Request for Applications: Commemorations Bursary Scheme (Ireland)

Deadline: 29-Apr-2026

The Commemorations Bursary Scheme provides €1,500–€10,000 to support local and regional research on Ireland’s early state history. Projects may cover themes like political developments, social change, diaspora, women’s contributions, and post-Civil War rebuilding, with outputs required to be publicly accessible by 30 July 2027.

Overview

The Commemorations Bursary Scheme funds research projects that explore significant events, themes, and anniversaries connected to the formative years of the Irish State.

The scheme encourages local and regional historical research while emphasizing public engagement, ensuring research outputs contribute to a lasting and meaningful legacy of commemorations.

Key Themes and Focus Areas

Eligible research projects may address a broad spectrum of topics, including:

• Local commemorations and historical legacies
• Ireland’s global connections and diaspora
• Women’s roles and contributions to society
• Political and democratic developments
• Formation of state institutions
• Post-Civil War rebuilding
• Effects of partition on communities
• Social, cultural, and economic changes
• Public experiences, aspirations, and historical milestones

Funding and Eligible Costs

• Funding Range: €1,500 – €10,000 per project
• Use of Funds: Direct research costs only, including:
  • Travel and subsistence for research purposes
  • Access to books, journals, and archival materials
  • Specialist software for research and analysis
  • External services (editing, web development, translation)
  • Conference participation
  • Consumables necessary for research

Exclusions

The bursary does not cover:

• Institutional overheads
• Equipment such as laptops or cameras
• Salary payments, honorariums, or research assistant wages
• Profit-making activities or commercial projects
• Publication costs
• Projects already begun before funding approval

Note: Only one bursary can be held or applied for at a time, and applicants must have no outstanding obligations from previous grants.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants may include:

• Professional academics, doctoral or postdoctoral researchers
• Local historians and independent researchers
• Individuals without a university degree, provided the research is scholarly significant

Additional requirements:

• Research must focus on local Irish history using Ireland-based sources
• Applicants may be based in Ireland or abroad
• Proposed work must demonstrate clear academic or historical contribution

Project Requirements

• Clearly defined research objectives and methodology
• Outputs must be publicly accessible, through websites, publications, or presentations
• Projects must be completed with final reports and financial documentation submitted by 30 July 2027

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility: Confirm that you meet the criteria for career stage, research focus, and previous bursary obligations.
2. Develop Proposal: Define project scope, research methods, expected outcomes, timeline, and budget for direct research costs.
3. Submit Application: Follow official guidelines for proposal submission.
4. Funding Decision: Projects are evaluated on scholarly contribution, clarity of research plan, feasibility, and public engagement potential.
5. Complete Project: Deliver research outputs publicly and submit final report with financial documentation by the deadline.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Clearly articulate the historical significance of your project
• Show how outputs will be accessible to the public
• Provide a realistic timeline and budget for research activities
• Focus on local Irish history sources
• Demonstrate your ability to deliver a complete project within the funding period

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying while holding another bursary
• Submitting projects that have already started
• Including costs not eligible under the scheme
• Failing to specify public engagement or dissemination plans
• Ignoring the July 2027 completion and reporting deadline

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for the bursary?
Researchers at any career stage, including academics, doctoral/postdoctoral scholars, local historians, and independent researchers.

2. Is a university degree required?
No, but applicants must demonstrate that their work contributes significantly to historical knowledge.

3. What is the funding range?
€1,500 – €10,000 per project, covering direct research costs only.

4. Can applicants outside Ireland apply?
Yes, but the research must focus on local Irish history using Ireland-based sources.

5. What types of expenses are eligible?
Travel, subsistence, books, journals, software, external services, conference fees, translation, and consumables.

6. What costs are excluded?
Institutional overheads, equipment, salaries, honorariums, research assistants, profit-making activities, and publication costs.

7. When must the project be completed?
All funded projects must submit final reports and financial documentation by 30 July 2027.

Conclusion

The Commemorations Bursary Scheme provides targeted support for local and regional historical research on Ireland’s early state history. By funding projects with a clear scholarly contribution and ensuring outputs are publicly accessible, the bursary promotes a deeper understanding of Ireland’s historical events, anniversaries, and cultural legacies while leaving a lasting commemorative impact.

For more information, visit Royal Irish Academy.