HERITAGE PROJECTS AND LEADERPauline Gleeson – National Monuments Service

Jacqui Donnelly – Architectural Heritage Advisory Unit

Longford 29th July 2015

THE PREVIOUS PROGRAMME

Additional Operating Rules 2012• A number of measures in previous RDP programme

required awareness of the protection afforded our built and natural heritage e.g. Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage

• Agreement between DECLG and DAHG to provide basis for best practice in relation to Heritage Projects within the RDP rules.

• Provide clear information on statutory requirements regarding Heritage Projects

• Provide for consistent approach across all LAGs

Definition of Heritage Projects

• Monuments and places protected under the National

Monuments Acts 1930-2004

• Protected structures and proposed protected structures

• Architectural Conservation Areas

• Protected Nature Conservation Sites

• Protected species of flora and fauna

• Other nature conservation sites and biodiversity areas

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Archaeological Heritage• Record of Monuments and Places (RMP)• www.archaeology.ie

Architectural Heritage• Record of Protected Structures & Architectural

Conservation Areas in Local Authority Development Plan• www.buildingsofireland.ie

Natural Heritage• Nature conservation legislation

• www.npws.ie

Main Principles• Protect and Preserve• Best Practice• Expert Advice

• Project Manager• Multi-disciplinary Project Team• Skilled operatives and craft-workers• Archive

• Statutory Compliance

PREVIOUS HERITAGE PROJECTS

Carrickabraghy CastleIsle of Doagh, Co. Donegal

• 16th century keep with

17th century tower • Exposed coastal location• In private ownership• Carrickabraghy Restoration

Society formed in 2010 by group of committed local enthusiasts

• Heritage Council funded initial rectified photography study

• LEADER funded main project• Conservation work began 2012• Project team of Conservation

Architect, Archaeologist, Structural Engineer and skilled masons

Carrickabraghy CastleIsle of Doagh, Co. DonegalSeptember 2014

St Peter’s ChurchLaragh, Co. Monaghan

• Laragh is a tiny former milling village in rural Monaghan

• St Peter’s – an exceptionally unusual building corrugated-iron church of significant architectural, social and technical special interest

• Considered to be a building of national importance

• Deconsecrated and largely abandoned for decades

• Laragh Heritage formed in 2012 by a group of local residents and friends of Laragh village

St Peter’s Church Laragh, Co. Monaghan

St Peter’s Church Laragh, Co. Monaghan

POTENTIAL HERITAGE PROJECTS

Heritage projects

• Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is working on a number of initiatives that have the potential to fit with the indicative themes of the new LEADER programme:

• Cultural tourism

• Heritage-led regeneration of rural towns

• Training in traditional building skills

• Climate change adaptation

CULTURAL TOURISM

Cultural Tourism Strategy - DAHG• Promote and protect Ireland’s unique

cultural heritage

• Mentor development of cultural tourism initiatives across sectors

• Improve access to sites – both physical access and access to information

• Encourage initiatives to help communities to promote engagement with local cultural heritage

• Develop and implement a Cultural Tourism Action Plan

HERITAGE-LED REGENERATION Historic Towns Initiative

Ireland’s historic towns - the context

© Sligo Champion, Feb. 2013

Regeneration of Ireland’s towns

• Towns will need to be smart, sustainable and creative in the future

• Multi-pronged approach is needed but one that is heritage-led to

capitalise on the distinctiveness of each town

• Integrated, strategic approach to planning

• Strong civic leadership

• Community engagement

• High-quality design that respects local culture, and traditional

skills and materials

Historic built environment• Heritage gives a historic town a unique competitive advantage; it

changes a location into a destination

• Heritage assets are an opportunity rather than a constraint and can

be the catalyst for sustainable change

• Re-using existing buildings is key to sustainability

• Historic built environment reinforces a sense of place and contributes

to the quality of life of the community

• Attracts the ‘culturally curious’ tourist

• Promotes traditional skills, craftsmanship and materials

Historic Towns Initiative• A joint undertaking by the Department of Arts, Heritage

and the Gaeltacht, the Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland

• Using a heritage-led regeneration approach to preserve local distinctiveness, support communities and promote sustainable tourism

• Making towns attractive places to live, to work and to visit

• Supporting towns in their role as the centres of civic, commercial and cultural life of their region

Historic Towns Initiative framework1. Undertake a comprehensive audit of the town and its

region

2. Build up local support for the preparation and implementation of the plan

3. Identify challenges and opportunities for the town

4. Develop a clear vision for the town supported by a realisable action plan

5. Implement the actions

6. Regularly monitor and review the plan

Historic Towns Initiative Pilot 2013-2014

Three towns were invited to take part in the pilot:• Youghal, Co. Cork• Westport, Co. Mayo• Listowel, Co. Kerry

Working group set up in summer 2012 with reps from the state bodies and the 3 pilot towns

Pilot ran from January 2013 to June 2014

Baseline surveys• Behaviour & Attitudes carried out 3 baseline surveys in

the pilot towns to establish the opinions of residents, businesses and visitors

• The locale’s history and culture (visitor attractions) were dominant reason for visitors to come to the towns

• Over 90% of residents and businesses surveyed consider the preservation of the history and heritage of their town to be ‘important’ or ‘extremely important’

TRADITIONAL BUILDING SKILLSTraining scheme pilot

Traditional building skills

• Currently there is a shortage of traditional building craft skills to carry out works to historic buildings

• Also a shortage of training opportunities to learn skills such as:• Thatching• Masonry• Ironwork• Carpentry and joinery

Traditional building skills initiative• Dept of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht ran a pilot scheme in 2014 with

three local authorities

• Purpose is to help bridge the gap between the skills needed, the courses offered and the potential for workers to learn new skills or to upskill

• Fingal: upskilling of carpenters and joiners in the repair of a 19th century greenhouse; DIT students participating

• Galway: training unemployed workers in limework and masonry skills at a historic workhouse with assistance of local Education and Training Board

• Kilkenny: work to repair two medieval churches; with participation of Waterford IT and private contractor

Traditional building materials

• Also a need to support the production of traditional building materials for historic building repairs including:

• Thatch• Stone• Slate• Timber• etc.

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONHeritage Sectoral Plan

Climate Change Adaptation

• The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework requires relevant government depts to prepare an adaptation plan for their sector

• Poor or misguided adaptation may be the biggest threat to built heritage

• Correctly maintaining historic structures and keeping them in good repair makes them more resilient to extreme weather events

CONCLUSION

Lessons learned• The most successful heritage projects were those that:

• Were well-designed and well-chosen projects that respected the heritage of the site and did not try to over-restore or significantly alter its character

• Involved a multi-disciplinary team from the outset with the necessary skills and expertise

• Had a motivated and engaged community group behind them

• Had good ongoing liaison with the statutory authorities

Heritage projects• Conserving the features of the traditional rural landscape

enhances the quality of life of the whole community

• Local heritage contributes to a sense of identity and a sense of place through the use of locally sourced materials and local traditions of construction

• Well designed and managed heritage projects • Prolong the life of historic buildings• Protect archaeological resources• Provide a source of local pride• Attract tourists and others to visit