From:Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has today announced a series of grants under the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme operated by his Department. Minister O’Donovan has approved allocations amounting to €204,500 to support cultural projects with significant cross-border elements.

Small self-contained projects funded under the scheme seek to enhance, celebrate or commemorate the artistic, cultural, musical, film or heritage of the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis.

Applications were invited for projects that helped to promote:

Eighteen projects were successful and will receive funding up to a maximum of €15,000. These successful applications related to festivals, traditional music performances and cultural projects and the funding awarded will support cross border cultural exchanges at community level. Projects include the Royal Dublin Society’s “Threading Ireland: Shared Heritage, Shared Hand” event which will celebrate traditional craft heritage across the island of Ireland; and the “Féile na Tána Summer Series” which will compromise of a series of summer events creating access to the arts for the local border community of north Louth and south Armagh.

Speaking recently, Minister O’Donovan said:

The Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme continues to strengthen partnerships between communities across the island, supporting shared cultural ambitions and meaningful collaboration. By bringing artists, organisations and communities together, the scheme creates opportunities to reach new audiences, exchange ideas and build lasting connections.

I am delighted to announce funding of €204,500 for the 2026 programme, supporting projects that will celebrate our rich cultural traditions while fostering new relationships and deeper cross border engagement.

Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme - Allocations Breakdown 2026