Press release
€120,000 in grants awarded to local government to mark Ireland’s 50th anniversary of joining the EU
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Peter Burke, today congratulated 17 local authorities and library services who have been awarded funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs’ 2023 EU50 Local Government Grant Scheme. A total of €119,700 has been awarded.
2023 marks 50 years since Ireland joined the European Communities, now the European Union. The government’s EU50 programme, which began in January 2022 and which continues to May 2023 is marking this historic milestone. Local Government will play an important role in bringing EU50 to communities across the country, particularly around the Europe Day period in early May.
Announcing the funding allocations, the Minister of State congratulated the 17 successful projects, all of which will make an extremely valuable contribution to the ongoing debate on Ireland’s place in, and the future role of, the European Union.
The Minister said:
"As Minister for European Affairs, I was delighted to ensure this special funding stream for local authorities as part of our EU50 programme. I would like to congratulate each of the 14 local authorities and the 3 library services for applying with ambitious and exciting projects.
"These initiatives and the funding behind them will combine with our recent Communicating Europe Initiative funding to open a new dimension to our EU50 programme: Nine counties in all four provinces are represented in this local government funding stream, while many more counties received funding through the Communicating Europe Initiative. This will empower local communities and their representatives to reflect on and celebrate what Europe means to them.
"The types of projects that have been awarded funding are innovative and creative. They include European film nights and food tasting events to Transition Year debating; local paper supplements; quizzes and storytelling. Most of these events will take place in and around Europe Day, 9 May, promising a very special and memorable Europe Day."
For more information on EU50, please visit www.ireland.ie/eu50.
A full list of recipients is available below.
| Local authority or library service | Amount approved (€) |
| Arklow Library Services | 5,200 |
| Carlow CC | 7,500 |
| Cork CC | 7,500 |
| Donegal CC | 7,500 |
| Dublin CC | 7,500 |
| Fingal CC | 7,500 |
| Galway CC | 7,500 |
| Kerry CC Library Services | 7,500 |
| Laois CC | 7,500 |
| Mayo CC | 2,000 |
| Meath CC | 7,500 |
| Monaghan Library Service | 7,500 |
| Offaly CC | 7,500 |
| Monaghan CC | 7,500 |
| Tipperary CC | 7,500 |
| Westmeath CC | 7,500 |
| Wicklow CC | 7,500 |
| Total | €119,700 |