Birr Castle's Leviathan Telescope to benefit from €240k announced for Historic Astronomical Observatories

A total of €240,000 in funding has been announced for Birr Castle's Leviathan Telescope and Dunsink Observatory House in Dublin as part of a significant capital investment to support UNESCO World Heritage ambition across the country.

The funding was announced on World Heritage Day, Saturday, April 18, by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State with Responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD.

The World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund was established in 2025 to help safeguard Ireland’s world heritage. As a result, all four sites on the World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland will benefit from €365,000 in funding this year, supporting 11 different projects in counties Kerry, Kildare, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

Minister Browne welcomed the announcement, saying the funding "reflects the Programme for Government commitment to support additional UNESCO sites to showcase Ireland’s heritage internationally".

"These awards are an investment in remarkable cultural heritage sites that will help ensure they are protected for future generations. I wish all of the award recipients the best of luck in commencing their projects.”

The World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund is coordinated by the National Monuments Service. The Fund supports a range of initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect, improve understanding and promote archaeological and built heritage within World Heritage Properties and Tentative List Sites in Ireland.

The objective of the Fund is to assist owners and custodians of sites within World Heritage Properties and Tentative List Sites protect and conserve them for present and future generations. The Fund is also investing in improving interpretation, presentation and accessibility for local communities and the wider public.