A special Heritage Council publication featuring stories from heritage officers in every county is being launched today to mark 25 years since the Heritage Officer Network was founded. The booklet, ‘Opening the door to Ireland’s heritage’ details one key heritage project from each local authority from the last three years which collectively, highlight the enormous contribution the Network has made to the preservation of our heritage over the last quarter of a century.
The booklet chronicles the growth of Féile na gCloch, or Festival of Stone, which takes place on Inis Oírr in Galway every year, celebrating the craftmanship, heritage, and the timeless beauty of stonework. The project started in the early 2000s due to the volume of enquiries coming into the Galway County Council Heritage Office about courses and workshops covering traditional crafts and skills. What began as a small event in 2004 attended by around 200 people, has now expanded into a full-blown international festival with participants coming from all over the world.
The festival also has an important economic impact, playing a role in promoting local businesses and artisans involved in stonecraft. Taking place in September each year, it brings in valuable revenue to the island community in the off tourism season.
Meanwhile, the repair, consolidation and conservation of three castles in and around Galway city is the focus of Galway City Council’s ‘Three Castles Project’. The three castles that are at the heart of this project are Tirellan Castle, Menlough Castle, and Merlin Castle.
In a partnership between the Heritage Council and local authorities, the first heritage officers were appointed in 1999 in Kerry, Sligo and Galway with the aim of raising awareness of heritage issues within the local authority and among local communities. Since then, the heritage officer network has become synonymous with the protection and promotion of Ireland’s heritage and for the first time in 2021, every local authority in the country had appointed somebody to the role.
While highlighting the important work they do, the stories in the publication also offer a stark insight into what may have been lost were it not for the heritage officers. Mangan’s Clock in the heart of Cork city may have fallen into disrepair. The most historic buildings in Ballyshannon or Listowel may have been left derelict and allowed to crumble. The natural beach and dune habitats along the coast of Wicklow may have become irrevocably degraded and the craftsmanship of dry-stone walling on Inis Oirr may have receded.
Speaking on the launch of the booklet, Heritage Officer for Galway County Council Marie Mannion said:
“It is deeply satisfying to see documented in this publication the influence of the Heritage Officer Network in shaping our approach to heritage conservation and protection. Although we work as individuals at local authority level, what is clear from these pages is that the real strength of the Network is in the collective. These stories cover only a snapshot of recently completed projects from current heritage officers, so when we factor in the hundreds of past projects completed since 1999, it brings into the focus the enormous impact that the Local Authority Heritage Officer Programme has had.”
Chairperson of the Heritage Council Martina Moloney added that she had the pleasure of working extensively with our Heritage Officers over many years and am constantly amazed by the sheer variety of their work which is excellently captured in this beautiful publication.
“Not only do they provide advice, guidance, and information on all aspects of heritage, but they also secure funding, undertake research, collect data, and develop and lead a multitude of highly impactful and engaging projects. Raising awareness locally, Heritage Officers inspire communities to value and take ownership of their important local heritage in all its forms. What their work achieves, ultimately, is that it opens the door to our heritage for people across Ireland and further afield, so that it can be enjoyed and appreciated by everyone.”
John Mulholland, Chair of the CCMA Rural Development, Community, Culture and Heritage (RCCH ) Committee also attended the launch, and said:
“What has always stood out to me about the Heritage Officer Network is the range and number of individuals, groups and funders involved in the projects they undertake. It is very difficult to keep such a diverse range of interested parties singing off the same hymn sheet and getting the job done. This is the silent but tireless work of the Heritage Officers at play, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude. On behalf of the CCMA, I commend them for their dedication.”
