Archaeology

Field Monument Advisor Scheme

The Heritage Council is working in partnership with Local Government and the farming community to provide advice to farmers on the management of archaeological monuments on privately owned land.

Farmers are the day-to-day managers of our landscape and are the private landowners of the majority of archaeological sites. Ancient monuments are protected by the National Monuments Act 1930–2004, yet recent surveys have revealed damage due to land reclamation and the intensification of agriculture.

In response to this, the Heritage Council — in partnership with Sligo, Meath, Louth, and currently with Fingal, Clare and Galway County Councils — has initiated the Field Monument Advisor Scheme which is aimed at preserving archaeological monuments located on privately owned farmland.

The objective of each advisor programme is to support landowners in the care of archaeological monuments in their ownership. An advisor in each County helps farmers by providing information on the archaeological field monuments of their land and by contributing to farmer training programmes. Information provided by Field Monument Advisors includes how to care for archaeological sites in farmland as well as details on the type and known date of a site. Farm visits can be spent working through management issues of the archaeology on the farm. Through the farmer’s interest and enthusiasm ways to care for archaeological sites can be identified as part of the day to day farming activity.

So if you farm or own land in Counties Clare, Fingal or Galway, and you require information on archaeological monuments, contact your Field Monument Advisor or your County Heritage Officer.

Contact details

Co. Clare

Congella McGuire (Heritage Officer)
tmacconmara@clarecoco.ie

Michael Lynch (Field Monument Advisor)
cloandmike@hotmail.com
065-6846408

Co. Galway

Marie Mannion (Heritage Officer)
mmannion@galwaycoco.ie

Christy Cunniffe (Field Monument Advisor)
ccunniffe@galwaycoco.ie
091-509198

Co. Fingal, Dublin

Dr Gerry Clabby (Heritage Officer)
Gerry.clabby@fingalcoco.ie

Christine Baker (Field Monument Advisor)
Christine.baker@fingalcoco.ie
01 870 4455