HERITAGE COUNCIL GRANTS OF €4.1 MILLION ANNOUNCED

HERITAGE COUNCIL GRANTS TO CONSERVE EARLIEST GAA MINUTE BOOKS AND CONDUCT SURVEY OF BASKING SHARKS IN IRISH WATERS

Heritage Grants of €4.1 million, which will be allocated to heritage projects supporting entrepreneurship, conservation and knowledge building in the community, were announced by the Heritage Council Chief Executive, Michael Starrett. Over 540 heritage projects nationwide will receive funding, under the Heritage Council’s 2009 Grants Programme, to assist in the management, development and conservation of different aspects of our national heritage. Projects that will receive funding include:

• A tourism cooperative set up by North Clare famers to facilitate controlled access to archaeological features on farming land;
• Conservation and re-binding of the four earliest minute books held by the GAA; o Conservation by Waterford Museum of Treasures of the city’s Medieval Charters;
• The reestablishment of viable breeding populations of White Tailed Sea Eagles in South West Ireland and of the Red Kite across Ireland. o A survey of basking sharks in Irish waters;
• A study of the travelling community’s cultural heritage in Cork; o A study of the maritime cultural landscape of the Fergus Estuary Islands in County Clare;
• The restoration and re siting of a former lagan canal barge in Armagh;
• A programme of traditional skills and craft training workshops through the Centre for Environmental Living and Training in County Clare;
• A project to raise the awareness of water quality issues in Galway and Mayo National Schools;
• The restoration of active raised bog vegetation on Lodge Bog, Co. Kildare.

Speaking at the announcement of the Grants Programme, the Heritage Council Chief Executive, Michael Starrett, commented: “Heritage in Ireland is not a luxury but essential to our quality of life and sustainable economy. There is often a real disconnect between economic development policies and sustainable management of our vital resources. At a time of global economic crisis, it is timely to remember how cost effective and strategic a small spend on our heritage can be. The Heritage Council’s Grants Programme, which provides grants for projects of all sizes nationwide, aims to encourage and enable people to enjoy, record, conserve and restore the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, community and environment”.

“While recognising that this is a time of scarce resources, it is crucial that we do not allow the disconnect that exists between our ongoing economic development policies and the sustainable management of our vital resources, to widen. The danger if this disconnect is ignored, is that we will be losing a vital opportunity now and leaving behind a bigger bill for future generations to pay”, added Starrett.

This year has seen an increase in the range of applications for funding by 20%, with many smaller and community led projects receiving funding. Behind many of the projects are teams of volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that our heritage can be enjoyed. The Heritage Council’s Grants Programme recognises the significant contribution volunteers make to the protection and enhancement of our national heritage.

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Note to Editor: The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland’s national heritage. National heritage includes Monuments, Archaeological objects, Heritage objects, Architectural heritage, Flora, Fauna, Wildlife habitats, Landscapes, Seascapes, Wrecks, Geology, Heritage gardens and parks, and Inland waterways. Established under the Heritage Act 1995, and operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Heritage Council provides advice to the Minister, and partners and networks with Local Authorities and a wide range of other organisations and individuals to promote Ireland’s heritage.

The Heritage Council Grants Programme which is part funded by the National Lottery has awarded over 3000 awards since it began in 1998. Each of these awards has helped raise the awareness and importance of Ireland’s national heritage. Grants are awarded under eight grant schemes including; Local Heritage, Publications, Museums and Archives, Unpublished Excavation, Archaeology Research, Wildlife Research, Architecture Research and Biodiversity Fund.

For further information; Michelle Guinan, MKC Communications 01 7038604 / 0863846630

COUNTY MEATH CHOSEN FORVILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT PILOT SCHEME

COMMUNITY-LED PLANNING AND DESIGN PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED FOR IRISH VLLAGES BY THE HERITAGE COUNCIL

Monday 30th March 2009: The Heritage Council today announced that it has chosen Julianstown in County Meath as the national ‘pilot’ for a new community-led village design statement (VDS) programme for Irish Villages.

The Heritage Council’s National VDS Programme has one key objective – to get local people of all ages fully involved and active in the planning and design of their local areas. The Heritage Council will facilitate the preparation of the Julianstown VDS ‘pilot’ in partnership with the Julianstown and District Residents Association (JDRA) and Meath County Council’s Planning Department.

The community-led VDS aims to set out a strategy for the future design and enhancement of Julianstown. This ‘pilot’ project follows on from the Heritage Council’s publication in January– Enhancing Local Distinctiveness in Irish Villages – The Way Forward?, which is available to download on the Heritage Council’s website. 

Speaking at the announcement, Alison Harvey, Planning and Development Officer with the Heritage Council said, ‘Irish villages are a vital part of our national heritage and their future planning and design must involve local people and communities. Local communities know so much about their locality, the features within the built and natural environment that make their village distinctive and unique, and also the features that are of value to them. This local knowledge should be used to inform the planning process in villages”.

The pilot scheme will involve training and raising awareness of ‘good design’ in our villages. The Heritage Council is committed to rolling out a community-led approach on Village Design Statements on a national basis”, added Ms. Harvey.

The DoEHLG’s Guidelines for Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas, published in December 2008, make provision for the preparation and implementation of Village Design Statements (VDSs) in Ireland. The village design statement for Julianstown will feed into the East Meath Local Area Plan (LAP), which will be up for review in 2010.

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Note to Editor:

The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland’s national heritage. National heritage includes Monuments, Archaeological objects, Heritage objects, Architectural heritage, Flora, Fauna, Wildlife habitats, Landscapes, Seascapes, Wrecks, Geology, Heritage gardens and parks, and Inland waterways.

Established under the Heritage Act 1995, and operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Heritage Council provides advice to the Minister, and partners and networks with Local Authorities and a wide range of other organisations and individuals to promote Ireland’s heritage.

Media Queries:

Michelle Guinan, MKC Communications 01 7038604 / 086 3846630

Michelle Guinan, Senior Client Manager

MKC Communications

The Archway, 4 Lower Pembroke St,

Dublin 2.

T: 00353 1 703 8604

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