Annual Report 2005 - The Heritage Council

2005 

AN CHOMHAIRLE OIDHREACHTA 

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 

THE HERITAGE COUNCIL 

ANNUAL REPORT 

AN 

CHOMHAIRLE 

OIDHREACHTA 

THE 

HERITAGE 

COUNCIL

© An Chomhairle Oidhreachta / The Heritage Council 2005 

All rights reserved. 

No part of this book may be printed or reproduced 

or utilised in any electronic, mechanical, 

or other means, now known or heretoafter 

invented, including photocopying or licence 

permitting restricted copying in Ireland issued by the 

Irish Copyright Licencing Agency Ltd., 

The Writers Centre, 

19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 

Published by the Heritage Council 

Designed and Produced by 

B. Magee Design 

ISSN 1393 6794 

The Heritage Council of Ireland Series 

ISBN 1901137872 

75 

Printed on Recycled paper containing a minimum of 75% de-inked post consumer waste.. 

2 

T h e H e r i t a g e C o u n c i l

The Heritage Council 2005 

Contents 

Message from Council 4 

Chief Executive’s Report 5 

The Heritage Council 2005 6 

Heritage Council Members 6 

Heritage Council Meeting in Cork 7 

Heritage Council Staff 8 

Staff Training 8 

Summary List of Achievements 2005 10 

1. Partnerships 12 

2. Proposals and Priorities 24 

3. Promotion and Education 30 

Corporate Governance 38 

Prompt Payments 38 

Financial Statements 2005 39 

Report of Comptroller & Auditor General 42 

Statement of Responsibilities of the Council 44 

Statement on the system of Internal Financial Control 45 

General and Accounting Policies 46 

Income and Expenditure Account 47 

Balance Sheet 49 

Notes to the Financial Statements 50 

Schedule 1 to the Financial Statements 61 

Appendix A: Committee Members 81 

Appendix B: Links 83 

Appendix C: Heritage Council Publications 85 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t

MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL 

2005 was a year of two Councils. 

Together with my colleagues and friends from 

the Heritage Council 2000-2005 my period 

of tenure ended in July. In evaluating the 

effectiveness of our work it was pleasing to 

note that, when appointed, the new Council 

members would be the proud occupants of 

Council’s new headquarters at the Bishop’s 

Palace in Kilkenny, and would inherit a 

full staff complement. In addition core 

programmes had continued in often difficult 

circumstances (in particular our grants 

programmes and partnership with local 

authorities) supported by an ever increasing 

public awareness of the significance of our 

national heritage. All of this demonstrated 

that Council had built on the foundations 

that it had inherited. I thank all of the school 

of 2000-2005 for their commitment and 

dedication to the work of the organisation. 

Without their input the heritage of Ireland 

would be at much greater risk. 

As chairperson of Council I was privileged 

to be offered a further period as chair in 

October. I was reappointed along with sixteen 

other members, four of whom were also 

reappointed, providing a very necessary 

degree of continuity in membership. The 

new Council is in the process of developing 

its new five-year programme, in a context 

where the Minister has reinforced clarity 

regarding its role. New and exciting tasks 

completed in 2005 point the way towards 

significant further work to be undertaken. A 

focus on raising awareness through improved 

internal and external communication has 

been demonstrated through our work on 

heritage week, as well as through better use 

of information technology. The local authority 

heritage programme continues to excel in 

securing involvement at a local level, and new 

policy proposal for the maritime heritage and 

inland waterways will soon take its full effect. 

Council’s role in strategic (and sometimes 

contentious) planning matters continues in 

a quiet and effective manner. Notable long 

term proposals have been provided in regard 

to major infrastructural projects in Meath and 

Waterford, and the commitment to the Irish 

Walled Towns Network is showing benefits for 

all our stakeholders. The place of our small 

towns and villages in the landscape received 

particular emphasis during the year, as did 

grant support for a wide range of buildings 

at risk. Natural and cultural heritage, 

respectively, derived ongoing benefit from 

Council’s National Biological Records Centre 

and its Museum Standards and Accreditation 

Programme. 

I look forward with enthusiasm to working 

together with all our partners in the months 

and years to come. 

Dr Tom O’Dwyer 

Chairperson 

4 


CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT 

An annual report which comes at the end 

of a five-year programme could focus on review 

and evaluation. That is not the case here. 

Council’s 2005 report highlights the core work 

which has been carried out in a number of 

areas. These include our partnerships, our policy 

proposals and priorities, and our promotional 

work. Council remains flexible and innovative 

in its approach and retains its basic instinct 

to achieve through partnership. The examples 

listed can only scratch the surface of what is 

happening in the ‘heritage world’ but they 

do provide a feel for the ongoing emphasis on 

this modus operandi. It is I hope one which is 

contagious and will afflict others, breaking down 

the barriers which prevent a very accessible 

and open approach to the development and 

management of our heritage 

Council’s role in promoting the significance 

of our national heritage got a major boost 

through its responsibility to coordinate Heritage 

Week 2005. Maintaining and applying the 

momentum gained through this process over a 

twelve month period must be a core challenge 

we all set ourselves for 2006 and beyond. 

Michael Starrett 

Chief Executive 

Our grants programme remains a priority, 

and also remains very heavily over subscribed. 

The programme is, to the public, probably 

the most tangible evidence of the manner in 

which Council can help secure benefits for our 

national heritage. The programme also helps 

inform policy development and proposals; the 

information it provides is reflected in this less 

tangible work, seeking to place heritage more 

firmly on the decision making ladder and to 

have its significance recognised at all levels. To 

help it achieve this objective, in 2005 Council 

initiated work to assess the economic value 

attached to our heritage. Results are due in 

autumn 2006. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 5

The Heritage Council 2005 

The Heritage Council was established in July 1995, under 

the Heritage Act, 1995, to ‘propose policies and priorities for 

the identification, protection, preservation, and enhancement of 

the national heritage’. National heritage is defined in the Act as 

including: 

monuments 

archaeological objects 

heritage objects 

architectural heritage 

flora 

fauna 

wildlife habitats 

landscapes 

seascapes 

wrecks 

geology 

heritage gardens and parks 

inland waterways 

In particular, the Heritage Act, 1995, charges the Heritage 

Council with the responsibility to: 

– promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in, and 

facilitate the appreciation and enjoyment of the national 

heritage; 

– cooperate with other bodies in the promotion of its functions; 

and 

– promote the coordination of all activities relating to its 

functions. 

Council Members to July 2005 

Dr Tom O’Dwyer, Chairperson 

Tomás Ó Caoimh Dr Simon Berrow 

Nioclás Ó Conchubhair Mary Bryan 

Michael MacMahon Con Costello 

Éamonn McEneaney Ruth Delany 

Michael McNamara Nessa Dunlea 

Mary Moylan 

Deirdre Ellis-King 

Prof. William J. Smyth Maurice Hurley 

Primrose Wilson 

Virginia Teehan 

6 


Council Members from October 2005 

Dr Tom O’Dwyer, Chairperson 

Rhonwen Hayes Dr Billy Colfer 

Maurice Hurley Prof. Gabriel Cooney 

Mary Keenan Ted Creedon 

Noel Keyes Betty Coffey 

Martina Moloney Dr Brendan Dunford 

Donal Enright Nioclás Ó Conchubhair 

Finola Reid Deirdre Ellis-King 

Virginia Teehan Dr Caro-lynne Ferris 

Heritage Council Meeting in Cork 

As a national organisation the Heritage Council endeavours to 

hold at least one board meeting outside Kilkenny every year. The 

Heritage Council was invited by Cork City Council to visit Cork City 

in recognition of Cork’s tenure as the European City of Culture in 

2005. The Heritage Council accepted this invitation and agreed to 

hold a board meeting and visit heritage sites in Cork during 2005. 

The Harbour Board Commissioners hosted a board meeting 

of the Heritage Council on Thursday, 14 April 2005. Later that 

evening, the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Seán Martin, hosted a 

reception for the Heritage Council in the Council 

Chamber, City Hall, Cork. Following the reception 

a dinner was hosted by the Heritage Council in the 

Clarion Hotel, Lapp’s Quay, Cork. 

L to R Ann Bogan, Senior Planner, Cork City 

Council, Niamh Twomey, Cork City Heritage 

Officer and Mary Moylan, Assistant Secretary, 

Department of Environment, Heritage and 

Local Government 

Heritage Council board member and Cork City 

archaeologist Maurice Hurley brought board members 

on a site visit to heritage sites in Cork City on Friday 

15 April. Sites visited included: Shandon Church, 

St Peter’s Church, Fenn’s Quay, Historic Quarter 

Archaeological Excavation, Elizabeth Fort, and St 

Finbarr’s Cathedral. 

Council members and Staff with Cork City 

Mayor Seán Martin at Board Meeting in Cork 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 7

Heritage Council Staff 

The greatest resource of the Heritage Council is its staff. 

Heritage Council staff must be of the highest professional standing 

and competence in order to maintain the Heritage Council’s 

position as a dynamic and high achievement organisation. The 

credibility of the Heritage Council is dependent upon the quality 

and credibility of its staff. 

Council faces an ongoing challenge in replacing experienced 

staff expertise in an efficient and effective manner. Securing of 

appropriate and timely departmental sanction for the recruitment 

of new staff has proved exceptionally difficult, and major time 

lags have resulted. Great strain has been placed on Council’s 

efforts to maintain the maximum level of operational standards. 

were: 

New appointments to the staff of the Heritage Council in 2005 

– Paula Drohan, professional officer, Finance and IT 

– Colm Murray, professional officer, Architecture 

– Shirley Kelly, clerical support staff 

– Amanda Ryan has acted as Grants Administrator in the 

absence of Fionnuala Lynch on maternity leave since 

September 2005 

– Maria Reilly has temporally replaced Amanda as a member 

of the clerical support staff 

Heritage Council Staff Training 

Staff training should always be relevant, appropriate, and 

practical to the actual duties that a person is performing in their 

work. Relevant training is available to all staff as appropriate to 

individual requirements. 

