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.
A scheme to help communities become actively involved in the conservation and interpretation of their local archaeological and cultural heritage sites.
Overview
Our ancient history has bestowed on us a wealth of monuments that need care and attention to ensure that they survive for future generations to enjoy.
Through the Adopt a Monument Scheme we provide expertise, mentoring and support to encourage communities to ‘adopt’ a monument in their area in order to ensure ongoing maintenance and greater protection through increased civic value.
Aims and Objectives
We want to help community groups embrace their heritage site, be it a prehistoric tomb, stone circle, medieval town wall, castle, church, bridge, graveyard, landed estate, mine, kiln, mill, traditional house or battlefield. Our vision is that the chosen monument will serve as a focal point for heritage-related, educational and recreational activities and will encourage greater interpretation and understanding.
The Scheme offers opportunities to:
• become actively involved in the conservation and interpretation of heritage sites in your local area;
• collaborate and work together as a community;
• participate in community development;
• boost regional tourism, business and employment opportunities;
• develop and understand the story of your locality and keep active and learn new skills.
In the video below we hear from the Society for Old Lucan who adopted St Finian's Church & Graveyard in Lucan, Co Dublin.
The Participants
- St Molings Millrace County Carlow
- Bailieborough Church and Graveyard, Co Cavan
- Church of the Rath Killeshandra County Cavan
- Kilkerrin Battery, County Clare
- Kilmurry Lime Kiln, County Clare
- Baltimore ringfort, Co Cork
- Altan Farm Summerhouse, Dunlewey, Co Donegal
- Cooley Cross and Graveyard, near Moville, Co Donegal
- Doon Fort County Donegal
- Kilbarron Castle County Donegal
- Killaghtee church and cross, Donegal
- Malin Well Old Church, County Donegal
- St. Finian’s Church & Graveyard, Lucan, County Dublin
- Mountbellew Walled Garden, Co Galway
- St James’s Church and graveyard, Dingle, Co Kerry
- Dunmanoge church and graveyard, Co Kildare
- Brandon Hill moated site, County Kilkenny
- Rathbeagh Ringfort, Co Kilkenny
- Old St Peters Church Portlaoise, Co Laois
- Kilfinane Motte County Limerick
- Inniskeen motte, Co Monaghan
- Ballintleva Handball Alley County Roscommon
- Court Abbey, Lavagh, Co Sligo
- Moygara Castle, County Sligo
- Earlshill Colliery and Powder House, Slieveardagh, County Tipperary
- Graves of the Leinstermen, County Tipperary
- Knockboy Medieval Church Waterford
- Gallowshill Dungarvan County Waterford
- Round Hill Lismore County Waterford
- New Crusher Building, Baravore, Glenmalure County Wicklow
Resources
A Guide to the Adopt A Monument Scheme
This booklet is a guide to the Adopt a Monument Scheme and is aimed at communities, groups and individuals interested in managing, protecting and promoting their local heritage. It explains what Adopt a Monument is, how to apply, and it also features testimonials from community groups involved with the scheme. View/Download A Guide to the Adopt A Monument Scheme
Adopt A Monument Manual
The Adopt a Monument Manual has been designed as a guidance document for participants in the Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Scheme, but we hope it is also useful for any communities who are interested in carrying out community heritage projects.
The manual covers a broad range of themes including:
- Research Techniques
- Recording Techniques
- Publication and Archiving
- Best Practice in Care and Conservation
- Interpretation
- Promotion, Outreach and Communication
- Funding Sources
- Health and Safety
- Useful Contacts and Statutory Requirements
Adopt a Monument Research Toolkit
The Adopt a Monument Research Toolkit is a great resource for anyone interested in studying their local heritage. This toolkit gives detailed guidance about a range of online sources that you can consult to learn more about sites and monuments. It also provides advice on how to develop your research questions and how to evaluate and record sources.
There are profiles of some of the key sources, such as the National Monuments Service, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland and the Schools Folklore Collection. You may be surprised by how much you can discover about your chosen site by consulting these and the many other sources outlined in the toolkit.
Works to Historic Graveyards
Download the image above as a pdf with clickable links below
For more detailed information on what kind of work should and should not be done when maintaining a historic graveyard, view/download our publication "Guidance for the Care, Conservation and Recording of Historic Graveyards below.
You can follow the Adopt a Monument project on Twitter at or find us on Facebook
If you have any questions about the scheme please contact us at: adoptamonument@heritagecouncil.ie
Know Your 5K
‘KnowYour5k ’ is a new initiative from the Heritage Council (as part of the Adopt a Monument scheme) and National Museum of Ireland which provides an opportunity to share discoveries about our hidden heritage. The project helps the public to use a wealth of online resources to find out more about the story of their locality.
It is all about sharing the story of your local place. If you have a poem, story, picture or drawing about a particular heritage site in your locality, why not share it with us at: https://www.ouririshheritage.org/content/category/archive/place/knowyour5k
The upload process is straightforward and there are guides about online tools to help with researching the story of your place. You can contribute your own stories or discover the hidden heritage that surrounds us all by browsing through other contributions. We hope the KnowYour5k project helps you to discover the stories that surrounds us all!
In the News
Five Historic Monuments Across Ireland to Benefit from Expertise and Mentoring
Five monuments across Ireland selected for Heritage Council’s Adopt a Monument Programme
7 new sites selected for the Heritage Council's Adopt A Monument Programme 2019
Adopt a Monument Manual wins Mary Mulvihill Media Award
