the HSF 2026 – including application forms and guidance documents – are available to download below:

Application forms, along with the application checklist and relevant supplementary material, should be emailed to cavanheritage@cavancoco.ie in either Word .doc or PDF format before 5pm on Friday, 16th January 2026.

The size of the email with all attachments should not exceed 15MB.