Collective staff training was provided in Communications and 

Fire Safety. Staff members undertook individual or group training 

relevant to their own work areas such as executive secretarial, 

minute taking and IT. 

Three staff members are currently pursuing career 

development courses relevant to their work. 

8 


The full list of staff is as follows: 

Michael Starrett 

Anne Barcoe 

Ian Doyle 

Paula Drohan 

Colm Murray 

Alison Harvey 

Beatrice Kelly 

Shirley Kelly 

Fionnuala Lynch 

Liam Lysaght 

Martina Malone 

Hugh Maguire 

Amanda Ryan 

Liam Scott 

Isabell Smyth 


Personal Assistant to Chairperson and 


Archaeology Officer 

Finance Officer 

Architecture Officer 

Planning and Development Officer 

Inland Waterways, 

Marine and Coastal Officer 

Secretarial Support 

Grants Administrator 

Wildlife Officer 


Museums and Archives Officer 


Human Resources Officer 

Education and Communication Officer 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 9

Summary List of Achievements 2005 

1 

PARTNERSHIPS 

• National Biological Records Centre 

• Heritage Officer Programme, and Heritage Training 

and Development Programme 

• County/city heritage plans 

• Irish Walled Towns Network 

• Discovery Programme 

• Woodlands of Ireland 

• Wicklow Uplands Council 

• Local authorities and museums 

• Kilkenny City Walls 

• Archaeology in Ireland – cross border cooperation 

• Detailed submissions in relation to draft/review 

development plans, planning applications to local 

planning authorities and appeals to An Bord Pleanála 

in 2005 

• Heritage appraisals of local authority development 

plans in 2005 

• Irish Museum Association 

• Conservation of historical and artistic works in Ireland 

10 


2 

PROPOSALS AND PRIORITIES 

• Grants programmes 

• Integrating policies for Ireland’s inland waterways 

• Audit of Maritime Collections 

• Rural Housing in Ireland 

• Waterway Corridor Studies 

• Bere Island Conservation Plan 

• Interim review of the implementation of the National 

Biodiversity Plan 

• High Nature Value Farmland in Ireland 

• Standards and Accreditation Scheme 

• Archives 

• Collections 

• Assessment of the impact of the ‘pilot’ Rural Renewal 

Scheme for the Upper Shannon Area – submission to 

Department of Finance, May 2005 

3 

PROMOTION AND EDUCATION 

• Heritage Week 

• Heritage in Schools 

• Ploughing Championship 

• Education 

• Heritage Outlook 

• Website 

• Water Heritage Day 

• Aerial Archaeology Review 

• Galway Excavations Publication 

• Farming and Archaeology: the Irish Historic Landscape 

• Field Monument Advisor Scheme 

• Seminar on Maritime Heritage 

• Village Design Conference 

• European Association of Archaeologists 

• Methods of best practices guidelines for the use of 

TPOD for cetacean research in Irish waters 

• The Freda Rountree Academic and Applied Scholarship 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 11

Partnerships 

Photo by Sean O’Sullivan 

12 


1 

National Biological Records Centre 

The Minister requested the Heritage Council to establish 

a National Biological Records Centre, to be located on the 

Waterford Institute of Technology campus. As the first stage in 

this process, the Heritage Council has established a management 

group to oversee its establishment. The group is chaired by 

Dr Liam Downey and comprises: Dr Simon Berrow, Irish Whale 

and Dolphin Group; Peter Carvill, Department of Environment, 

Heritage and Local Government; Dr Liam Lysaght, the Heritage 

Council; John McConnell, Waterford Institute of Technology; and 

Dr Peter Wyse-Jackson, National Botanic Gardens. 

The Heritage Officer Programme 

The Heritage Council has developed a partnership programme 

with local authorities to facilitate the employment of county 

heritage officers. The county heritage officers provide a 

professional, strategic, and coordinated heritage service. They 

aim to promote enhanced levels of understanding, conservation, 

and preservation through improving the status and perception of 

heritage. Their role is extensive and facilitates the preferences of 

individual local authorities. Some of the principal areas addressed 

by heritage officers include: 

• County heritage plans • Liaison 

• Advice and information • Public relations 

• Heritage appraisal • Public consultations 

• Data collection • Strategies, policies, and projects 

The programme has proved to be an outstanding success with 

twenty-seven county heritage officers in post at the end of 2005. 

Three new posts were added in 2005 in Counties Cavan and Louth, 

and in Cork City. Difficulties remain regarding the continuation 

of posts at the end of the initial three-year contract period. In 

addition to financial constraints, local authorities are experiencing 

difficulties in obtaining appropriate department sanction. These 

difficulties need to be addressed if existing posts are to be 

maintained. 

...our understanding 

of biodiversity is still 

relatively basic... we need 

to improve the quality of 

our biodiversity knowledge, 

and make it more relevant 

to human development 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 

13

DEIRDRE 

CUNNINGHAM 

MAYO 

JOE 

GALLAGHER 

DONEGAL 

SIOBHAN 

RYAN 

SLIGO 

NOLLAIG 

MCKEON 

ROSCOMMON 

JIM HIGGINS 

GALWAY CITY 

MARIE MANNION 

GALWAY COUNTY 

LISA McDANIEL 

LONGFORD 

AMANDA 

PEDLOW 

OFFALY 

SHIRLEY 

CLERKIN 

MONAGHAN 

ANN MARIE 

WARD 

CAVAN 

BERNIE GUEST 

WESTMEATH 

CATHERINE CASEY 

CONGELLA MCGUIRE 

LAOIS 

SIOBHAN 

CLARE 

GERAGHTY 

NORTH TIPPERARY 

DEARBHALA 

LEDWIDGE 

TOM O'NEILL 

KILKENNY 

LIMERICK 

DOMINIC 

BERRIDGE 

WATERFORD 

UNA COSGRAVE 

NIAMH 

KERRY 

TWOMEY 

CORK CITY 

SHARON CASEY 

CORK 

LORETTO 

GUINAN 

MEATH 

BRIDGET 

LOUGHLIN 

KILDARE 

Heritage Training and Development Programme 

The Heritage Council provides a comprehensive 

training and development programme for county heritage 

officers and heritage council professional officers. This 

programme allows both groups to share expertise and 

information on national and local heritage issues. 

Workshops and discussions are held on both practical 

and policy heritage issues. Six seminars of two-day 

BRENDAN 

McSHERRY 

LOUTH 

DEIRDRE 

BURNS 

WICKLOW 

duration are held at various locations throughout the 

country on a rota basis. Local heritage professionals 

GERRY CLABBY 

FINGAL 

DONNCHA 

O'DULAING 

DUBLIN CITY 

TIM CAREY 

DUN LAOGHAIRE 

RATHDOWN 

and local authority personnel often participate 

to positive effect. Issues discussed are always 

particularly relevant to the work of 

the Heritage Council and county heritage officers. 

The programme also provides a mechanism for 

the development of a valuable heritage network. 

Some of the issues addressed in 2005 included: 

• Graveyards – archaeology and ecology 

• The planning system and planning law 

• Walking routes policy and practice 

• Heritage council marine policy 

• Local biodiversity plans 

• County heritage plans 

• Heritage and development 

County/City Heritage Plans 

Local authorities have formally adopted twenty county/city 

heritage plans. The creation and implementation of county/city 

heritage plans is coordinated by heritage officers in conjunction 

with county heritage forums. The plans identify and prioritise 

heritage objectives within a county and provide a strategic plan 

for the next five years. They provide a mechanism for community 

participation in the delivery of the heritage service. 

14 


County/city heritage plans are an important element in the 

partnership between the Heritage Council and local authorities. 

All funding provided by the Heritage Council is matched by the 

local authorities, which provides a substantial incentive for local 

heritage initiatives. The Heritage Council now allocates over 

10% of its annual budget to this programme and there will be 

additional demands in the future. 

Departmental funding to match the funding requirements 

envisaged in the National Heritage Plan has not materialised. The 

future of county heritage plans depends on additional funding 

resources being obtained by the Heritage Council. 

The counties with county heritage plans are: 

Clare, Cork County, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 

Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, 

Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford, 

Westmeath, and Wicklow. 

Specific Heritage Plan Projects in 2005 

A sample of individual projects supported by the Heritage 

Plan Fund is provided below: 

• Lectures, seminars and field walks regarding coastal 

environments and pollution in County Kerry 

• Railway line feasibility study in West Clare 

• Historic landscape character assessment in County Offaly 

• Inventory and assessment of the thatched houses of County 

Galway 

• Establishing and developing an Ecclesiastical Heritage 

Trail for the east of County Galway and investigating the 

possibility of the development of other heritage trails and 

walks for County Galway 

• A series of seminars to raise awareness of heritage in 

Athlone and Mullingar, and throughout County Westmeath 

Top photo: 

Launch of Laois Heritage Trail, Portlaoise on 

18th April 

L to R Peter Carey, Laois County Manager, 

Cllr Willie Aird, Cathaoirleach of Laois 

County Council, Michael Starrett, Chief 

Executive, The Heritage Council, Cllr Brian 

Stanley, Laois Heritage Forum, Michael 

Bergin, Chair of Laois LEADER Rural 

Development Company. 

Bottom photo: 

Launch of Fingal County Council Heritage 

Plan. Michael Starrett, Chief Executive 

of The Heritage Council, Gerry Clabby, 

Heritage Officer, Fingal County Council, Cllr. 

Joan Maher, Cathaoirleach of Fingal County 

Council and John Tierney County Manager, 

Fingal County Council 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 

15

In 2005 the Heritage Council contributed a total of €1,530,574 

towards various heritage projects in the following local authorities. 

Irish Walled Town Network Members at the 

Inaugural meeting of the Network in Athlone 

Castle on 28th April. 

