Heritage Council

The Heritage Council seeks to protect and enhance the richness, quality and diversity of our national heritage for everyone. It works with its partners to increase awareness of our national heritage.

Five museums receive interim accreditation under Museums Standards Programme for Ireland

[1.] The GAA Museum: Mark Reynolds, archivist, Mark Dorman, Director, Michael Starrett, Heritage Council Chief Executive, Joanne Clarke, Curator, Aidan Pender, Director of Strategic Director, Failte Ireland, Dermot Gallagher, GAA Board Member.

[2] Cavan County Museum

[3.] County Museum Dundalk: Aidan Pender, Director Strategic Direction, Failte Ireland, Brian Walsh, Curator, David Storey, Executive Director, Dundalk Town Council, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, Heritage Council.

[4.] Limerick City Gallery of Art

[5.] South Tipperary Museum: Photos from left to right front: Marie McMahon, Curator, Damian Lizun, Michael Grace, Julia Walsh, Alice Tobin, Bernadette Corr, behind: Michael Starrett, Aidan Pender.

On June 8, 2010, at an event in the Coach House, Dublin Castle, five museums were awarded Interim Accreditation in the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. The GAA Museum, Cavan County Museum, County Museum Dundalk, Limerick City Gallery of Art and South Tipperary County Museum were presented with their certificates by the Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, and the Director of Strategic Direction, Failte Ireland, Aidan Pender.

Speaking about the Programme, Mr Starrett said, “this is an important initiative, which sets out to improve all aspects of Ireland’s museum practice and in particular raise the standards of care for collections across Irish museums and galleries. The value of the museum sector to the Irish economy cannot be underestimated. In 2009, over three million overseas visitors engaged in cultural/historical visits while in Ireland. Of these visitors, 1.7 million overseas visitors visited museums/art galleries across Ireland.”

"Accreditation under this Programme offers quality assurance to visitors that the museums they are visiting are adhering to a high set of standards in the management of the museum, care of collections and visitor services. In tough economic times, where visitor numbers are crucial to the viability of many attractions, the value to the museum and local area of this Programme cannot be underestimated", added Mr. Starrett.

Seven museums have now achieved Full Accreditation in the Programme, with these five museums bringing the number at Interim Accreditation also to seven.

Click here to read the June 8th press release.

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