The Julianstown VDS embraces a collaborative and participative approach to village design, whereby local communities have a real voice in how their villages are planned and managed in the future. 

This Public Realm Plan for the Walled Town of Fethard seeks to provide a strategic framework by which the town can maximise the benefits of its many assets, without losing those special qualities that give it character and charm. 

Summary of feedback:

• 18 Walled Towns/Cities organised events on Irish Walled Towns’ Day 2006. Events included family fun-days, concerts, guided walks, etc.;
• Heritage Officers, Heritage Groups, local communities and businesses, Government Ministers, Local Authority Councillors and Officers
were all involved in the organisation and launching of the all-island events;
• The Network’s events were given excellent media coverage from national and local press, local radio, etc; (see Appendix E);
• The Heritage Council distributed over 300 Council T-shirts and baseball hats throughout Ireland on Irish Walled Towns’ Day;
• Two Walled Towns Conferences were organised in Kilmallock and Dublin;
• Photographic competitions were launched in 10 Walled Towns (north and south);
• The event has grown significantly since the first ever all-island event of 2005;
• Approximately 4,000 people took part in the IWTN’s celebratory Irish Walled Towns’ Day in 2006;
• Irish Walled Towns’ Day is particularly important to historic walled towns located outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA);
• The local photographic competition period for entries will close on the 29thSeptember 2006 and the national winners will be announced at the inaugural Irish Walled Towns Network Gala Dinner on the 9thNovember 2006 in the D Hotel, Drogheda

This study on grant-giving in Ireland makes the case for continued state authority funding of a wide range of built heritage grants. The study also outlines the growing interest in ‘preventative maintenance’ and how to achieve value for money in grant-giving for building conservation. The Heritage Council received a grant in 2010 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to implement the Government Policy on Architecture 2009 - 2015. 

The appendix provides details of respondents answers to survey.