Local Authority 

Amount 

Westmeath 38,502 

Roscommon 30,315 

Sligo 67,750 

Galway City 58,788 

Cork 13,021 

Kilkenny 87,500 

Monaghan 57,500 

Clare 73,861 

Dublin City 144,613 

Galway 93,500 

Kerry 115,450 

Kildare 77,150 

Meath 103,624 

North Tipperary 10,892 

Offaly 64,810 

Wicklow 77,103 

Fingal 7,500 

Limerick 5,500 

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown 57,902 

Laois 75,134 

Longford 47,814 

Cork City 11,475 

Donegal 25,948 

Louth 150,000 

Cavan 29,260 

Waterford 5,662 

TOTAL 1,530,574 

Establishment of the Irish Walled Towns Network 

The Heritage Council of Ireland established the Irish Walled 

Towns Network (IWTN) in April 2005 to unite and coordinate the 

strategic efforts of local authorities involved in the management, 

conservation, and enhancement of historic walled towns in Ireland, 

both North and South. Representatives from fifteen walled towns 

attended the inaugural workshop at Athlone Castle. By December 

2005, the network had increased to nineteen walled towns. 

The Irish Walled Towns Network is formally linked to the 

International Walled Towns Friendship Circle (IWTFC), which is 

the international association for the sustainable development 

16 T h e H e r i t a g e C o u n c i l

of walled towns, walled cities, and fortified historic towns. The 

Irish Walled Towns Network seeks to ensure that Ireland’s unique 

cultural and archaeological heritage in relation to its walled 

and fortified towns and cities is protected and managed in a 

sustainable and appropriate manner in the long term. The network 

is committed to operating in accordance with the IWTFC’s mission 

statement and with best practice in international conservation. 

Picured at The Irish Walled Town Network 

Meeting Athlone Castle. 

L to R: Alison Harvey, Planning & Development 

Officer, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, 

Heritage Council, Nicole Mulholland, Economic 

Development Officer, Carrickfergus Borough 

Council and Mark Lusby, Senior Economic 

Development Officer, Derry City Council 

A draft three year action plan (2006-2008) was issued 

for consultation in September 2005. The action plan can be 

downloaded at http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/walled_towns/ 

IWTN_Plan.pdf 

Discovery Programme 

The Discovery Programme is funded by the Heritage Council. 

Support for the programme in 2005 amounted to a grant of 

€1,573,748 towards its ongoing research programme. This work 

informs Council’s policy proposals and identification of priorities. 

In 2005 the Heritage Council worked in partnership with the 

Discovery Programme through funding its ongoing research 

work on the Medieval Rural Settlement Project (MRS), the Lake 

Settlement Project (LSP) and the Barrow Valley Project. As 

well as modules dealing with the rural hinterland of Dublin City 

in the medieval period and the study of a manor near Tullow, 

County Carlow, the MRS conducted a major excavation at Tulsk 

County Roscommon, revealing a hitherto unexpected castle. 

The LSP continued its important excavation at the Mesolithic 

site on Derragh Island, Lough Kinale, County Longford as well 

as a number of smaller modules. The Discovery Programme 

also carried out a pilot project on behalf of Offaly County 

Council for the development and understanding of a Historic 

Landscape Characterisation Assessment. All these projects had 

associated educational or outreach elements and Discovery 

Programme fieldworkers now routinely work with the local 

heritage officers in the counties in which they are based. Three 

major publications were issued: a volume of the in-house journal 

Discovery Programme Reports dealing with the MRS project: Tara: 

Kingship and Landscape; and two volumes on the North Munster 

Middle photo: 

Excavation of the Lough Kinale, County 

Longford, Mesolithic Site during Heritage 

Week 2005 

Bottom photo: 

Excavated mound at Tulsk, County 

Roscommon, revealing evidence of a medieval 

castle, as part of the Medieval Rural 

Settlement Project 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 17

Project. Several other monographs were in advanced draft 

form by the end of the year. Research continued on the use of 

orthorectification of aerial photographs for surveying purposes, 

with some spectacular results. The Heritage Council was also 

able to makes some additional funds available for the purchase of 

major pieces of equipment, most importantly a terrestrial laser 

scanner, which will add enormously to the technical capabilities 

of the organisation. The Discovery Programme also extended its 

policy - where spare capacity exists - of making such facilities 

and related training available to third level institutions and other 

archaeological research projects, particularly those being funded 

or part-funded by the Heritage Council. 

Woodlands of Ireland 

Top Photo: 

Images of a moated site built onto an earlier 

earthwork in Co. Roscommon displaying an 

example of the data being produced as part 

of the Roscommon Aerial Survey using digital 

photogrammetry. 

Bottom Photo: 

Jenkinstown Wood, Co. Kilkenny. 

In 2005 the Heritage Council worked in partnership with The 

Woodlands of Ireland through its participation on the Steering 

and Technical Working Groups. Specific projects that are relevant 

to the objectives of the Heritage Council that were addressed in 

2005. These include support measures - for example woodland 

management training courses – to underpin the implementation 

of the Forest Service Native Woodland Scheme; the advancement 

of the Forest Stewardship Council forest certification standard 

via the Irish Forest Certification Initiative; and national woodland 

policy initiatives. The latter included: submissions to the Forest 

Service on the revamping of the 1946 Forestry Act, a submission 

to the REPS section of the Department of Agriculture that 

included proposals toward the sustainable management of native 

woodlands on farms; and engagement with the National Roads 

Authority in the development of ecologically-based guidelines on 

the management of roadside verges. A number of publications 

were also produced including Abstract and Conference Proceedings 

for the Native Woodland Conference held in 2004, and guidelines 

on wood production and conservation management within the 

context of the Native Woodland Scheme. 


Wicklow Uplands Council 

In 2005 the Heritage Council worked in partnership with 

Wicklow Uplands Council through: 

• Development of an INTERREG IIIc funding application with 

Countryside Council for Wales for the proposed Celtic 

Countryside Partnership project. 

• Nomination of Wicklow Uplands Council to the executive 

committee of EUROPARC Atlantic Isles. 

• Membership of the Wicklow Way Management Committee 

• Inauguration of the Wicklow Trails Monitoring and Wicklow 

Sustainable Trails Network projects, the latter is partfunded 

under the ERDF Regional Tourism Development 

scheme. 

• Submissions on countryside recreation to Comhairle na 

Tuaithe - The Countryside Council and Wicklow County 

Council. 

• Research on Wicklow Countryside access project that will 

provide agreed amenity access over private lands. 

• Promotion of consensus-based local discussions on future 

governance of national parks and community-based 

landscape plans. 

• Liaison with Wicklow County Heritage Officer and Wicklow 

County Council interim access committee 

• Further development of sustainable development policy 

issues via Wicklow Dublin Mountains Board full statutory/ 

non-statutory partnership. 

• Development of the Uplands Business Forum 

Heritage Council support enabled all this activity and 

resourced its promotion in regular newsletters, on website: www. 

wicklowuplands.ie and in local/national media. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 19

Local Authorities and Museums 

The Heritage Council continued to support local authorities 

in the delivery of services for the care of heritage collections. 

Council supported a Leadership Programme for local authority 

curators, delivered by the Institute of Public Administration, and 

facilitated a meeting to foster shared initiatives between heritage 

officers and curators. Ongoing facilitation and support was 

provided to museum development projects in Galway City 

and Kilkenny. 

Kilkenny City Walls 

Top photo: 

Conservation works carried out on the 

O’Connell Street Monuments as part of the 

Dublin City Heritage Plan. Photo by Jason Ellis 

Bottom photo: 

Pictured at the Launch of Kilkenny City Walls 

Conservation Plan in November 

L to R Ian Doyle, Archaeology Officer, The 

Heritage Council, Anne Barcoe, The Heritage 

Council, Julian Munby, Oxford Archaeology, 

John Bradley, NUI Maynooth, Cllr. Marie 

Fitzpatrick, Lord Mayor of Kilkenny, 

Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, The 

Heritage Council, Alison Harvey, Planning & 

Development Officer, The Heritage Council 

and Michael Malone, Kilkenny County Manager, 

Kilkenny County Council. 

The Heritage Council in association with Kilkenny Borough 

Council commissioned a conservation plan for the medieval city 

walls of Kilkenny. The document has proposed a range of policies 

to safeguard the urban defences, and to raise awareness of their 

importance within Kilkenny. Works to conserve the fabric of the 

walls are also included. The conservation plan, which was formally 

launched in November 2005, was formulated with involvement 

from State bodies and local groups. As a result of the Kilkenny 

plan, similar studies have been carried out in Dublin City and in 

Athlone; it is hoped that other historic Irish urban centres will also 

use this approach to conserving their historic defences. A copy of 

the plan is available on the Heritage Council website. 

Archaeology in Ireland – Cross Border Cooperation 

In October the Heritage Council hosted a dinner and meeting 

with the Northern Ireland Historic Monuments Advisory Council. 

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss archaeological 

practice on the island of Ireland, conservation planning, and to 

visit monuments in County Kilkenny. 


Cherishing 

heritage 

throughout the 

community 

Detailed Submissions in Relation to Draft/Review 

Development Plans, Planning Applications to Local 

Planning Authorities, and Appeals to An Bord 

Pleanála in 2005 

The Heritage Council submitted six detailed reports in 

relation to the preparation, review, or amendment/variation of 

the following county development plans: 

• Donegal Draft County Development Plan 2005 

• Meath County Development Plan – Strategic Issues Paper 2005 

• Laois Draft County Development Plan 2005 

• Waterford County Development Plan Review 2005 

• Offaly County Development Plan – variation re. N52 

Tullamore bypass 2005 

• Cavan County Development Plan – variation re. rural 

housing 2005 

The Heritage Council also commented on eleven individual 

development control/management cases at local authority level 

where heritage sensitivity was a major concern and deemed to be 

of ‘national or regional significance’. 

