The Ireland Funds are proud to have supported the following projects in Co. Kerry

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Lartigue Monorail Restoration Project
Invented by the French engineer Charles Lartigue, only two monorails were ever built, one in France and the other in County Kerry, linking Listowel to Ballybunion and opened in 1888. However, there was never enough passenger traffic to run at a profitable level, and after being damaged in the Irish Civil War, much of the rail line was scrapped. Local rail enthusiasts have worked tirelessly to restore the Lartigue Monorail and in 2003, 500 metres of the railway was rebuilt and A new double-side locomotive and two carriages with capacity for 40 passengers. Funding from The American Ireland Fund has allowed for the purchase of locomotive carriages as well as track, helping to bring in tourism to the area.
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Cill Rialaig Project
Cill Rialaig Artists Project was set up by publisher Noelle Campbell-Sharpe, as an artist's retreat on the remote Bolus Head peninsula in County Kerry. It is an old settlement, that suffered large population losses during the famine and gradually became completely abandoned during the 1960s and 70s. It has now been beautifully brought back to life with great sensitivity, using traditional materials and maintaining the dimensions of the vernacular architecture. Unlike so many others, this is the kind of development that enhances the very reason people visit; the landscape. Now thanks to support from The Ireland Funds, artists, poets, writers and craftspeople come from all over the world to gain inspiration from the surroundings and solitude. Artists are encouraged to donate artwork to the Project to help with the upkeep.

Daniel O'Connell Memorial Church Restoration Program
The “only church in Christendom” to be named after a lay person is falling down! The Daniel O'Connell Memorial Church, named after the liberator who was born at Carhan, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry, in 1775 needs a €5 million restoration programme if it is to be saved. It is no “ordinary church”—Papal approval had to be sought for the building and in the late 1870s, Pope Leo XIII not only approved but presented a block of marble from the catacombs in Rome, to serve as a foundation stone. A recent report by a team of architects and engineers has outlined several works including the need to re-point all the granite stonework, to repair the windows and erect rainwater guttering.

Kerry Genealogical Research Centre
The Kerry Genealogical Research Centre was established in 2001 to computerise all genealogical records in the Catholic and Church of Ireland Dioceses of Kerry. It will facilitate and promote the development of a readily accessible database for genealogical research. The project has secured and protected an historical and culturally unique resource for Kerry and parts of Cork, saving records that could have become lost and remained inaccessible. In addition the group offers training and has created local jobs, currently employing seven people. The centre has developed an awareness and appreciation of genealogical resources in Kerry.

The Open Door Network
The Open Door Network is Kerry's response to violence against women and children. The Network believes in raising awareness through inter-agency cooperation and the co-ordination of responses throughout the county. The Network supports existing services in their aim of providing accessible safe spaces and support for women and children who experience violence and abuse. It supports the development of policy and training programmes by working with its members and co-ordinating appropriate responses to community needs on a county-wide basis.

South Kerry Life Education Mobile
The South Kerry Life Education mobile classroom provides a unique substance abuse prevention programme for primary schools. It teaches children about the wonder of their bodies in a most subtle and sensitive manner. It demonstrates how to take care of their bodies and how substances can affect them. The specially equipped classroom provides an unforgettable experience for the children and assists schools in their health education work. The programme is carried out by a fully trained Senior Life Educator. Recent assistance from The Ireland Funds has helped the organisation to extend this service by enabling it to train another educator and purchase interactive equipment that can be used in a second mobile classroom.

The Thomas Lyndon Memorial Foundation
33-year-old Thomas Lyndon took his own life in March 1999 after a long and difficult battle against his addiction to alcohol. His suicide left his family, neighbours and friends devastated. In 2004 the Thomas Lyndon Memorial Foundation was launched in Tarbert, Co Kerry. This is an innovative initiative which aims to harness community goodwill to tackle alcohol and substance abuse in the area. The short-term objective of the foundation is to design and deliver courses on addiction locally and to promote the creation of a local, national and international alcohol and drugs awareness day to take place on December 30 every year. The main work will take place in the local schools, where the foundation hopes to tackle the scourge of underage drinking and will look to providing alternative entertainment for young people in the area. The foundation also hopes to raise enough funds to make counsellors available to those suffering with addiction and their families.

Tintean Theatre
The Tinteán Theatre is a 530 seat venue, with associated exhibition, administration offices and bar facilities, in Ballybunion, Co Kerry. The Theatre's mission is to operate a purpose built performance venue with contemporary traditional Irish dance, Irish music and literature as its core and tourism as its primary audience market. The Tinteán Theatre is intended to act as a catalyst in the tourism repositioning of Ballybunion as a venue for the arts and general theatrical entertainment and for The Tinteán to be a major element of the "Arts and Cultural Ring of Kerry".

Valentia Community Health and Welfare Assoc. Ltd.
Valentia Community Health and Welfare Association owns and runs the 16 bed cottage hospital on Valentia Island catering for the elderly of the island and the surrounding area. The cottage offers long stay and respite care. It also runs a day care centre catering for 20 elderly people a week and a community laundry. The association is currently extending the accommodation and facilities.

Kerry Diocesan Youth Service
Founded in 1971 as a support structure for youth clubs in the Kerry Diocese, KDYS provides a wide range of programs designed to meet the social, educational, developmental, and recreational needs of young people in the local community. These include clubs for youth in rural areas as well as urban housing estates and programs for early school leavers. Funding from the AIF has been used towards the development of a purpose designed after school facility for at risk youth.

Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne
Founded in 1980, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne aims to promote the language, culture and heritage of the Dingle Peninsula through various community events, classes and excavations. Through its Archeoligcal Interpretive Centre they have published a major archeological survey of the Dingle Pennisula and have also excavated a 15th century church in Ballyferriter. Grants from The American Ireland Fund have been used in upgrading the permanent archeological display at the Museum in Ballyferriter, focusing on Ogham Stones.

Writers’ Week, Listowel
Writers’ Week, Listowel celebrates and promotes the work of Irish writers and seeks to provide a forum for new and more established writers to discuss their works at readings and seminars. They also seek to encourage new writers as well as young people through workshops and competitions. In addition to their work with professional writers, its promotion of literature in schools and the wider community they aim to spread the appreciation of literature. Support from The American Ireland Fund has allowed them to offer two literary competitions and provide prize money for the awards, the adjudicator’s fee, administration and publicity costs.

Muckross Rowing Club
Founded in the early 1800’s, Muckross is a community based rowing club that competes in local, national, and international regattas and provides a year round sporting facility. Grants from The American Ireland Fund have been used to purchase boats and equipment as well as upgrading the facilities in the boathouse.