Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has approved more than €204,500 in funding under the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme 2026 to support cultural projects that promote collaboration across the island of Ireland. Announced on 21 July 2026, the funding will strengthen partnerships between communities in both jurisdictions through shared artistic, cultural, musical, film, and heritage initiatives.
A total of 18 projects have been selected to receive grants of up to €15,000 each. The funded initiatives include festivals, traditional music performances, heritage events, and community-based cultural exchanges designed to encourage cooperation, promote cultural tourism, and expand outreach programmes on a North–South basis.
Among the supported projects are the Royal Dublin Society’s “Threading Ireland: Shared Heritage, Shared Hand” initiative, celebrating traditional craft heritage across the island, and the “Féile na Tána Summer Series,” which will bring arts and cultural events to communities in north Louth and south Armagh.
The Irish government said the scheme continues to strengthen cross-border relationships by creating opportunities for artists, cultural organizations, and local communities to collaborate, reach new audiences, and preserve shared cultural traditions. The 2026 funding is expected to deepen community engagement while encouraging long-term cultural cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
