Community groups are invited to host an event to celebrate Water Heritage Day
Wednesday, 25th June 2025: The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) encourages community groups to apply under the ‘Water Heritage Day Grants Scheme 2025’ to celebrate Water Heritage Day on Sunday the 24th of August. LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of the 31 local authorities in Ireland coordinating efforts to achieve good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water.
To make an application see: https://submit.link/3T3
Speaking about the €30,000 grants scheme Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO said: “We are delighted to once again invite community groups to organise a water related event for Heritage Week. The theme of Heritage Week 2025 is “Exploring Our Foundations” and our waterways are an important part of the history of our island.
Water Heritage Day gives communities a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our heritage through water whether it be hosting a river safari, a talk at the riverside or launching a booklet on a local waterway, there are ample ways to get involved.”
You are asked to contact your local Community Water Officer in advance of making an application. Their contact details are on our website here: Communities Team – Local Authority Water Programme (lawaters.ie). The deadline for making an application is Friday, 25th of July at 4pm.
Virginia Teehan, CEO of the Heritage Council welcomes LAWPRO’s grant programme. “Water Heritage Day continues to be a significant highlight during National Heritage Week every year, showcasing the creative and ingenious ways communities celebrate the impact of canals, lakes, rivers, and the sea on our local heritage. This LAWPRO grant scheme will enable people to explore and highlight our water-based foundations, emphasising how vital they are to our natural heritage. It’s a wonderful opportunity for event organisers to avail of supports that will encourage them to dive into our shared history and appreciate the incredible resource our waters provide.”
LAWPRO works in partnership with the Heritage Council, and to run a Heritage Week event you have to register your event on their website here: www.heritageweek.ie/get-involved/organise-an-event
As part of Heritage Week there are awards for events held throughout the week, if you are holding a Water Heritage Day event you can submit your event to be considered for a Water Heritage Award. More information on the awards can be found here: www.heritageweek.ie/awards
ENDS
Photo caption: Ballycumber Tidy Towns represented by Eddie Buckley, Tony Ennis and Emer Doherty are presented with the 2024 Water Heritage Award for Folly Tales and Treasure Trails by Margaret Morrissey, LAWPRO; Virginia Teehan, Heritage Council CEO; Dr Martina Moloney, Heritage Council chairperson and MC Síle Seoige at the Heritage Council’s National Heritage Week awards ceremony in the Royal Hospital, Kilminaham
For media information:
Sadhbh O’Neill
Communications & Engagement Lead
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
T: 085 850 0409
About Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) https://lawaters.ie/
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. LAWPRO was established to fulfil requirements under the European Union Water Framework Directive and is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LAWPRO coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan.