Cas leis na hocht bpobal ‘a Ghlac’ lena séadchomharthaí áitiúla

Roghnaíodh ocht séadchomhartha ar fud na hÉireann lena gcur san áireamh i Scéim Glac le Séadchomhartha na Comhairle Oidhreachta. Cuireann an scéim nuálach seo teacht díreach ar fáil do phobail ar shaineolas, ar mheantóireacht agus ar thacaíocht chun cabhrú leo a n-oidhreacht áitiúil a chosaint, a chaomhnú, agus a chur chun cinn.

Séipéal agus reilig stairiúil i gCill Bhríde, Contae Liatroma, lios taobh le Scoil Náisiúnta na hInse i gContae an Chláir, séipéal agus reilig atá suite ag barr an Mhachaire i gContae Chiarraí, Túrtheach Bhéal Átha Bórú i gCaisleán Bhórú, Contae Loch Garman, séipéal meánaoiseach atá ina fhothrach agus reilig ar shuíomh mhainistir luath-mheánaoiseach Naomh Laichtín ag Domhnach Mór i gContae Chorcaí, teach allais atá suite san fhoraois ag an Dúnán, Contae Thiobraid Árann, reilig stairiúil ag Eanach Gailbh ar imill Bhaile an Chabháin agus Séipéal agus Reilig Ghleann Caoin i gContae Thiobraid Árann atá i measc na suíomhanna atá páirteach i scéim na bliana seo.

Cabhraíonn an Scéim Glac le Séadchomhartha, trí obair i gcomhar le pobail agus comhlachtaí stáit, todhchaí inbhuanaithe na séadchomharthaí glactha a chinntiú. Cuireann an scéim bealach ar fáil do phobail freisin chun mórtas áite agus ómós a thabhairt don am atá caite in Éirinn a chur chun cinn, chomh maith le deiseanna chun scéal ceantair áitiúil a fhorbairt agus a thuiscint, chun obair go comhoibríoch, a bheith gníomhach, páirt a ghlacadh i bhforbairt pobail agus borradh a chur faoin turasóireacht, faoin ngnó agus faoi dheiseanna fostaíochta.

Chuir líon mór grúpaí pobail isteach ar shéadchomhartha a ghlacadh ina gceantar áitiúil tar éis gur lorgaíodh iarratais i Márta 2025. Roghnaíodh na hocht suíomh i ndiaidh próiseas roghnúcháin ina raibh Seirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta, an Chomhairle Oidhreachta, Clár Discovery, seandálaí pobail, agus Abarta Heritage páirteach.

Ag caint di faoi na suíomhanna a roghnaíodh, dúirt Virginia Teehan, Príomhfheidhmeannach na Comhairle Oidhreachta:

“Mar choimeádaithe oidhreacht ár náisiúin, aithnímid nach é amháin ár séadchomharthaí stairiúla a chosaint a bhaineann leis an Scéim seo; baineann sé lenár gcomhchuimhne, ár bhféiniúlacht, agus ár scéalta a chosaint, agus tá baint ghníomhach pobal áitiúil ríthábhachtach. Tá de chuspóir againn na daoine seo a chumasú, agus na hacmhainní agus an tacaíocht a chur ar fáil dóibh a theastaíonn uathu le difríocht shoiléir a dhéanamh. Tá i bhfad níos mó i gceist leis an tionchar a imríonn aire a thabhairt dár séadchomharthaí áitiúla; cothaíonn sé mórtas mór i bpobail, déanann sé áiteanna bríomhara d’áiteanna atá ligthe i ndearmad, amanna, agus cuireann sé deis ar fáil oideachas a chur ar dhaoine trí rannpháirtíocht an phobail.”

Tionscnamh de chuid na Comhairle Oidhreachta í an Scéim Glac le Séadchomhartha agus tá sí á bainistiú ag Abarta Heritage. Cuirfear tacaíocht ar fáil don obair shuirbhéireachta agus imscrúdaithe do roinnt suíomhanna faoi Chlár Discovery, arb é comhlacht ceannais an Stáit do thaighde seandálaíochta.

Séipéal agus Reilig Ghleann Caoin, Contae Thiobraid Árann

Suíomh mór séipéil é seo a bhfuil ceangal aige le Naomh Cualán ón 7ú haois, ar thángthas ar a chlog naofa i gcuas i gcrann a bhí i ngar, (tá an taiseagán tábhachtach seo ar taispeáint anois i Músaem na Breataine).

Tá séipéal meánaoiseach atá ina fhothrach a bhfuil reilig stairiúil timpeall air sa suíomh. Ba mhaith le Cumann Oidhreachta agus Cultúir Ghleann Caoin an suíomh seo a chaomhnú go fadtéarmach agus é a chur chun cinn mar ní áitiúil is díol spéise.

Inch Ringfort, Co. Clare

Located beside the National School in Inch, Co. Clare, this ringfort has enormous potential to engage school children with the past. Currently overgrown and inaccessible, Inch Tidy Village in partnership with Inch National School want to understand more about the history and ecology of the site, and to make it more accessible for the school children and wider community.

Donoughmore Church and Graveyard, Co. Cork

A medieval church and graveyard stand on this site today, but it was once an early medieval monastic site associated with St Lachtin. The 12th century shrine of St Lachtin’s Arm (now displayed in the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street) is believed to have come from here. Donoughmore Historical Society want to celebrate and conserve the site, to learn more about its story, and to continue to raise awareness about it locally.

Ballyboro Tower House, Castleboro Demesne, Co. Wexford

Known locally as Butler’s Castle, this large tower house, which later became a fortified house, is in need of conservation work to protect it for future generations. Courtnacuddy Development Group, working with the landowner, want to provide safe access for visitors to a nearby walking trail to view the monument, they also want to find out more about the site and secure funding to conserve the building to protect it for years to come.

Kilbride Church and Graveyard, Co. Leitrim

Located in the townland of Killadiskert, in rural Co. Leitrim, Kilbride church and graveyard dates back to the late 1600s or early 1700s. It is thought that the church may have been built on an earlier site as there is a holy well nearby dedicated to St Brigid. Kilbride Church and Graveyard Restoration are adopting this site to discover more about it, to protect and preserve the biodiversity of the site and the conserve the ruins for future generations.

Doonane Sweat House, Co. Tipperary

Hidden away in the side of a hill beside a stream in Doonane Forest, you can find one of the few remaining sweat houses in Co. Tipperary. Sweat houses were a type of traditional sauna, and many date to the 17th–19th century. The sweat house in Doonane is in a very vulnerable state after deteriorating rapidly over recent years. Killoscully Development Association want to work with Coillte (the landowners), to find out more about the site and conserve it so that it is safe for many years to come.

Annagelliffe Church and Graveyard, Co. Cavan

The square graveyard at Annagelliffe was a shared burial place on the outskirts of Cavan town with memorials dating back to the 1700s. The graveyard also contained a church, but little visible remains can be seen today. Cavan Tidy Towns want to conserve this historic site, protect the biodiversity and discover more about those resting here.

Kilshannig Church and Graveyard, Co. Kerry

The medieval church and graveyard at Kilshannig, located at the tip of the Maharees near Castlegregory, may be on an earlier site dedicated to St Senach. An early medieval cross slab decorated with a type of cross known as a Chi Rho can be found on site and a nearby boulder known as Cloch an Turais was a place of pilgrimage for generations. The Maharees Conservation Group want to conserve this site which faces significant challenges from coastal erosion and climate change.