- Mr. Conor Newman (foreground), NUIG, is appointed Chair of the national Heritage Council. Pictured with the Chief Executive Michael Starrett. Aengus McMahon - Photographer
Appointment of Mr. Conor Newman as Chairperson of the Heritage Council
Mr John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has announced the appointment of Mr Conor Newman as Chairman of the Heritage Council. The role and remit of the Heritage Council is set out in the Heritage Act 1995. The term of office will be for a period of five years.
Conor Newman is a graduate of University College Dublin (UCD), and joined the staff at NUI Galway in 1996 where he teaches late prehistoric and early medieval archaeology. His research interests include the archaeology of the 4th-6th century transition from pagan to Christian Ireland and later prehistoric 'royal' centres, in particular the archaeology and landscape of Tara. He was director of the Discovery Programme Tara Survey and his work has been extensively published. He has pursued post-graduate research in Britain, France and Italy and was visiting professor of Celtic Archaeology at the University of Toronto. He is also editor of the Journal of Irish Archaeology. He is co-Director, with Dr Mark Stansbury (NUI Galway) of a research project Columbanus: Life and Legacy.
It is expected that a further announcement will be made regarding the appointment of four other board members in the coming weeks.