Mayo Schools recipients of Heritage School Tours Bus Grant Scheme
Pictured: Left to Right: Henry Cobbe; Thomas Emmet, Historic Houses of Ireland; Fiona Morley, Clonburris National School; Cathal Dowd Smith, Newbridge House.
The Historic Houses of Ireland “Heritage School Tours Bus Grant Scheme” has announced its eight grant recipients across the country visiting historic houses and heritage sites including Ardagh National School in Ardagh who intend to visit the National Museum of Country Life, St Joseph's Foxford who intend to go to Rathcroghan Tulsk and Scoil Muire agus Pádraig in Swinford who will be visiting Birr Castle.
The other schools who were awarded grants to pay for school buses were Scoil Mhuire National School in Cavan; Gaelscoil Mhachan in Cork; Wood School in Donegal; Clonburris National School in Dublin and Wicklow Educate Together National School.
The grant scheme has been enabled by a generous donation from the Henry Cobbe Charitable Trust, a Community Foundation Ireland Donor-Advised Fund.
Henry Cobbe, whose family has a long-standing connection with Newbridge House, Co. Dublin, said: “School trips to heritage sites can be an eye-opener and sometimes unlock a life-changing interest. But with the cost pressures on fuel and transport, this has put them out of reach for many schools.
"It’s great to see Historic Houses of Ireland bring this idea to life in a way that can help connect schools with historic houses, museums and heritage sites across Ireland.”
Historic Houses of Ireland is a charity representing and advocating for heritage in private ownership across the island. It currently has two hundred and fifty members, from thatched cottages and vernacular farmhouses up to some of Ireland’s most iconic castles and estates.
Thomas Emmet, Events and External Relations Officer at Historic Houses of Ireland said: “We’re so delighted to be able to offer this grant scheme thanks to the donation. It enables schools, and particularly Deis and Desi Plus schools, across the four provinces to visit not only our member houses like Birr Castle in Offaly and Salthill Gardens in Donegal, but also heritage sites throughout the country like Fota House in Cork and the National Museum of Country Life.
"As a charity, we are focused on educating the next generation of heritage enthusiasts and inspiring them and this is a fantastic addition to widening access to a broad range of sites. Congratulations to these three fantastic schools!” Fiona Morley, Principal at Clonburris National School and one of this year’s grant recipients said:
“We are so looking forward to going to 14 Henrietta Street in the second term. Grants like these enable us to visit heritage sites that we might not be able to access without hiring a bus. The students are excited and so am I!”