Top photo: 

Athenry Heritage Centre 

Bottom photo: 

Dominician Abbey, Athenry 

For example, The Heritage Council submitted a detailed 

report and Further Information (FI) submission in February and 

July 2005 in relation to a proposed mixed-use development 

(26,000 sq m) in Athenry, County Galway. The Heritage Council 

worked closely with Galway County Council’s Heritage Department 

in assessing this important proposal, which will have a significant 

impact on the historic walled town and its population for many 

decades to come. 

An Bord Pleanála forwarded a number of appeals in relation 

to large-scale development proposals for comment to the Heritage 

Council in 2005. Council made a total of two detailed submissions 

to An Bord Pleanála in 2005. The Heritage Council introduced an 

electronic referral system in late 2005 in partnership with the 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 21

local planning authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency 

and An Bord Pleanála. All development plan and referral responses 

are available to download from the Heritage Council’s website 

since March 2005 

Heritage Appraisals of Local Authority Development 

Plans in 2005 

During 2005, the Heritage Council carried out two Heritage 

Appraisals of county development plans. The relevant local 

authority jointly funded these appraisals. 

• Laois Draft County Development Plan 

• Donegal Draft County Development Plan 

The Heritage Appraisal process aims to ‘systematically, 

comprehensively, and impartially assess the likely effects of 

implementing the policies in the development plan 

on the heritage’ (Source: Heritage Appraisal of 

Development Plans – A Methodology for Planning 

Authorities, Heritage Council, July 2000). A heritage 

appraisal also helps to ensure a development plan 

deals with the full range of heritage considerations. 

River Clare, Co. Galway. 

With the introduction of the EU Strategic 

Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, Heritage 

Appraisal and its associated in-depth methodology 

is viewed as a very worthwhile tool for ‘proofing’ 

heritage-related policy at a strategic level. Heritage 

Appraisals will continue in 2006/7 and will support 

the wider SEA process, which was introduced to 

Ireland in July 2004. 

The SEA Directive took effect from July 2004 and was 

transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 435 of 2004 European 

Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans 

and Programmes) Regulations 2004 and S.I. No. 436 of 2004; 

Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) 

Regulations 2004. 

22 


Irish Museum Association 

The Heritage Council continued its support for Irish museum 

professionals through the provision of funding for the Irish Museum 

Association (IMA), an all-island body. Specific projects supported 

include the IMA’s annual journal and its Survey of Irish Museums 

and Collections. 

Conservation of Historical and Artistic Works in 

Ireland 

In recognising the need to support the welfare of collections, 

Council actively supports the Institute for the Conservation of 

Historical and Artistic Works in Ireland (ICHAWI). The promotion 

of preventive conservation is integral to Council and ICHAWI’s 

concern for Ireland’s material culture. 

Museums... function 

publicly as places 

where people learn... 

and find inspiration 

and enjoyment... 

Detail of ‘Grotesque’ wall panel, inspired by 

decorative motifs 

from the Golden House of Nero, Rome. 

Likely to have been painted in London 

(c.1850s-1860s) 

and hanging since 1860s at Castletown House, 

Celbridge, County Kildare. 

The property of the Castletown Foundation 

and restored in 2005 

with support from the Heritage Council under 

its Annual Grants Programme. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 23

Proposals and Priorities 

24 


2 

Grants Programme 

The Heritage Council identifies its grants programme as a 

major priority. The programme provides assistance (and often a 

lifeline) for the smallest of community projects through to major 

capital expenditure on parts of our built heritage. In 2005 Council 

operated the following schemes: 

GRANT SCHEME 

AMOUNT 

Local Heritage Grants Scheme € 350,628 

Architecture Research Scheme € 36,379 

Archaeology Grant Scheme 2005 € 245,817 

Museums & Archives Scheme 2005 € 206,485 

Publications Grant Scheme 2005 € 119,948 

Wildlife Grant Scheme 2005 € 281,569 

Buildings at Risk €2,235,689 

The full list of grants is included in the Financial Statements. 

The Buildings at Risk Programme continues to be a priority 

for Council as evidenced by the substantial allocation above. Sixty 

two properties received grants under this scheme. 

Integrating Policies for Ireland’s Inland Waterways 

The Heritage Council launched a new policy paper on inland 

waterways in December 2005. This policy paper is based on 

Council’s own research and consultation with a wide range of 

waterways users and communities, and promotes the continuing 

involvement of all these groups into the future. Since the Heritage 

Council brought out its first policy paper on Ireland’s inland 

waterways in 1999, many changes have taken place in relation to 

this aspect of our heritage. Waterways Ireland has been set up, 

and their environmental unit established, four waterway corridor 

studies have been carried out and a fifth is under way 

Protection and enjoyment of our waterways heritage 

through imaginative reuse and interpretation are themes that 

are promoted strongly by the Heritage Council in this document. 

Inland waterways are living heritage and they should enhance the 

quality of life of those communities living in their corridors as well 

as of those who use them. 

Top photo: 

Council Members, Nessa Dunlea and Con 

Costello pictured with Mary Kennedy, and 

Eddie Murphy, Ford Ireland with an Award 

Recipient at the Local Heritage Grant 

Awards Day in Butler House, Kilkenny. 

Middle photo: 

Ongoing Conservation work to Borris House, 

Carlow. 

Bottom photo: 

The Canal Vicarstown, Co. Laois. 

This year, the heritage council offered 

funding towards the cost of a conservation 

plan for vicarstown,which will assess the 

current heritage assets of the village 

and make recommendations for future 

sustainable and sensitive development. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 25

Ireland’s maritime heritage 

is of inestimable value 

to the nation. 

Audit of Maritime Collections 

Our boating heritage is of great importance in marking the 

ways of life led by communities around our coasts and waterways, 

and to Ireland’s overall development through its role in transport 

and trade; however, it is often overlooked and under-appreciated. 

As a result, much of it is disappearing at a rapid rate. To assist 

in the conservation of this aspect of our heritage, the Heritage 

Council commissioned an Audit of Maritime and Inland Waterways 

Collections, concerned primarily with three-dimensional objects, 

sea-going and inland boats, and ancillary objects associated with 

boat-based activities such as navigational technology and fishing. 

The findings of the audit may be published on Council’s website 

during 2006, subject to the consent of each owner. 

Rural Housing in Ireland – Location in the Landscape 

and Place in the National Heritage, Final Report, 

January 2005 

This submission to the Department of the Environment, 

Heritage and Local Government sets out the Heritage Council’s 

position on rural housing and provides recommendations for the 

Guidelines for Rural Housing, issued by the Department of the 

Environment. The Council’s Rural Housing Report examines the 

planning process and investigates the key impacts of rural housing 

on heritage including visual impact, impact on the landscape 

(direct and cumulative), and the impact on biodiversity. 

There are eleven recommendations under two key categories: 

Administration and Policy Development. Recommendations include 

the need to undertake landscape capacity studies in pilot areas 

to inform rural housing applications; the need for a one-stop-shop 

web-based integrated heritage map for each county; and the 

need for a detailed review of the existing landscape character 

assessments to ensure the effectiveness of this important 

resource. 

26 


Waterway Corridor Studies 

The Waterway Corridor Study on the Upper Shannon Corridor 

was completed in 2005 covering the area upstream from Roosky 

including the Kilglass lakes, Boyle River Navigation, Lough Allen, 

and Lough Key, and up to the 16 th lock of the Shannon-Erne 

Waterway in Leitrim village. These projects were commissioned in 

partnership with Waterways Ireland, and Leitrim and Roscommon 

County Councils. The study was launched in December 2005 in 

Carrick on Shannon, and copies are available on CD from the 

Heritage Council. Another Waterway Corridor Study was started 

during 2005 on the Lower Shannon, in partnership with: Clare, 

Galway, North Tipperary, and Limerick County Councils; Limerick 

City Council; Shannon Development (the Regional Tourism 

Authority); and Waterways Ireland. It covers the area from 

Meelick, County Galway, to the Shannon Bridge, Limerick City 

including the Errina and Park Canals, and all of Lough Derg. 

Bere Island Conservation Plan 

The Heritage Council continued to support this initiative 

through the funding of a project coordinator. Work is being 

carried out to further a number of areas including a community 

scallop project, and an island-wide REPS plan. Other activities are 

focused on the military fortifications on the island including the 

Martello Tower and Lonehort Battery. 

Interim Review of the Implementation of the 

National Biodiversity Plan 

The Heritage Council and COHMAR were invited by the 

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to 

assist in the mid-term evaluation of the National Biodiversity 

Plan. A working group was established and it produced a report: 

Recommendations on the Implementation and Review of the 

National Biodiversity Plan. The Minister for Environment, 

Heritage and Local Governmenthas subsequently accepted and 

implemented some of the recommendations contained in the 

report, one of which was the establishment of a Biodiversity 

Fund, which the Minister has requested the Heritage Council to 

administer. 

Top Photo: 

Roscommon Community college participating 

in a schools water heritage education field 

trip, in association with SRFB. 

Middle Photo: 

By Michael Burke. 

Bottom Photo: 

By Sean O’Sullivan. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 27

Sample of high nature value farmland 

High Nature Value Farmland in Ireland 

The Heritage Council commissioned a study examining the 

likely impacts of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform on 

aspects of Ireland’s natural heritage. The report focused on the 

concept of High Nature Value Farmland. This is an emerging policy 

area that recognises the important role that certain types of 

extensive farming plays in the conservation of some of Ireland’s 

rarest and most threatened habitats and species. The report will 

be used by Council to develop policy advice for the identification 

and support of High Nature Value Farmland in Ireland. 

Standards and Accreditation Scheme 

The Heritage Council appointed Lesley-Ann Hayden to 

coordinate its Standards and Accreditation Scheme for the 

Irish museum sector. The initial task of the consultant was to 

review the scheme, and to assess its impact and the structural 

implications of its future delivery. Initial assessment of the 

museums in the pilot scheme indicated that a positive appraisal 

will be forthcoming. 

Archives 

The Heritage Council published A Survey of Irish Archives 

Collection which highlighted the needs of the sector. This was 

complemented by a successful policy day that underlined the 

aspirations and potential for an undervalued sector and reiterated 

Council’s support for the development of policies and support 

mechanisms to highlight the richness of Ireland’s archival 

heritage. 

