Cork County Council has launched the County Cork Commemorations Grant Scheme for 2021, with support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This year’s scheme recognises the importance of the War of Independence and Civil War and will support the enthusiasm that exists within the county to commemorate the centenary of this defining period of Irish history.
The 2021 Scheme will support local groups, organisations and individuals to commemorate significant local events, through a range of projects targeted at all ages. Particular consideration will also be given to initiatives that demonstrate local connections to significant historical events that occurred in 1921, including the Signing of the Truce, the Anglo-Irish Treaty Negotiations and Debates, and the Signing of the Treaty.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the fund saying;
“The County of Cork played a pivotal role in the Anglo-Irish War of Independence and the ensuing Civil War. These events form part of our living history, informing who we are as a nation today and providing us with a way to reflect on where we have come from. It is thanks to the many amateur and professional scholars and volunteers that we can enrich our understanding of our history and share it with the world. This scheme aims to support the community groups who allow us to connect with the hundred-year history of our nationhood. The range of projects that can be applied for is considerable, including endeavours of an artistic and creative nature. I encourage all those with an idea to consider making an application to the scheme.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey noted;
“Cork County Council and its Commemorations Committee, through the Commemoration Grant Scheme 2021, seeks to ensure that County Cork’s participants in the War of Independence and Civil War are remembered. We look forward to building on the successes of the 2020 Scheme, which saw 50 groups saw support in the region of €80,000 for a variety of commemorative projects within the county. Thanks to the many community groups supported by the Council, our shared heritage provides an excellent cultural resource for residents of Cork County and for visitors seeking to learn more about us.”
Full details of the County Cork Commemorations Fund 2021 and the application form are available online at www.corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage and on www.yourcouncil.ie. The closing date for proposals and application forms is 17:00 on Monday 17th May 2021, which can be made online; emailed to commemorations@corkcoco.ie, or posted to ‘County Cork Commemorations Fund 2021, Cork County Council, Floor 3, County Hall, Cork.
Details of the Decade of Centenaries Second Phase Guidance 2018–2023 is available online at www.chg.gov.ie and a timeline of centenary events in County Cork is available on www.corkcoco.ie/arts-heritage in the upcoming events page of the Heritage Section.
