Our Projects & Programmes

Collaborative Town Centre Health Check Programme

A trans-disciplinary Collaborative Town Centre Health Check Programme in conjunction with participating towns across the country.

Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme

An annual grants scheme for the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings and related structures.

Farming for Nature - Technical Group

The Farming for Nature Technical Group was convened by the Heritage Council as part of its ongoing High Nature Value (HNV) Farming Ireland work.

Heritage Council Podcast Series

Our podcasts this year will explore a broad overview of the multi-layered experiences which encompass Ireland’s past. These podcasts will also put into context how this sense of heritage is all part of our collective experience, and why so much of what went before, still resonates in the present.

Podcast Series - Putting Town Centres First

A podcast series to raise awareness and understanding of key issues now confronting our historic town centres.

Homeowner Maintenance Advice Series

A collection of leaflets on basic building maintenance for Homeowners, produced in partnership with SPAB Ireland.

Irish Walled Towns Network

Formed by the Heritage Council in 2005, the role of the IWTN is to help the Walled Towns of Ireland become better places in which to live, work and visit.

Historic Towns Initiative

An initiative to promote heritage-led regeneration and to improve the quality of our historic towns and villages for residents and tourists.

Adopt a Monument

A scheme to help communities become actively involved in the conservation and interpretation of their local archaeological and cultural heritage sites.

Heritage in Schools Scheme

Encourage greater awareness in your school of Ireland’s rich built, natural and cultural heritage with an engaging and stimulating visit from one of our Heritage in Schools experts.

Heritage Maps

Find or identify heritage sites and explore heritage data sets anywhere in Ireland.

Know Your 5k

An initiative from the Heritage Council and National Museum of Ireland which invites you to share your discoveries and insights about the hidden heritage of your locality.

National Heritage Week

Towards the end of August each year we celebrate Ireland’s natural, built and cultural heritage with an inspiring, informative and enjoyable programme of events.

Irish Pollinator Initiative

Initiative to collect and disseminate data on Irish pollinators and to devise positive actions to support pollinator conservation in Ireland.

Museum Standards Programme for Ireland

MSPI promotes professional standards in the care of collections in Irish museums and galleries. The programme recognises the achievement of those standards through accreditation.

Conservation Internships

The programme is run in partnership with the Chester Beatty Library, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, The National Archives and Trinity College Dublin.

Irish Archives Resource

A national, integrated online resource that provides access to a broad and fascinating range of Irish historical archives.

Tidy Towns Heritage Award

The TidyTowns Heritage Award has been sponsored by the Heritage Council to encourage a greater awareness of the value of our heritage to our quality of life and to sustainable economic development.

Community-led Village Design Statements

A collaborative approach to village planning and design that gives local communities a real voice in deciding how their villages are planned and shaped for the future.

The National Public Realm Plan Programme

Supporting collaborative projects that assess the functions, unique selling points, quality of public spaces and civic landmarks in historic towns in order to formulate and develop visionary plans for their future development.

Brú na Bóinne Research Framework

The framework assesses current knowledge and research of this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site and proposes a strategy for future research with a view to its sustainable management.

Significant Unpublished Irish Excavations 1930-1997

Detail of significant archaeological investigations in Ireland which had not been featured widely in printed publications previous to 2004.

BiblioMara

This extensive bibliography is a valuable resource for any researcher or student of Ireland’s coastal and maritime culture and heritage. BiblioMara is equally valuable for local heritage projects in coastal areas.

Heritage at Play

Competition for LEGO® brick enthusiasts aged 4-12 years themed on the built, natural and cultural heritage of Ireland.

Covid-19 Heritage Sector Survey

In April 2020 the Heritage Council launched a survey into the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the heritage sector in Ireland.

Coming to Your Natural Senses

A Heritage Council Project, in partnership with Birdwatch Ireland, Bat Conservation Ireland & the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

Wildlife Sanctuary

A Heritage Council Project, in partnership with Persons Seeking Asylum (PSA), Abbeyleix Bog Trust & the Irish Peatlands Conservancy Council, with assistance from Sanctuary Runners.

Landscape

The Heritage Council recommends that the principles of shared ownership and shared responsibility for our landscape should be reflected in planning legislation which is both inclusive and participatory.

The Beara Breifne Way

Ireland’s longest walking trail gives walkers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the great range of beautiful landscapes from the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork to Blacklion in Co. Cavan.

Coastal Heritage

This directory contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in researching, studying or finding out more about Irish coastal geology, flora, fauna, climate, archaeology, built heritage and people.

Mayglass Farmstead

The Mayglass Farmstead is an exemplar and rare survivor of a type of two-storied thatched rural dwelling of the Irish vernacular tradition and one of the most significant conservation projects ever carried out by The Heritage Council.

Heritage Keepers

Discover Your Place: Become A Heritage Keeper. The Heritage Keeps Programme is run in partnership with Burrenbeo Trust.