Collections 

The Heritage Council embarked on a number of Collections 

Audits and in 2005 completed two: one addressed architectural 

collections, and the other addressed maritime collections. 

Both audits highlighted the enormous richness and diversity 

of collection types, and the wide geographical spread of such 

holdings. The audits (to be published at a future date) also 

highlighted the absence of policies for the care and welfare of 

such aspects of our material heritage. 

28 


Assessment of the Impact of the ‘Pilot’ Rural Renewal 

Scheme for the Upper Shannon Area – Submission to 

Department of Finance, May 2005 

This submission to the Department of Finance provides a 

detailed assessment of the impact that the ‘pilot’ Rural Renewal 

Tax Scheme for the Upper Shannon Area has had on the lands 

adjacent to the River Shannon and hence the heritage of the 

River Shannon Waterway Corridor; a ‘waterway corridor area’ of 

international significance. 

The assessment focuses on the resulting impact of increased 

development pressures on the heritage within the River Shannon 

Corridor and the implications for the planning and development 

system within this area. Four detailed case studies are provided 

(two case studies each for Counties Leitrim and Roscommon), in 

order to illustrate the long-term impact that the tax incentive 

scheme will have on the River Shannon Corridor Area. 

Five key recommendations are set out, as follows: 

i. Preparation of in-depth baseline data and information to inform 

the pilot project, including biodiversity and other heritage 

datasets relating to vulnerable and sensitive areas along the 

River Shannon corridor area; 

ii. Design of targets and benchmarks (including population) to 

enable in-depth evaluation and efficiency testing; 

iii. Provision of adequate resources to be made available to ensure 

effective assessment and monitoring of planning applications 

and resulting developments within tax incentive scheme area; 

iv. Design of numerous village and town design statements to 

provide a framework for development in small towns and 

villages within the pilot area; and 

v. Mid-term evaluation to inform any proposed extension in 

scheme. 

Top photo: 

Residential Marina development at shannon 

cove, Dromod, Co. Leitrim. 

Bottom photo: 

Carotober, Carrick-on-Shannon 

Further recommendations are discussed under the following 

headings: Design of Scheme (2); Planning and Development (7); 

Local Authority Resourcing (2); and Population and Statistics (3). 

The Heritage Council recommended that future programmes and 

tax incentive schemes should be designed with the protection, 

preservation, enhancement, and effective management of the 

national heritage as a ‘core’ principle. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 29

Promotion and Education 

30 


3 

Heritage Week 2005 

Heritage Week 2005 took place the first week in September 

with over 500 events around the country highlighting the diversity 

of Ireland’s natural and cultural heritage. Discussion groups, 

re-enactments, poetry, music, nature walks, and archaeological 

exhibitions provided enjoyment for many, thanks to the 

contribution of the many citizens who helped to organise and 

promote the week’s activities. For the first time a website was 

set up to list all events, which proved very popular. Posters were 

distributed nationally. The PR campaign successfully targeted the 

media, and coverage was reached on national and local radio, 

TV, and regional press. The Heritage Council together with the 

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 

coordinated and promoted the week. 

Heritage in Schools 

The Heritage Council continued to expand its primary school 

programme, Heritage in Schools, operated with the INTO. Visits 

to schools reached 1,100 and the distribution of visits around 

the country continued to expand. The popularity of the scheme 

continues to place demands on funding and, even with a 40% 

increase in 2005, the demands for visits cannot be met. As this 

is the only education scheme in the country that meets our 

obligations on heritage, it is hoped that funding for this important 

programme can be found. 

Ploughing Championship 

Top photo: 

Photo taken during Launch of Heritage 

Week at Wicklow Gaol, Organised by Deirdre 

Burns, Heritage Officer, Wicklow County 

Council 

Middle photo: 

Minister Dick Roche, Department 

of Environment, Heritage and Local 

Government pictured during the Launch of 

Heritage Week 

This year for the first time the Heritage Council took a stand 

at the Ploughing Championship held in Mogeely, County Cork. 

This provided the opportunity for farmers and those 

interested in rural affairs to learn about the work of 

the Heritage Council and to meet and put their queries 

to the staff. It was a tremendous event and helped raise 

the profile and work of Council in a hands-on accessible 

manner. Relevant information, outlining the importance of 

archaeology and natural heritage for farmers was produced 

for the event. 

Heritage in 

Schools Scheme 

• Classroom visits & field trips 

• Over eighty heritage specialists available 

Over eighty heritage specialists available 

• Suitable for all primary school 

Suitable for all primary school 

age groups 

AN 

CHOMHAIRLE 

OIDHREACHTA 

• Covers a wide range of heritage topics 

• Full day or half day visits 

• Funded jointly by the school 

and the Heritage Council 

THE 

HERITAGE 

COUNCIL 

F u n d e d b y T h e H e r i t a g e C o u n c i l a n d o p e r a t e d j o i n t l y w i t h t h e I.N.T.O. 

Heritage in 

Schools Scheme 

2005- 2006 

• Classroom visits & field trips 

• Over one hundred heritage 

specialists available 

• Suitable for all primary school 

age groups 

AN 

CHOMHAIRLE 

OIDHREACHTA 

• Covers a wide range of heritage topics 

• Full day or half day visits 

• Funded jointly by the school 

and the Heritage Council 

THE 

HERITAGE 

COUNCIL 

F u n d e d b y T h e H e r i t a g e C o u n c i l a n d o p e r a t e d j o i n t l y w i t h t h e I.N.T.O. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 31

Education 

The Heritage Council plays a central role in helping children 

and adults understand the significance of the national heritage. 

This year the Heritage Council once again visited the Young Social 

Innovators conference held in City West, Dublin. The attendance 

by over 1,500 transition year students made for a lively event, 

one of the highlights of which was a competition on the national 

heritage organised by the Heritage Council. Fifteen questions 

required students to test their knowledge by identifying a range 

heritage images: from species and ring forts to trees, rare plants, 

and architecture. Participants achieving over 50% received a t- 

shirt, and the winners received book vouchers. The success of this 

competition in engaging teenagers’ interest in wildlife and natural 

heritage was particularly uplifting. 

Heritage Outlook 

Two more editions of Heritage Outlook were produced in 

2005. Thanks to a wide array of interesting contributions from 

a number of staff and practitioners, the magazine continues to 

grow in demand. Some of the articles covered in 2005 included 

the Landmark Trust and its ongoing programme that combines 

a tourism product with a conservation programme for our built 

heritage, and Ireland’s Film Archives and its vital role in saving 

our cinematic history. In addition an article outlining the concerns 

and issues of managing the Burren has helped raise awareness and 

voices in support of a more sustainable future for this unique area 

and its residents. 

Website 

Given the ongoing growth in 

the use of the web, and the limited 

resources of the Heritage Council, 

it is vitally important that Council 

exploits the opportunities provided by 

this relatively new medium to achieve 

its communications objectives. The 

ongoing success of the website can be 

32 


The inland waterways and their corridors should be managed in an integrated 

broad-based way, conserving their built and archaeological heritage features, and 

protecting their landscape and biodiversity. 

Recognising that the inland waterways are a unique part of our heritage, 

but which today are fulfilling a new role not envisaged for them originally, we aim 

to enhance the enjoyment and appreciation of them as living heritage both for this 

generation and for future generations. An Chomhairle Oidhreachta 

seen in the growth of visitor figures to the site over the past year. 

This is due to the fact that the information remains up to date 

and relevant to the heritage sector, media, academics and the 

wider public. It is also in keeping with the Heritage Council’s 

remit to raise awareness amongst the wider public and to provide 

up-to-date information on all aspects of Ireland’s built and natural 

heritage. The site aims to provide an online library of heritagerelated 

information in an easily accessible format. 2005 saw the 

Heritage Council move closer towards achieving that objective. 

In addition to the updated website, the Heritage Council 

continues to move towards delivering an online information 

service for the public. Since 2005, the public have received, 

free of charge, an online newsletter delivered straight to their 

desks via email. Distributed once a month, the e-zine delivers 

information on jobs and tenders, events, publications, and news. 

It also allows others to link with us in providing a forum for news 

and events for the sector. Heritage officers can also avail of the 

service, which allows all of us to better communicate to the wider 

public. The aim going forward is to allow the site to become more 

interactive and let the public communicate with us. 

Water Heritage Day, 10 September 2005 

Successfully piloted in 2004, Water Heritage Day took place 

on 10 September, the last Saturday in Heritage Week. The purpose 

of the day was to raise awareness among the general public and 

to highlight the importance of water as part of our heritage. 

All aspects of water were celebrated, from its importance in 

providing wildlife and aquatic habitats, to folklore, industrial 

heritage, and archaeology. Organisations were contacted and 

encouraged to host events in their area, focusing on the heritage 

aspects of water. The events were supported by the Heritage 

Council through a publicity campaign including a website, posters, 

and a booklet on Irish Water. Secchi Disks were also available to 

people to test for water transparency. Nearly fifty events were 

organised across the country covering a wide range of activities. 

Reports are available on Council’s web site. 

Top photo: 

Photo by Michael Burke 

Bottom photo: 

Photo by Shirley Green 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 33

Top photo: 

The important hillfort of Freestone Hill, Co 

Kilkenny taken during a one-day seminar on 

aerial archaeology in December organized 

by The Heritage Council. 

Aerial Archaeology Review 

In keeping with Council’s role in reviewing current 

archaeological practice in Ireland, the Heritage Council organised 

a one-day seminar to discuss aerial archaeology in the Chester 

Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, on 8 December 2005. Aerial 

archaeology involves photography and computerised survey of 

archaeological sites and landscapes from aircraft. A range of 

national and international speakers and experts discussed how 

aerial survey has contributed to Irish archaeological research and 

pre-development excavation. The seminar was also intended to 

showcase the high quality research in this area, carried out as 

part of the Heritage Council Archaeology Research Grants. 

