Irish Walled Towns

More Information

The history of Ireland can literally be found in its Walled Towns. The Irish Walled Towns Network was established by The Heritage Council in 2005 and currently comprises 21 walled towns and villages throughout Ireland. There are Ardee, Athenry, Athlone, Bandon, Carlingford, Carrickfergus, Cashel, Clonmel, Cork, Derry, Drogheda, Dublin, Fethard, Galway, Kilkenny, Kilmallock, Limerick, New Ross, Rinn Duin, Trim, Waterford, Wexford and Youghal.

Role

The role of the Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) is to unite and co-ordinate the strategic efforts of local authorities involved in the management, conservation and enhancement of historic walled towns in Ireland, both North and South.

The Irish Walled Towns Network is formally linked to the International Walled Towns Friendship Circle (WTFC), which is the international association for the sustainable development of walled towns, walled cities and fortified historic towns. 

Objectives

The Irish Walled Towns Network seeks to ensure that Ireland’s unique cultural and archaeological heritage in relation to its walled and fortified towns and cities is protected and managed in a sustainable and appropriate manner in the long-term.  The Network is committed to operate, in accordance with the WTFC’s Mission Statement and International conservation ‘Best Practice’.

The Irish Network will liaise with other historic Walled and Fortified Towns in Europe on a regular basis, e.g. Chester, Dubrovnik, Alcudia, etc. Improved networks and links will ensure that quality management and effective conservation plans and systems are designed and implemented to protect and conserve the historic Walled Towns for the enjoyment and appreciation of current and future generations in Ireland and further afield.

Policy

Walled Towns and Cities in Ireland are an important national heritage asset. They link our communities to the past, whilst shaping the current and future urban form and fabric of our modern settlements. The Heritage Council’s responsibilities under the provisions of The Heritage Act 1995 include devising policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage, including monuments, i.e. extant town walls.*[See note]

The remaining Walls or former sites/routes, when effectively conserved, managed and promoted, help to create a ‘unique sense of place, belonging and identity’ and are an important, long-term source of ‘civic pride’ and focus for tourism, cultural and economic development. The conservation and management of the historic Walls also contribute to an enhanced ‘quality of life’ for residents and visitors alike.

According to the International Walled Towns Friendship Circle:

Walled Towns are unique inheritances from times long past and should be treasured, maintained and safeguarded from neglect, damage and destruction and passed on into perpetuity as irreplaceable ‘Timestones of History’.
(Source: WTFC Piran Declaration, 2003.)

The Irish Walled Towns Network endorses the Piran Declaration and aims to ensure that the Walled Towns in Ireland are protected, conserved and managed for the benefit of existing and future generations.

* Section 6 of the Act states that the functions of the Heritage Council shall be “to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage, including monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks and inland waterways.

Committee

The Irish Walled Towns committee is appointed by the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and is currently made up of the following participants:

Brian Tyrell: IWTN Chairman, Senior Executive Officer, Kilkenny Borough Council
Ciara Brett: Archaeologist, Cork City Council
Pat Collins: Wexford Town Clerk, Acting Chairman IWTN
Ian Doyle: Head of Conservation Services, Heritage Council
Andrew Gault: Archaeologist, Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Liam Mannix: Project Manager Irish walled Towns Network
Sarah McCutcheon: Archaeologist, Limerick County Council
Craig McGuicken: Head of Museum and Heritage Services, Derry City Council
Maeve McKeever: Heritage Product Officer, Fáilte Ireland
Nessa Roche: Architectural Advisor, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

The committees role is to raise awareness of the IWTN, to organise Irish Walled Towns day and to provide feedback and direction to The Heritage Council.

Best Practice

It is an objective of the Irish Walled Towns Network that all consultants and contractors conduct adequate research and planning before conservation works begin on the medieval fabric and conduct all actions according to international best practice as detailed in the Venice and Burra Charters. Similarly, any site interpretation or events which take place with the support of the Irish Walled Towns Network are to be carried out in keeping with the guidelines set out in the Burra Charter and only after proper consideration is given to the meanings of the Walls.

Membership

Membership of the IWTN is dependent on a town being in list A of Avril Thomas’ book The Walled Towns of Ireland (1992) (see below). Failing inclusion, membership is open to those towns that have illustrated through scholarly research that their town has or once had town walls.

List A : Adare, Ardee, Athboy, Athenry, Athlone, Athy, Bandon, Belfast, Buttevant, Callan, Carlingford, Carlow, Carrickfergus, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Castledermot, Clonmel, Clonmines, Coleraine, Cork, Derry, Dingle, Downpatrick, Drogheda, Dublin, Dungarvan, Fethard, Fore, Galway, Gowran, Inistioge, Jamestown, Kells (Meath), Kildare, Kilkenny, Kilmallock, Kinsale, Limerick, Loughrea, Naas, Navan, Nenagh, New Ross, Newry, Philipstown, Portlaoise, Rindoon, Roscommon, Thomastown, Thurles, Tipperary, Trim, Waterford, Wexford, Youghal