Heritage Services

A Geological Field Guide to Cooley, Gullion, Mourne & Slieve Croob

Louth County Council, with grant support from the Heritage Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland, has published a field guide to the geology (and geography) of the greater Carlingford Lough region (north Louth, south Armagh and south Down).
 
The book is written to maximise its value to senior secondary teachers (and to college lecturers).  It aims to show educators how they can use some of the best and most accessible field sites in the region to teach essential elements of the Leaving Cert and A Level geography curriculum (and geology where this is taught in a few northern schools and on undergraduate courses).

Click here to download a copy of the document in PDF format [4.2 MB]

Directory of archaeological sources relating to County Kildare

Prepared for Kildare County Council as an Action of the Kildare Heritage Plan 2005 - 2009

Click here to download publication in PDF format [PDF 3MB]

Archaeological and Historical Report on Cruicetown

This report contains an archaeological, historical and architectural assessment of the church and graveyard at Cruicetown, Co. Meath, RMP ME005/094. This information will provide a baseline of information on the site prior to remedial works within the graveyard area.

Click here to download a PDF version of this document [9.4MB]

Inventory of Archaeological and Architectural Sources for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

The Inventory of Archaeological and Architectural Sources for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is intended to be the first port of call for anyone undertaking research into the built heritage of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Click here to download a PDF version of the document [PDF 3.2MB]

Exploring the Mining Heritage of County Wicklow

In 2007 The Heritage Office sought to promote Mining as an aspect of Wicklow’s heritage on a county wide level through the production of a publication “Exploring the Mining of County Wicklow”. One of the aims of this project was to co-ordinate and complement the efforts of the various groups working in each area. While a considerable amount of information existed for each site on historical mining activity, this was the first time that the information was to be compiled into a non technical, user friendly county wide guide.

As well as providing information on mining heritage, the publication is designed to encourage visits to each area by visitors and Wicklow residents. The publication contains a map showing Mining trails at each site, these correspond with recently developed way marked walks at Avoca, Glenmalure and Glendassan. Information for this publication was provided by Avoca Mining Heritage Group, Glendalough Mining Heritage Group and the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland. Other project parters for the development of walks at each site are Wicklow mountains National Park, Coillte and Wicklow County Council. The production of the publication was supported by The Heritage Council as an action of the County Wicklow Heritage Plan.

Click here to download the publications in PDF Format [PDF 2.3 MB]

Good Practice Guidelines for Householders

Biodiversity and Development in County Kildare

This publication has been prepared by Kildare County Council in recognition of the importance of the Natural Heritage in the county and is intended to increase the public awareness of biodiversity and natural environment.

The aim of this leaflet is to provide information to householders about biodiversity outlining simple steps to promote awareness of habitats and our natural heritage. While some of the information is targeted at special groups, it is all relevant to protecting and increasing biodiversity in your area.

Click here to download publication [PDF 1.5MB]

Good Practice Guidelines for Developers

Biodiversity and Development in County Kildare

This publication is designed to help developers understand the need for biodiversity conservation in terms of planning and legal requirements including the Wildlife Act (1976), Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the E.U. Habitats Directive (1997) and the importance of biodiversity and natural habitats. This leaflet has been produced in recognition of the fact that nature conservation “adds value” to new development. It advises on the benefits of biodiversity and how biodiversity conservation can be integrated into the development process.

Click here to download publication [PDF 2.4 MB]

Kildare's Hedgerows

Kildare’s network of hedgerows is a huge asset to the county for agriculture, landscape, water quality, carbon sequestration, employment and our wild flora and fauna.

The 2006 County Kildare Hedgerow Survey was initiated by the Heritage Office of Kildare County Council as an action of the County Kildare Heritage Plan. The survey was conducted by Neil Foulkes and funded by Kildare County Council and the Heritage Council. The aim of the survey was to record the extent, species composition, structure, condition and management of the county’s hedgerows.

Click here to download publication [PDF 740K]

Bridge Usage by Bats in County Leitrim and County Sligo

The main objective of this survey was to provide further evidence of the extent to which bats rely on bridges as roost sites. The survey was conducted between late April and mid-November 1998 in north Leitrim and selected regions of Sligo. A total of 174 bridges was surveyed.

Recommendations are made regarding bridge maintenance procedures and the conservation of bat roosts in bridges.

Click here to download a PDF version of the survey [839K]

Wildflowers of Cork City and County

A new and exciting book on the wildflowers of Cork city and county by Tony O’Mahony, has been recently published by The Collins Press.

