In 2008 Aug 2008 the Lough Neagh Partnership set up a steering group comprising of NIEA, University of Ulster and MAGNI representatives and stakeholders local to the Lough. The remit of the group was to investigate the possibility of developing a heritage conservation programme for the Lough. The group  recognized the need to firstly identify and collate the heritage assets for the whole of Lough Neagh. In order to carry out this work the Partnership applied to Heritage Lottery for funding of a one year heritage project which would include the employment of a heritage officer. The bid was successful and the Lough Neagh heritage project, ‘Unlocking Lough Neagh’s Heritage’, was formally launched in June 2009.