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Funding of Over £12 million Secured for Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum

19th February 2024
New DNA: More than £12.7m in funding has been secured for the Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum in Ebrington Square on the banks of the Foyle. The museum will play an important role in celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the North-West region, and highlighting the strategic importance of the city down through the centuries with trade and industry.
New DNA: More than £12.7m in funding has been secured for the Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum in Ebrington Square on the banks of the Foyle. The museum will play an important role in celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the North-West region, and highlighting the strategic importance of the city down through the centuries with trade and industry. Credit: derrycityandstrabanedistrictcouncil-facebook

It has been warmly welcomed by members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture Committee on the news that final Letters of Offer have been received from funding partners for the new Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum.

The Letters of Offer reports IrelandLive.ie, for the funding came from all the partners for the much-anticipated DNA located in the city’s Ebrington Square, from where the venue has panoramic views of the River Foyle, the Peace Bridge and the Walled City from within the historic Star Fort of Ebrington.

The funding announcement marks a major milestone in the development, and members heard that funding of £12,719,532 has now been allocated and secured from all project partners. The following partners include the Inclusive Future Funding administered through Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI); The Executive Office (TEO); The National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) and Department for Communities (DfC). In addition to funding sources from the Garfield Weston & Galewest Investments Ltd along with the Wolfson Foundation.

The Strabane District Council’s Business Committee received a full report from Council’s Head of Culture Aeidin McCarter, to confirm the news of funding for the DNA as Afloat previously reported and outlined the steps ahead in the delivery of the project.

At the committee, members had heard that officers can now progress with the appointment of an IST (Integrated Supply Team), followed by the Fit-Out contractor, with works at Ebrington Square set to commence on the site in several months’ time, November.

The goal of the £12.7 million project is to have construction and fit-out works completed so that the DNA museum be open in summer 2026, as Ms McCarter confirmed.

More here on the city’s DNA museum.

Published in Coastal Notes
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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