CFAs: Commemorations Bursary Scheme for Researchers (Ireland)

The aim of the Commemorations Bursary scheme is to encourage new local research and local history studies (local, national and regional) as a means of recognising the significant contribution of local historians in furthering fields of study relating to the Commemoration of events associated with the early years of the state as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes.

Themes 

• Applications are welcomed which focus on any of the themes listed below:
  • Community-led commemoration and reflection; Remembering local legacies, personalities, places, events, and themes that had particular significance for counties and communities in 1924 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 1924 and the early years of the State.
  • Other significant anniversaries, events and themes; Exploring other historical events and related themes, and their significance for the local authority area (e.g. the Great Famine; the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829; the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Ireland Act).

Funding Information 

• The purpose of this grant is to provide support for the direct costs of research up to a maximum of €10,000
• Applications are invited for amounts from €1,500 to €10,000
• All projects must be completed, and all associated reports and invoices/financial details submitted by 31st October 2025.

Eligible Activities 

• Costs and activities which are eligible:
  • Proposals for a clearly defined piece of research or research activity with an output which will be made available to the public via the Royal Irish Academy’s website and by other appropriate means.
  • The only expenses payable are the costs directly related to the project planning and development being carried out, for amounts between €1,500 and €10,000 per project. All costs must be supported by evidence of payment (itemised receipts, invoices etc.) upon completion of the project.
• Examples of direct research costs:
  • Travel and subsistence expenses for research purposes
  • Books/journals, relevant library subscriptions or specialist software
  • Any external specialist costs associated with research outputs (other than by the grant-holder)
  • Attendance at conferences related to research project
  • Appropriate translation costs
  • Consumables (including the purchase of datasets, printing etc, and any other minor items that will be used up during the course of the project)

Ineligible Activities

• Costs and activities which are ineligible:
  • Only one Commemorations Bursary may be held, or applied for, at any one time, and an application cannot be accepted if the applicant has a report or monies outstanding on a previous RIA Grant.
  • Institutional overheads, or any element that should be ascribed to institutional overheads;
  • Projects seeking less than €1,500
  • Hardware including laptops, electronic notebooks, digital cameras, etc;
  • Any costs incurred as part of a profit-making initiative (including publication costs)
  • Payment to the principal researcher(s) in lieu of salary, replacement teaching costs, editing or copy-editing, write up the results of research etc.
  • Research assistant costs or any such costs which could be defined as wages/honorariums.
  • Applications to solely organise a conference
  • Any part of an activity that has already taken place. Any activity that is related to costs in budget expenditure cannot begin until they have made a decision on an application.

Who can apply?

• They invite applications from researchers across all career stages, both professional researchers including doctoral and postdoctoral students as well as local historians, independent scholars etc. whose research focuses on a region or locality
• There is no requirement for an applicant to be a university graduate however applicants must demonstrate that their research is likely to constitute a significant and scholarly contribution to historical knowledge
• The grant is open to candidates engaged in historical research on fields of study relating to the Commemoration of events associated with the early years of the state as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes in line with the themes.
• All applicants, whether based in Ireland or elsewhere must propose working on a local history project, drawing on Irish-based sources.

For more information, visit RIA.