The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., has announced the opening of this year’s Commemorations grant, in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy.
The Commemorations Bursary Scheme was established to encourage and support new local research and local history studies relating to the commemoration of events associated with the early years of the State as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes.
Minister O’Donovan welcomed the opening of the scheme saying: “I am delighted my department can support the 2025 Commemorations Bursary, managed by the Royal Irish Academy, in honour of the late Dr. Éamon Phoenix.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to deepening our understanding of the early years of the State and other relevant anniversaries and themes and supporting scholars and researchers in their vital work.
“Dr. Phoenix was a distinguished historian who brought our past to life with insight and integrity, and it is my hope that this bursary will help others follow in his footsteps.
Mr O’Donovan added: “I commend the Royal Irish Academy for its dedication to fostering academic excellence and for creating a platform for both amateur and professional historians to create new original research.
“Their commitment ensures that new generations can continue to learn from and reflect on the past as we look to the future.
“I encourage all eligible applicants to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to the ongoing exploration of our rich history.”
Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, reflected:
“The Royal Irish Academy is delighted to be working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in opening the Commemorations Bursary scheme.
“It is a unique initiative designed to inspire and support historians, including local historians, independent scholars and individuals working in local cultural institutions to research and explore local history.
“This bursary offers an opportunity to delve into the significant events of our early Statehood as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes and by fostering a deeper understanding of these pivotal moments, we hope to celebrate and preserve our shared history for future generations.”
In this, the second year of the scheme, applications will be invited for funding amounts ranging from €1,500 to €10,000.
The bursaries will be awarded to individual researchers across a wide range of themes which recognise the importance of the commemoration of events.
Last year saw grants awarded to fourteen researchers across a broad variety of research topics including ‘Stories from the Statue: A century of continuity and change in a rural, south Sligo townland’ and ’All That Jazz – exploring Mohill area’s traditional music scene in the lead up and following the anti-jazz campaign of 1934’. Full details of the successful projects from 2024 can be found here on the RIA website.
Applications for the scheme are now open. For further information and scheme guidelines, please visit www.ria.ie where a list of suggested research themes to assist applicants has also been provided. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 5.00 pm.
The development of this scheme follows the success of the Decade of Centenaries Bursary scheme which was established as part of the Decade of Centenaries programme and ran in 2022 and 2023.
Dr Phoenix was a valued member of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations.
Ardnacrusha Generating-Station. The bursary scheme aims to encourage and support local research and history studies focused on commemorating events related to the early years of the State. Ardnacrusha was founded 100 years ago this year. Credit: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
BACKGROUND
Potential Themes for the Commemorations Bursary Scheme:
Community-led commemoration and reflection; Remembering local legacies, personalities, places, events, and themes that had particular significance for counties and communities in 1925 and in the early years of the State. Exploring local connections with nationally important events and how these events were experienced or received locally.
Ireland and the Wider World; Exploring the international dimension, including local connections, emigration, and the role of the Irish Diaspora in the events that occurred during the early years of the State. Exploring how events in Ireland were received and reported abroad.
Experiences of Women; Exploring the experiences of women during the early years of the State and their contribution to the events that occurred, including their changing role in society.
Democracy and Politics; Exploring the prominent personalities and local issues associated with elections during this period.
Establishing a New Order; Exploring the evolution of political and administrative structures at national and local government level; Exploring the establishment and development of the various institutions of the State; Exploring the development of new infrastructure, e.g. transportation, communications, postal services, energy, etc.
Re-building a Nation; Reflections on healing, repairing and re-building in the context of the traumatic legacy of the Civil War.
The partitioning of Ireland; Exploring the impacts and legacies on communities living along the newly established border and further afield.
A changing society during the early years of the State; Exploring the themes below in the context of the early years of the State.
- Popular social, cultural, and civic movements;
- Social class and gender;
- The Irish language;
- Social policies and welfare;
- Education;
- Family life and children in the early years of the State;
- Labour and employment;
- Land and rural life;
- The role of religion and faith;
- The significance of sport in communities;
- Experiences of people in Ireland during this period who would today identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community;
- Experiences of immigration to the local authority area and of minority ethnic groups in Ireland;
- Innovation and developments in the fields of industry, agriculture, science, commerce, health and medicine, communications, technology, recreation.
Emotions, experiences, and expectations; Exploring what was felt and what was hoped for following the Civil War and in the developing Irish State.
Creative thinking and the arts; Exploring poetry, literature, music, theatre, and other art forms from 1925 and the early years of the State.
Other significant local anniversaries, events and themes; Exploring other historical events and related themes, and their significance for local areas (e.g. the Great Famine; the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829; the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Ireland Act).
About the Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy, founded in 1785, is Ireland’s leading body of experts supporting and promoting the sciences and humanities. As an all-island independent forum of peer-elected experts we recognise world-class researchers and champion Irish academic research.
We make a significant contribution to public debate and policy formation on issues in science, technology and culture. We bring together academia, government and industry to address issues of mutual interest by providing an independent forum.
We lead important national research projects, particularly in areas relating to Ireland and its heritage. We represent the world of Irish learning internationally, have a unique globally recognised library and are a leading academic publisher.
Title image: Ardnacrusha Generating-Station. The bursary scheme aims to encourage and support local research and history studies focused on commemorating events related to the early years of the State. Ardnacrusha was founded 100 years ago this year. Credit: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.