Galway Excavations Publication 

As part of its ongoing commitment to the publication of the 

results of archaeological excavations, the Heritage Council was 

delighted to be represented at the launch of a book describing 

twelve years of archaeological work in Galway’s historic urban 

centre. The publication, Archaeological Excavations in Galway 

City, 1987 – 1998, describes the urban defences and the remains 

of domestic life within the medieval and post-medieval town. 

The publication marks the culmination of a five-year project to 

bring together the results of nearly eighty archaeological digs. 

The Heritage Council was the lead funding body for the project. 

Farming and Archaeology: the Irish Historic 

Landscape 

Middle Photo: 

Penrice’s Tower, Galway City, shown under 

excavation at Merchants’ Road during 1987- 

89. This excavation of the medieval city 

defences was published in the Heritage 

Council funded monograph Archaeological 

investigations in Galway City, 1987-1998 

(photo: Markus Casey) 

Bottom photo: 

The rich wildlife of the Burren has been 

maintained by centuries of extensive 

livestock grazing, and depends on continued 

farming for its maintenance. 

In recognition of the role played by farmers in managing 

our archaeological monuments, the Heritage Council published 

a poster entitled Farming and Archaeology: the Irish Historic 

Landscape. The poster, which describes the archaeology of 

farming in Ireland and how to manage such monuments, was 

prepared for the Heritage Council stand at the National Ploughing 

Championship. 


n Chomhairle Oidhreachta 

B 

Field Monument Advisor Scheme 

Bealtaine 2005 

The Field Monument Advisor Scheme continued in Counties 

Sligo and Clare. As part of the partnership arrangement with 

Sligo and Clare County Councils, a field monument advisor in each 

county met with farmers and landowners to provide advice and 

assistance in the management of archaeological sites. A range 

of monuments were visited, and awareness of their significance 

was raised. 

An Chomhairle Oidhreachta 

Seminar on Maritime Heritage 18 May 

The Heritage Council held a Seminar on Maritime Heritage in 

Galway in May. This was part of the consultation process in the 

drafting of the Council’s Maritime Heritage Policy Paper. Many 

useful contributions were made at this seminar. It is intended to 

launch the final policy paper during 2006. 

Village Design Conference, Durrow, June 2005 

The Heritage Council is strongly committed to the sustainable 

development and effective management of village settlements in 

Ireland and, to this end, has been working with local authorities 

to highlight the importance and significance of our traditional 

village settlements within Irish society. Since 2000, the Heritage 

Council has funded the preparation of over twenty Village Design 

Statements across the country. Village Design Statements can be 

downloaded from the planning page on Council’s website. 

In pursuit of this strategic aim, the Heritage Council, in 

partnership with ESRI, NUI Maynooth, and Laois County Council, 

organised a Village Design Conference in Durrow in June 

2005. The Village Design Conference examined the economic, 

environmental, heritage, and social implications of unprecedented 

development within Irish villages, assessed the problems that 

local authorities face in trying to find the best solutions for rapidly 

developing villages, and highlighted the need for balanced growth 

and the creation of sustainable communities in the long term. 

Over 100 people from the public, private and community sectors 

attended the conference, and a lively discussion ensued in the 

afternoon’s session. The Heritage Council plans to organise a 

Village Design Conference on an annual basis. 

Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of 

The Heritage Council pictured with 

John Bowman at The Village Design 

Conference in Castle Durrow, County 

Laois orgnised by the Heritage Council. 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 35

European Association of Archaeologists – Cork 2005 

Pictured at the European Association of 

Archaeologists Conference in Cork 

L to R Prof Anthony Harding, President of 

the EAA, Councillor Deirdre Clune, Lord 

Mayor of Cork, Mr Maurice Hurley, Heritage 

Council, Dr Elizabeth Twohig, Department 

of Archaeology UCC and Mr Jim O’Donovan, 

Cork City Council 

The European Association of Archaeologists Annual Conference 

provides archaeologists with the opportunity to meet and 

discuss archaeological matters in a European context. The 

2005 conference was held in Cork and was attended by some 

700 delegates from around the world. Such meetings facilitate 

collaboration and the sharing of advances in archaeological 

theory and practice; in 2005 this provided a unique opportunity 

to present findings from Irish archaeological work to a wider 

audience and to examine this practice in a wider context. The 

Heritage Council was a major funding body of the Cork conference 

and was represented on the conference organising committees. 

As part of the conference, a field trip visited the Woodstown 

archaeological site, Waterford City and Kilkenny. The Heritage 

Council hosted a dinner for the field trip in the Parade Tower of 

Kilkenny Castle. 

Methods of Best Practices Guidelines for the use of 

TPOD for Cetacean Research in Irish Waters 

The Heritage Council funded research into the 

use of Passive Acoustic Detectors (TPODs) for the 

study of cetaceans in Irish waters. The proper use 

of TPODs represents a relatively inexpensive and 

non-invasive approach to the study of cetaceans, 

and can greatly assist in understanding their 

behaviour. As a result of the research, guidelines 

for the deployment of TPODs were produced and 

published to assist researchers 

36 


The Freda Rountree Academic and Applied 

Scholarship 

The launch and presentation of The Freda Rountree 

Scholarship took place on May 19 in Charleville Castle, Tullamore. 

Freda, who died on 6 February 2000 was the inspirational 

chairperson of the Heritage Council from 1995 to 2000. Her 

appointment in 1995 was recognition of her ability to inspire 

confidence and achieve harmony amongst many often disparate 

interests. Such was the breadth and responsibility of the newly 

established, and politically independent Heritage Council, that 

such abilities were essential. Charleville Castle was a very fitting 

location to host the event representing as it does very many 

aspects of our cultural and natural heritage, including what is 

claimed to be Ireland’s oldest oak tree. All in attendance were 

welcomed by Professor Willie Smyth. There was a presentation 

of his work by the first Rountree Scholar, Simon Burke. The 

topic chosen dealt with the manner in which heritage issues are 

presented in the media. The presentation was followed by an 

open discussion. The formal part of the evening finished with 

thanks and appreciation from Freda’s sister Irene Barber. 

Freda Rountree, Heritage Council 

Chairperson 1995 - 2000 

Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council pictured with the 

first Rountree Scholar Simon Burke and the Rountree family at the Launch and 

Presentation in Charleville Castle, Tullamore 

2 0 0 5 A n n u a l R e p o r t 37

Corporate Governance 

The Heritage Council’s policy is to maintain the highest 

standards of corporate governance, in line with generally 

accepted policies and practices. The Heritage Council is 

committed to complying with the relevant provisions of the Code 

of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, published by the 

Department of Finance in 2001. 

The Heritage Council has established a Finance and Audit 

Committee, which regularly reviews the system of internal 

control and engages external expertise in the carrying out of its 

functions, including the internal audit function as appropriate. 

The Heritage Council complies with Government guidelines for 

the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the 

public sector. The Heritage Council complies with all aspects of 

Government requirement for public procurement and competitive 

tender, including EU guidelines. Government policy on pay and 

directors’ fees is also complied with. The Heritage Council is fully 

tax compliant and does not engage in ‘offensive’ tax avoidance 

transactions. 

Prompt Payments 

The Heritage Council is required to comply with the 

requirements of the European Communities (Late Payment in 

Commercial Transactions) Regulations, 2002, and its predecessor, 

the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, (collectively the 

‘Regulations’). Council’s standard terms of credit taken, unless 

otherwise specified in contractual arrangements, are 30 days from 

the receipt of the invoice. Procedures have been implemented 

which provide reasonable assurance against material noncompliance 

with th e Regulations. While the procedures are 

designed to ensure compliance with the Regulations, they can only 

provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material 

non-compliance with the Act. 

A review of all payments made during the year ended 31 

December 2005 shows three payments totalling €2,139.00 giving 

rise to an interest penalty of €60.00 under the above regulations. 

38 



2005 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

REPORT OF COMPTROLLER 

& AUDITOR GENERAL 

39



CONTENTS 

Report of Comptroller & Auditor General 42 

Statement of Responsibilities of the Council 44 

Statement on the system of Internal Financial Control 45 

General and Accounting Policies 46 

Income and Expenditure Account 47 

Balance Sheet 49 

Notes to the Financial Statements 50 

Schedule 1 to the Financial Statements 61 

41

REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL 

FOR PRESENTATION TO THE HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS 

I have audited the financial statements of The Heritage Council for the year ended 31 December 

2005 under Section 21 (2) of the Heritage Act, 1995. 

The financial statements, which have been prepared under the accounting policies set out 

therein, comprise the Accounting Policies, the Income and Expenditure Account, the Balance 

Sheet, the Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses and the related notes. 

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL AND THE COMPTROLLER AND 

AUDITOR GENERAL 

The Heritage Council is responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with 

the Heritage Act, 1995, and for ensuring the regularity of transactions. The Council prepares 

the financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in Ireland. 

The accounting responsibilities of the Members of the Council are set out in the Statement of 

Responsibilities of the Council. 

My responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and 

regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 

I report my opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance 

with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in Ireland. I also report whether in my opinion 

proper books of account have been kept. In addition, I state whether the financial statements 

are in agreement with the books of account. 

I report any material instance where moneys have not been applied for the purposes intended 

or where the transactions do not conform to the authorities governing them. 

I also report if I have not obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the 

purposes of my audit. 

I review whether the Statement on Internal Financial Control reflects the Council’s compliance 

with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and report any material instance 

where it does not do so, or if the statement is misleading or inconsistent with other information 

of which I am aware from my audit of the financial statements. I am not required to consider 

whether the Statement on Internal Financial Control covers all financial risks and controls, or 

to form an opinion on the effectiveness of the risk and control procedures. 

42

BASIS OF AUDIT OPINION 

In the exercise of my function as Comptroller and Auditor General, I conducted my audit 

of the financial statements in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and 

Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board and by reference to the special considerations 

which attach to State bodies in relation to their management and operation. An audit includes 

examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures and regularity 

of the financial transactions included in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment 

of the significant estimates and judgments made in the preparation of the financial statements, 

and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Council’s circumstances, 

consistently applied and adequately disclosed. 

