Local history with Monica McGill: Heritage Council has a wide and complex list of duties

This year’s recent Annual Joe Williams Lecture concerned the Heritage Council (HC).

The talk was presented by the HC’s spokesperson, Dr Eoin Ó Donnchadha, and held in Clondalkin Library.

The Joe Williams Archive thanks Dr Ó Donnchadha for his time, his expertise and his interesting and informative presentation.

The Archive also thanks Clondalkin Library’s personnel who facilitated the evening with their usual warm welcome, and positive attitude throughout.

As in previous annual lectures, the audience was attentive and lively and their attendance was much appreciated as usual.

Unfortunately, some “regulars” couldn’t attend this year and requested a re-cap, so here is an outline.

This year’s audience heard Dr Ó Donnchadha describe the HC’s functions and activities and he provided information about its funding schemes.  Much of his presentation is absent because of limited space, so the HC website  gives more information than is possible here.

Dr Ó Donnchadha advised that the HC is a national public body established by the Heritage Act, 1995, under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. HERE.

It receives funding via the Irish Government.

The HC has a wide and complex list of duties.  According to the 1995 Act, “The Council shall in particular promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in [our heritage], and facilitate the appreciation and enjoyment of the national heritage, … co-operate with public authorities, educational bodies and other organisations and persons …”  The Minister can bestow other functions onto the HC as deemed necessary.

Dr Ó Donnchadha’s talk outlined many of the aspects included in the concept of heritage.

It includes “hard” elements that we can see and touch, such as our environment, landscapes and wildlife habitats, our inland and sea waterways, our archaeology, our heritage buildings and sites.

Our heritage also includes intangible elements that are more subtle, but are still part of us as a people.

These include our folklore, languages, heritage skills and customs.

The HC works with large organisations like County Councils, to help in promoting heritage awareness and developing policy regarding our national heritage.  It also works with local community groups whose interests and establishment meet certain criteria and so may also be supported in their work.

Of course, funding and expertise are amongst the immediate considerations when supporting our heritage properly so that we can learn from it and appreciate it now and in the future.  The HC annual grants programme is as varied as its duties and functions.

The HC website informs that between 2010 and 2022, the total funding amounts awarded increased from approximately €4.6 million to €6.6 million.

Although no HC funding schemes are open currently, Dr Ó Donnchadha advised that the next funding cycle will become available later in 2024.

Presumably, as with other Government-sponsored funding bodies, not every project submitted for consideration is or can be funded.

The HC website showcases various projects it has already supported with funding (see HERE.)

They are reminiscent of elements of Clondalkin’s heritage, including those in the Vision for Clondalkin document which was prepared by local people.

It’s a comprehensive, ideas-provoking work.  It underlines the importance of our local built and other heritage and suggests an overall plan, details to support it as well as expected outcomes.  Vision for Clondalkin was presented to the County Council in 2022 for its consideration as part of the Clondalkin Local Area Plan, currently in preparation.

The many inspiring projects already enabled by HC funding include a community-led re-generation of the town of Tralee.

The funding “enabled the conservation of protected structures located within designated Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) in Tralee town.”

Clondalkin village also has an ACA, though most people (including shopkeepers) may not be aware of it nor the importance of the various heritage buildings within it.

More information about ACAs is available on our County Council’s website.

Other HC funding schemes include Knockboy (Seskin) Church in Co. Waterford.  (See HERE-)

Here, local people worked together over a number of years.  The project required funding of its fourth phase consolidation works to assist the ongoing conservation in stabilising and protecting the structure.  They were guided by an expert.

Our own St Cuthbert’s Church, moat and graveyard (owned by the County Council) comes to mind.

The building is in ruins, on a neglected site in maintained parkland surrounded by modern roads named in its honour.

Because its important ecclesiastical prominence in our local and national heritage, St Cuthbert’s sad present condition is a shame.

Hopefully, matters will soon improve with the possible advice from an architectural expert regarding possibilities.

In Clondalkin, other heritage buildings require urgent and worthwhile attention if they are to remain, and hopefully be re-purposed sympathetically, to be enjoyed anew by locals and visitors.

These include the County Council-owned Fairview Oil Mills in Corkagh Park.

They’re now in a parlous condition, a sad present outcome for our last remaining historical mill, a big chunk of our local industrial past in public ownership for about the last 20 years.

Clearly, funding and expertise are available.  All we have to do is access them successfully.

However, can the necessary work be done before it’s too late (particularly for our built heritage)?  Can local people, the County Council and the Heritage Council co-operate to save our remaining heritage?

The HC website has a huge range of advisory information for people interested in various aspects of our environment and heritage (see HERE).

This is “A list of resources we hope you find helpful when planning and developing your heritage project.”

Amongst the other information available, the HC website (HERE ) also indicates its support for other long-term projects such as National Heritage Week, the Irish Pollinator Initiative, the Tidy Towns Heritage Award, the Irish Archives Resource, The National Public Realm Plan Programme, Conservation Internships and many, many more.

The question must be asked: Why preserve and/or conserve Clondalkin’s heritage, why acknowledge, protect and promote it?  Because it’s part of us and so worthy of attention.

Any who consider that notion too “airy-fairy” may be persuaded by the “pulling-power” of heritage buildings, sites, and traditions elsewhere at home and abroad which every year attracts visitors to an area, thereby increasing local employment prospects and general prosperity.

The author is voluntary curator of The Joe Williams Archive.