Grants totalling £181,500 have been awarded for a diverse range of projects that will allow people to get actively involved in their heritage.

Making the announcement, Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, said: “We are so pleased to give our support to these six new local heritage projects. Dealing with themes as varied as our industrial past, the local impact of important historical events such as the Great Famine and our own sense of identity, these projects will help to explore and open up the past, enabling us to learn more about and celebrate our heritage.

“The projects were awarded funding through our Sharing Heritage, Our Heritage and Young Roots grant programmes which are designed for small to medium size projects seeking up to £100,000. We are always keen to hear from other groups and organisations considering running a heritage project so if you are interested in applying for our funding please get in touch.”

The six projects to receive funding are:

The Hay Days – Rural Life in the 1950s in North Armagh, Richmount Rural Community Association. Awarded grant of £16,800.
The unique rural heritage of North Armagh will be recorded using oral histories, photographs and other artefacts. Members of the local community will be encouraged to share their own personal memories and experiences of the time including working on the farm and home life. A number of volunteers will be recruited and trained in recording and reminiscence techniques to enable them to carry out the research and the heritage will be shared through a DVD, booklet, website and social network page.

Sharing the Past – Exploring the Local Impact of the Great Famine, Building Communities Ltd. Awarded grant of £49,000
Six groups in the wider Belfast area will explore, examine and analyse the impact of the Great Famine of 1846-1852 on their own communities. Activities will focus on the shared but often neglected heritage of both local Protestant and Catholic communities in the Great Famine in terms of death, sickness, trauma and social upheaval. The participants will receive training and support to enable them to conduct historical research to produce a booklet, exhibition, interpretative materials and a dedicated project website.

Exploring Castlewellan’s Heritage: the Annesley Family Legacy and Lives of Ordinary Folk, Down District Council - awarded grant of £50,700
Since their establishment in 1740 and 1856, the town and Forest Park of Castlewellan have been closely intertwined. The Annesley family who built town and the Castle, lake, parkland and arboretum have left a fascinating heritage which local people will explore and interpret through this new project. Six local schools and the local youth group will develop a small exhibition and heritage trail, which will incorporate a series of 10 interpretation panels from the town through to the park. The project will culminate in a community festival event and the staging of a play, based on the hiring fairs traditionally held in the town in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Our Area – Our History, Glenravel Local History Project. Awarded grant of £47,200
A group of young women will explore the history of the old Victoria Military Barracks in the New Lodge area of North Belfast, and its connections with major world events including First World War and the Cold War. They will produce a booklet, website and permanent exhibition which will be housed in the Recy Community Centre, the former gymnasium of the old Barracks. An archaeological ‘Time Team’ inspired dig will also be carried out in the Barrack in partnership with QUB. This Young Roots project will provide a unique opportunity to engage a wider range of young people in something new for the area.

A History of the GAA in the Parish of Cappagh, Killyclogher St Marys GAA Club - awarded grant of £5,800
Historical accounts of Gaelic games being played in the Parish of Cappagh, Omagh date from around 1904 and give a unique insight into activities in every decade of the 20th century. Members of the local community will contribute their memories and experiences of the games, which along with old photographs and artefacts will provide a history of the GAA in the Parish. A DVD will also be produced and distributed to the general public, to local schools, the GAA museum in Dublin and the O'Fiaich Library in Armagh.

Carland Community Identity, Carland Area Regeneration Association - awarded grant of £12,000
An industrial crane dating from around 1830, and which signifies the remnants of an important quarry in Carland, will be restored and preserved. Until it closed, the quarry was the main employer in the area and played a significant part in local life post famine so the local community are keen to record and celebrate this important aspect of their heritage. The history of Carland stone and stonemasonry will also be explored and a DVD or booklet produced to record the restoration of the crane from start to completion.