I planned and performed my audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations 

that I considered necessary in order to provide me with sufficient evidence to give reasonable 

assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by 

fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming my opinion I also evaluated the overall adequacy 

of the presentation of information in the financial statements. 

OPINION 

In my opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with Generally 

Accepted Accounting Practice in Ireland, of the state of the Council’s affairs at 31 December 

2005 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended. 

In my opinion, proper books of account have been kept by The Heritage Council. The 

financial statements are in agreement with the books of account. 

Gerard Smyth 

For and on behalf of the 

Comptroller and Auditor General 

28th June 2006 

43



STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL 

Section 21(1) of the Heritage Act, 1995 requires the Council to prepare financial statements in 

such form as may be approved by the Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government 

after consultation with the Minister of Finance. 

In preparing the financial statements, the council is required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- prepare financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate 

to presume that the Heritage Council will continue in operation 

- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any 

material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements 

The Council is responsible for keeping proper books of account which disclose with reasonable 

accuracy at any time the financial position of the Council and which enable it to ensure that 

the financial statements comply with section 21(1) of the Act. The Council is also responsible 

for safeguarding the assets of the Heritage Council and for taking reasonable steps for the 

prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

44



STATEMENT ON THE SYSTEM OF INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROL 

On behalf of the members of Council I wish to acknowledge our responsibility for ensuring that 

an effective system of internal financial control is maintained and operated. 

The system can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance that assets are safeguarded, 

transactions authorised and properly recorded, and that material errors or irregularities are 

either prevented or would be detected within a timely period. 

Key Control Procedures 

i) The council has taken steps to ensure an appropriate control environment is in place by: 

- Agreeing a detailed work programme for each year, monitoring and evaluating progress against the 

work programme 

- Implementing financial procedures to control the significant financial elements of The Heritage 

Council’s business 

- Maintaining a comprehensive schedule of insurances to protect The Heritage Council’s interest 

- Reviewing and approving all Council policies and procedures 

- Establishing an Audit and Finance Committee which regularly reviews the effectiveness of the system 

of internal financial control. The Committee selects different areas of Council’s financial activities 

for detailed review on a rolling basis, in order to assess the effectiveness of controls in these areas. 

- Production of regular management information, segregation of duties and a system of delegation 

and accountability 

- Compliance with all aspects of Government requirements for public procurement and competitive 

tender 

- Compliance with Department procedures as regards reporting and draw down of funds 

- Immediate and positive response to all items drawn to Council’s attention in management letters 

from the Comptroller and Auditor General. 

ii) The system of internal financial controls is based on a framework of regular management information, 

a system of delegation and accountability, a set of financial procedures, administrative procedures 

including segregation of duties and rigorous checks of the finance function. In particular it includes: 

- Restricting authority for authorising disbursement of Council monies to four designated officers. 

- Modern computerised Financial Accounting, Payroll and Fixed Asset Register software systems to 

underpin the internal financial controls of The Heritage Council. 

- Detailed procedures for engaging consultants. 

iii) The Council has an internal audit programme and uses the services of various independent financial 

control consultants as and when required to carry out this and report on their findings to Council. 

The last consultant was engaged in 2003. 

iv) The Heritage Council has adopted the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and has 

adopted a Code of Business Conduct for directors and employees in accordance with the requirements 

of the Code of Practice 

Annual Review of Controls 

The Council did not conduct a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal financial 

control during 2005. It is intended that this review would take place during 2006. 

______________ 

Dr. Tom O’Dwyer 

Council Chairperson 

45



GENERAL 

The Heritage Council was established under the Heritage Act, 1995. The general function of 

the Heritage Council is to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, 

preservation and enhancement of the national heritage and to promote its appreciation. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

1. Accounting basis 

The financial statements are prepared under the accruals method of accounting, 

indicated below, and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles under 

the historical cost convention. Financial Reporting Standards recommended by the 

recognised accountancy bodies are adopted, as they become operative. 

2. Oireachtas Grants 

Oireachtas Grants are accounted for on a cash receipts basis. 

3. Grant Payments 

The Heritage Council offers grants to various bodies and individuals to carry out works 

under its heritage grant schemes. When a grantee accepts the terms and conditions of 

a grant offer from Council, Council enters into a commitment with that grantee. That 

commitment is recognised as an accrual only when the grantee is seen to have fulfilled 

the full terms and conditions of the grant offer. Details of grant commitments at 31 

December 2005 are given in note 13. 

4. Tangible Fixed Assets 

Fixed assets comprise buildings, office furniture, office equipment, computers and works 

of art of the Heritage Council and are shown at cost less accumulated depreciation. 

Depreciation is calculated in order to write off the cost of tangible assets over their 

estimated useful lives by equal annual instalments. The depreciation rates used are: 

Buildings 2.50% Office Furniture 10% 

Office Equipment 20% Computers 25% 

Works of Art 0% 

(Hardware & Software) 

5. Capital Account 

The capital account comprises income allocated for the purchase of fixed assets. It is 

amortised in line with the depreciation of the related assets. 

6. Stock 

Stock comprising stationery and publications is written off in the year of purchase. 

7. Leasing 

Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised and included in tangible fixed assets 

and depreciated in accordance with the Council policy. 

8. Pensions 

The Council operates a defined benefit pension scheme which is funded annually on a 

pay as you go basis from monies provided by the Department of Environment, Heritage 

and Local Government (DEHLG) and from contributions deducted from staff salaries. 

Pension costs reflect pension benefits earned by employees in the period and are shown 

net of staff pension contributions which are retained by the Council. An amount 

corresponding to the pension charge is recognised as income to the extent that it is 

recoverable, and offset by grants received in the year to discharge pension payments. 

Actuarial gains or losses arising on scheme liabilities are reflected in the Statement of 

Recognised Gains and Losses and a corresponding adjustment is recognised in the 

amount recoverable from DEHLG. 

Pension liabilities represent the present value of future pension payments earned by staff 

to date. Deferred pension funding represents the corresponding asset to be recovered in 

future periods from DEHLG. 

46


INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 

Notes 2005 

€ 

2004 

€ 

Income 

Oireachtas Grant 1 11,990,839 12,497,000 

Other Income 2 62,180 193,142 

Net deferred funding for pensions 7 (b) 199,000 179,000 

Transfer from Capital Account 3 16,376 -1,510,771 

Total Income 12,268,395 11,358,371 

Expenditure 

Grants 4 6,137,125 6,377,660 

Projects, promotions, studies 5 3,961,466 2,922,375 

Administration 

Council members’ honoraria & expenses 77,060 127,644 

Committee members’ expenses 16,611 20,084 

Staff costs 6 1,131,110 964,298 

Establishment expenses 8 184,630 123,852 

Office supplies and administration 9 283,508 171,317 

Depreciation 10 157,314 106,712 

Total Administration 1,850,233 1,513,907 

Total Expenditure 11,948,824 10,813,942 

Surplus/(Deficit) for the year 319,571 544,429 

Balance at 1st January 2005 -620,372 -1,164,801 

Balance at 31 December 2005 -300,801 -620,372 

The results for the year relate to continuing operations. 

The statement of Accounting Policies, Notes 1 to 17 and Schedule 1 form part of these financial 

statements. 

47


STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED GAINS & LOSSES 


2005 2004 

€000 €000 

Surplus for year 320 544 

Experience gains/ -losses on pension scheme liabilities 108 -154 

Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of pension 

scheme liabilities -215 -89 

213 301 

Adjustments to Deferred Pension Funding 107 243 

Total Recognised Gain for the year 320 544 

48


BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2005 

Notes 2005 2004 

€ € 

Tangible fixed assets 10 1,977,148 1,993,524 

Current Assets 

Debtors and Prepayments 120,594 208,865 

Cash at bank and in hand 335,891 1,101,716 

Total Current Assets 456,485 1,310,581 

Current Liabilities 

General Creditors and Accruals 608,796 507,892 

Grants Outstanding 148,490 1,423,061 

Total Current Liabilities 757,286 1,930,953 

Net Current Liabilities -300,801 -620,372 

Total Assets less Current Liabilities Before 

1,676,347 1,373,152 

Pensions 

Deferred Pension Funding 1,642,000 1,336,000 

Pension Liabilities -1,642,000 -1,336,000 

Total Assets less Current Liabilities 1,676,347 1,373,152 

Represented by: 

Capital Account 3 1,977,148 1,993,524 

Income and Expenditure Account -300,801 -620,372 

1,676,347 1,373,152 

The statement of Account Policies, Notes 1 to 17 and Schedule 1 from part of these financial 

statements. 

