to download an English language version of the 2009 Heritage ...

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
The year 2009 in an Irish context will not be
remembered for its positive contribution to our
economic, social or environmental well being. Our
economy has been under pressure, our environment
has been under pressure, and our society has been
under pressure.
Sustainability has always been a difficult concept to
explain but has been made much easier by the fact that
we are now all acutely aware of what unsustainability
means and what its consequences are. In offering
solutions to our current crisis it is hugely significant
that a number of leading commentators have focused
on the intrinsic and extrinsic values of natural and
cultural heritage and the role that they can play in
social healing and sustainable economic recovery.
However, cultural and natural heritage are not only
co-dependent and fragile resources, they are also in
need of remediation from under-funding and overexploitation.
So, if we are to realise their true potential
to contribute to quality of life, including generating
sustainable employment, we need to manage them in
an inclusive, informed and thoughtful way.
In presenting the Heritage Council’s Annual Report I
am pleased to report on the transformation that has
taken place in the manner in which we have carried
out our work this year. Placing even greater emphasis
on the co-dependency of nature and culture, we have
cast our net to a wider public and provided a service
that is more streamlined and yet even more relevant
and beneficial to those who use it.
The financial resources at our disposal may have
been reduced but Council and its staff has remained
steadfastly committed to their efficient and effective
use within our new and challenging framework.
I look forward with optimism to Council continuing its
work of increasing public participation in the decision
making processes as they relate to our National
Heritage.
Conor Newman
Chairman
4 THE HERITAGE COUNCIL 2009 ANNUAL REPORT