This book is a stimulating and contemporary account of the flora and habitats of Ireland’s largest county. A handsome mix of spectacular photography and fascinating facts, Wildflowers of Cork City and County provides a wealth of botanical data for both the professional botanist and enthusiastic amateur alike. The book is largely based on botanical records collected by self-taught botanist, Tony O’Mahony, in his forty years exploring the highways and byways of the County. Tony was awarded an Honorary Master of Science degree by UCC in 2006, in recognition of his contribution of Irish botanical studies.

Beginning with an account of the recording of the Cork flora since 1745, the book goes on to describe the floristic diversity of the major landscape features of the county including the coast, the uplands, the great rivers and our ancient woodlands and hedgerows. The flora of Cork City and harbour is described with particular attention paid to public walks and amenity areas that are accessible to everyone. Tony devotes a number of chapters to important plant groups and provides a fascinating insight into the medicinal and culinary plants of the county, as well as the more recent additions to the Counties floral diversity. A total of 1,200 plant species and hybrids are included in this work.

Funded by Cork City Council, Cork County Council and the Heritage Council, the development of this book is an action of the Cork City and Cork County Heritage Plans.

This work is comprehensive and is an enduring contribution to the understanding of Cork’s plants and wildflowers. No one with an interest in flora should be without this book.

ISBN: 978-1-84889-020-6
Hardback
247 x 189 mm
456 pp
Full colour

For further information, photographs, images or interviews with the author please contact:
Gillian Hennessy: Tel: 021-4347717 / e-mail: gillian@collinspress.ie
Con Collins: Mob: 087-2513922 / e-mail: con.collins@collinspress.ie
Niamh Twomey, Cork City Heritage Officer: Tel: 021-4924018
Sharon Casey, Cork County Heritage Officer: Tel: 021-4818000

The book is now available from all good book stores.

Nature in the City - a guide to Biodiversity in Cork City

Biodiversity means the variety of life on Earth and encompasses everything from the smallest insect in our gardens to the largest whales in the ocean. It includes all living plants and animals whether rare or common. The term biodiversity is an attempt to represent in a single word the rich tapestry of life on Earth.

Cork City supports a wide and varied array of plants and animals. The green spaces of the city such as gardens, parks and areas such as the ponds and lakes, rivers and Cork Harbour provide havens for many species more usually found in rural situations. Indeed many of the urban structures of the city eg the walls and buildings also provide homes to species which specialise in living in cities.

This booklet helps to raise awareness of the wealth of nature in the city and indicates where and how nature in the city can be seen and enjoyed. This publication also gives practical tips on how to improve biodiversity and where to get further information and advice.

Click here to download Part 1 of 2 of the publication [PDF 3.6MB]

Click here to download Part 2 of 2 of the publication [PDF 4MB]

Copies are also available from the Planning and Development Directorate, City Hall, Cork City.
Tel: 021 4924757
Fax: 021 4924712
Email: heritage@corkcity.ie
For further information log on to http://www.corkcityheritage.ie

Cork City Biodiversity Plan

Click here to download the Cork City Biodiveristy Plan [PDF 1.2MB]

Trim Town Walls Conservation Plan

Click here to downlad a copy of the plan in PDF format [PDF 1.8MB]

Survey of Rare/Threatened and Scarce Vascular Plants in Co. Meath

Click here to download a copy of this survey in PFD format [PDF 2.1 MB]

Invasive Species in County Meath

Presentation on invasive species of plants, animals and molluscs discovered in county Meath. Click here to download the document in PDF format [1.8MB]

The Geological Heritage of Meath

This report documents what are currently understood to be the most important geological sites within Meath by the Irish Geological Heritage Programme of the Geological Survey of Ireland. It proposes them as County Geological Sites, for inclusion within the Meath County Development Plan.

Click here to download Part 1 of 5 of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.2MB]

Click here to download Part 2 of 5 of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.7MB]

Click here to download Part 3 of 5 of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.6MB]

Click here to download Part 4 of 5 of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.5MB]

Click here to download Part 5 of 5 of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.6MB]

Ecological Survey of Slane, Co. Meath Local Area Plan

Click here to download this document in PDF format [PDF 2.3MB]

Ecological Survey of Moynalty, Co. Meath Local Area Plan

Click here to download this document in PDF format [PDF 2.3MB]

Ecological Survey of Ashbourne Local Area Plan

Click here to download this document in PDF format [PDF 2.2MB]

Meath Heritage Plan

This plan sets out 77 achievable and realistic actions which need to be taken to protect, manage and conserve our heritage. The plan seeks to complement the work of the many agencies, organisations and individuals already.
Click here to download the County Meath Heritage Plan 2007-2011 [PDF 196K]