Foilseacháin & Tuairiscí

The objective of this study, commissioned by the Heritage Council, is to provide a comprehensive audit of on-line heritage materials for the primary school sector that relate directly to the remit of the Council and to assess their current and potential use by teachers and children. This is to inform decision-making and planning around the possible provision of web-based resources for primary schools.

Newtown is a deserted medieval town, dating back to c. AD 1200, when it was founded near a crossing point on the River Nore not far from Thomastown and the Cistercian Abbey of Jerpoint. The site contains the standing remains of St Nicholas’ Church and a domestic tower, both of which are partly overgrown and tending towards dilapidation. The site also contains the well-preserved outlines of burgage plots, some of which contain the remains of house platforms which have survived despite clearing works on the site in the 19th century

The Heritage Council of Ireland established the Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) in April 2005
‘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 (IWTFC) which is the international association for the sustainable development of walled towns, walled cities and fortified historic towns.

Summary of the activities of the Heritage Council and financial statements for 2007

Agus iad forbartha óna feidhmeanna reachtúla, a comhfhís agus a bunphrionsabail, tá sé i gceist go leagfaí obair uile na Comhairle laistigh de na cúig théama straitéiseacha seo a leanas. Tá sprioc ar leith ardleibhéil ag gach téama le polasaithe agus gníomhaíochtaí aitheanta chun an sprioc a bhaint amach.
Beidh na gníomhaíochtaí seo in n-éirim ag mionchlár oibre na Comhairle i rith na tréimhse 2007-2011. Is iad na cúig théama straitéiseacha ná: Téama Straitéiseach
1: Ardú Feasachta agus Tuisceana
2: Taighde Oidhreachta/Suirbhéanna, Anailís agus Measúnú
3: Comhairle Polasaí Fianaise-Bhunaithe
4: Spreagadh a thabhairt d’fhorbairt infrastruchtúir oidhreachta ar leibhéal náisiúnta, réigiúnach, contae agus áitiúil.
5: An cleachtas is fearr i gCaomhnú agus i mBainistiú Oidhreachta
Inbhuanaith

Developed from its statutory functions, shared vision and core principles, it is proposed to place all
Council’s work within the following five strategic themes. Each of the themes has a specific high-level target with policies and actions identified to achieve the target. These actions will form the essence of Council’s detailed work programme during the period 2007-2011.
The five strategic themes are:

1: Raising Awareness and Appreciation
2:Heritage Research / Surveys, Analysis and Evaluation
3: Evidence-Based Policy Advice
4: Encourage the development of heritage infrastructure at national, regional, county and local level.
5: Best practice in Conservation and Sustainable Heritage Management

The objective of the audit was to ascertain the following:
• The location of maritime and inland waterways collections in Ireland
• An overview of what is contained in each collection
• An indication, where practical, of the condition of each collection
• An indication, where practical, of the conditions in which each collection is stored
• Whether the collections also contain paper records (archives, plans, charts and maps, photographs and drawings)
• Ownership of each collection

The objective of the industrial heritage component of the study is to identify and assess the distinctive aspects of the industrial heritage and to provide an inventory of the extant sites within the Waterway Corridor.

The specific impacts examined were:

• Ecological impact - terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, and terrestrial and aquatic habitats;
• Cultural heritage impact - underwater archaeology, and upstanding archaeological structures such as crannógs, landing places, harbours, piers and bridges from medieval times to the mid-20th century;
• Hydro-morphological impact - river and canal channels, river and canal banks, different soil types to assess their susceptibility to erosion, sediment mobilisation and depositional patterns, navigational and engineering structures.

This review provides an overview of the findings, methodologies and mitigation strategies used elsewhere. It will inform a second stage of research involving field study at a later stage.

Completed landscape character review forms for each county in Ireland undertaken as part of the Landscape Character Assessment Baseline Audit.