Episode 8- Heritage Maps: A Pathway Into Our Past

podcast / 26 March 2021

Heritagemaps.ie – overseen by Project Manager Pat Reid – is currently working on a range of projects, such as tracking the history of Irish lace and Irish stained glass and how a recent mapping project in Ireland went viral around the world.

Maps provide a multi-dimensional pathway into our past. And The Heritage Council has ambitious plans which will embrace various layers of Irish life. In today’s podcast, Pat explains how a recent mapping project linked up with the Irish Traditional Music Archive. This initiative referenced a particular song to a relevant townland or place name.

He points out that a recent map detailing Sheela na Gigs in Ireland went viral around the world. It received over 40,000 hits daily, bringing Heritagemaps.ie to a worldwide audience. The response highlighted a particular interest the Irish diaspora has on heritage matters.

Currently, 20% of those accessing the site are from outside Ireland.

The site has also been used, in previous years, by those planning a visit to Ireland, thereby making a contribution to the tourism sector.

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