49


NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 


Note 1: Oireachtas Grants 

The amount of €11,990,839 comprises Grants from the Department of the Environment, 

Heritage and Local Government as follows: 


€ € 

Administration Grants (Exchequer funded) 1,676,968 1,578,000 

Capital Grants (Exchequer funded) 2,859,353 3,819,000 

Non Capital Grants (Exchequer funded) 134,518 0 

Capital Grants (National Lottery funded) 5,270,000 5,100,000 

Non-Capital Grants (National Lottery funded) 2,050,000 2,000,000 

TOTAL 11,990,839 12,497,000 

Note 2: Other Income 


€ € 

Ford Ireland - Sponsorship of Community awards 0 50,000 

Deposit Interest 2,237 1,944 

Attendance at Seminars 2,880 1,500 

Sale of publication and data 21,063 12,724 

Contribution Towards Waterway Corridor Study 36,000 0 

Miscellaneous 0 126,974 

TOTAL 62,180 193,142 

Note 3: Capital Account 


€ € 

Balance at 1 January 1,993,524 482,753 

Transfer (to)/from Income and Expenditure Account 

Amount allocated to fund fixed asset purchases 140,938 1,617,483 

Less: Amortisation in line with depreciation -157,314 -106,712 

-16,376 1,510,771 

Balance at 31 December 1,977,148 1,993,524 

50




Note 4: Grants 

2005 2005 2005 2004 

Capital Non Capital Total Total 

€ € € € 

Local Heritage Grants 190,273 160,355 350,628 379,330 

Publication Grants 119,948 0 119,948 168,168 

Archaeology Grants 200,317 45,500 245,817 316,816 

Architectural Research Grants 18,900 17,479 36,379 93,270 

Museum & Archives Grants 143,420 63,065 206,485 523,262 

Wildlife Grants 228,507 53,062 281,569 257,107 

Buildings Grants 2,235,689 0 2,235,689 2,895,090 

Other grants 544,226 182,636 726,862 237,017 

Irish Landmark Trust Ltd. Note 11 360,000 0 360,000 320,600 

Discovery Programme Ltd. Note 12 1,228,748 345,000 1,573,748 1,187,000 

TOTAL 5,270,028 867,097 6,137,125 6,377,660 

Schedule1page 61 contains details of grants payable during the year 

51




Note 5: Projects, promotion and studies 



€ € € € 

Council Initiatives 

TV Programme Development 0 0 0 90,750 

Heritage Officer Scheme 0 802,896 802,896 446,962 

Local Authority Partnerships 1,530,574 0 1,530,574 580,556 

Advertising 0 59,013 59,013 109,037 

Subscriptions 0 23,034 23,034 13,305 

Conferences, seminars & meetings 0 68,816 68,816 142,367 

Library 3,697 4,291 7,988 3,266 

Consultancy, Studies & reports 0 27,799 27,799 0 

Biological Records Centre 0 3,098 3,098 0 

1,534,271 988,947 2,523,218 1,386,243 

Archaeology 

Consultancy, studies & reports 38,603 0 38,603 19,384 

38,603 0 38,603 19,384 

Architecture 

Consultancy, studies & reports 193,044 94,490 287,534 283,679 

Publications 0 0 0 5,985 

193,044 94,490 287,534 289,664 

Education, Planning 

and Promotion 


Publications 109,428 0 109,428 273,237 

Heritage in schools schemes 0 196,921 196,921 180,640 

119,506 615,376 734,882 938,362 

Inland Waterways & Marine 

Consultancy, studies & reports 140,471 0 140,471 136,058 

Publications 45,820 9,193 55,013 0 

186,291 9,193 195,484 136,058 

52




Note 5: Projects, promotion and studies condt. 



€ € € € 

Museums and Archives 


Publications 7,884 992 8,876 0 

31,321 92,007 123,328 71,376 

Wildlife 


Publications 0 1,920 1,920 0 

15,185 43,232 58,417 81,288 

Total 2,118,221 1,843,245 3,961,466 2,922,375 

Note 6: Staff Costs 

The average number of staff employed by the Heritage Council for the year was 15. (2004 - 15). 


€ € 

Staff salaries and wages 838,644 719,075 

Pension Costs 151,000 137,000 

Travel and Expenses 109,136 97,740 

Training 30,475 10,483 

Recruitment Costs 1,855 0 

Total 1,131,110 964,298 

53




Note 7: Superannuation Scheme 

There was a defined contribution scheme with Scottish Provident in operation until 1 February 

2003. In accordance with Section 20 of the Heritage Act 1995, the Council sought to establish a 

superannuation scheme for all permanent staff in line with the public sector model. Accordingly, 

two defined benefit schemes were approved by the Minister for Environment, Heritage and 

Local Government with effect from 1 February 2003 on an operational basis and apply to staff 

employed at that date in respect of qualifying past service. The Schemes are the Heritage Council 

Employee Superannuation Scheme, 2003 and the Heritage Council Spouse’s and Children’s 

Contributory Pension Scheme, 2003. These schemes are unfunded. 

(a) The valuation used for FRS 17 disclosures has been based on an actuarial valuation at 31 

December 2005 by a qualified independent actuary to take account of the requirements of 

FRS17 in order to assess the scheme liabilities at 31 December, 2005. 

The financial assumptions used to calculate the retirement benefit liabilities under FRS17 were 

as follow: 

Assumptions 31/12/2005 31/12/2004 

Discount Rate 4.50% 4.50% 

Salary escalation 3.75% 3.75% 

Increases to pensions in payments 2.75% 2.75% 

Increases to state pensions 2.75% 2.75% 

Inflation 2.25% 2.25% 

(b) NET DEFERRED FUNDING FOR PENSIONS IN YEAR 


€000 €000 

Funding Recoverable in respect of current year 199 179 

(c) ANALYSIS OF TOTAL PENSION COSTS CHARGED TO EXPENDITURE 


€000 €000 

Current Service Cost 136 130 

Interest on Pension Scheme Liabilities 63 49 

Employee Contributions -48 -42 

Total 151 137 

54




Note 7: Superannuation Scheme Contd. 

(d) DEFERRED FUNDING ASSET FOR PENSIONS 

The Council recognises these amounts as an asset corresponding to the unfunded deferred 

liability for pensions on the basis of the set of assumptions described above and a number of 

past events. These events include the statutory basis for the establishment of the superannuation 

scheme, and the policy and practice currently in place in relation to funding public service 

pensions including contributions by employees and the annual estimates process. While there 

is no formal agreement regarding these specific amounts with the Department of Environment, 

Heritage and Local Government the Council has no evidence that this funding policy will not 

continue to meet such sums in accordance with current practice. The deferred funding asset for 

pensions as at 31 December 2005 amounted to €1.642 million (2004: €1.366 million). 

(e) MOVEMENT IN SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) IN SCHEME AT 


BEGINNING OF YEAR 

€000 €000 

Deficit in scheme at beginning of year -1336 -914 

Movement in year: 

Current Service Cost -136 -130 

Other finance income -63 -49 

Actuarial loss -107 -243 

Deficit in scheme at end of year -1642 -1336 

(f) HISTORY OF ACTUARIAL GAINS OR LOSSES 


€000 €000 

Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities 108 -154 

Expressed as a percentage of scheme liabilities 6.58% -11.53% 

Total actuarial gains and losses -107 -243 

Expressed as a percentage of scheme liabilities -6.52% -18.19% 

55




Note 8: Establishment expenses 


€ € 

Rent and service charge 70,579 57,019 

Power, heat and light 13,744 8,723 

Canteen, catering and cleaning 10,546 17,095 

Repairs and maintenance 2,249 1,820 

Insurance 38,581 38,498 

Headquarters - The Palace 48,931 697 

Total 184,630 123,852 

Note 9: Office supplies and administration 


€ € 

Telephone and postage 72,900 60,049 

Stationary, printing & office equipment repairs 49,675 15,518 

Library and newspapers 4,143 3,222 

Computer supplies and maintenance 114,892 58,211 

Legal, professional fees & sundry 25,429 14,619 

Audit fee 8,640 7,000 

Gifts 7,829 12,698 

Total 283,508 171,317 

56




Note 10: Tangible Fixed Assets 

Buildings Office Office Plant & Computers Works of Total 

Furniture Equipment Equipment 

Art 

COST € € € € € € € 

As at 1 January 

2005 1,587,922 96,193 74,612 0 386,107 194,490 2,339,324 

Additions 0 4,755 39,256 2,100 94,827 0 140,938 

Disposal 0 0 (16,516) 0 0 0 (16,516) 

As at 31December 

2005 1,587,922 100,948 97,352 2,100 480,934 194,490 2,463,746 

ACCUMULATED 

DEPRECIATION 

As at 1 January 14,033 52,075 65,008 0 214,684 0 345,800 


Charge for year 39,698 9,401 7,600 315 100,300 0 157,314 

On disposals 0 0 (16,516) 0 0 0 (16,516) 


2005 53,731 61,476 56,092 315 314,984 0 486,598 

NET BOOK 

AMOUNTS 


2005 1,573,889 44,118 9,604 0 171,423 194,490 1,993,524 


2005 1,534,191 39,472 41,260 1,785 165,950 194,490 1,977,148 

57




Note 11: The Irish Landmark Trust Ltd. 

The Irish Landmark Trust Ltd was established in 1992 as a non profit company with the objective 

of saving historic buildings that were abandoned or at risk. This is achieved by giving them a 

useful and viable function as short term holiday accommodation, which would secure their longterm 

future. The level of Council funding each year is determined by reference to Council’s Five 

Year Plan, the Irish Landmark Trust’s Corporate Plan, and Council’s overall budgetry position. 

Note 12: Discovery Programme Ltd. 

The Council funds the Discovery Programme that was established in 1991 and was registered as 

a company, limited by guarantee on 15 January 1996. The Council is responsible for appointing 

the chair of the Discovery Programme and three of its directors. The Chief Executive is one of 

Council’s nominees to the Board of the Discovery Programme. The level of Council funding 

each year is determined by reference to Council’s Five Year Plan, The Discovery Programme’s 

Corporate Plan, and Council’s overall budgetary position. 

The purpose of the programme is to enhance our understanding of Ireland’s past through 

research and archaeological excavations. 

Note 13 Grant Commitments 

At 31 December 2005 the Council had entered into commitments in connection with activities 

due to take place after that date. The amount involved of €954,236 is not reflected in these 

Financial Statements. 


€ € 

Grants committed at 1 January 216,211 339,215 

Adjustments 0 (100,000) 

Approvals in year 6,995,469 7,077,053 

Grants decommitted (120,319) (722,397) 

Grant expenditure in the year (6,137,125) (6,377,660) 

Grant Commitments at 31 December 954,236 216,211 

58




Note 14: Council Members Disclosure of Interest 

In the normal course of business the Council may approve financial assistance to undertakings 

in which the Council members are employed or otherwise have an interest. 

The Council adopted procedures in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of 

Finance in relation to the disclosure of interests by Council members and these procedures have 

been adhered to during the year. 

The following members disclosed an interest in organisations to which financial assistance was 

approved in the year 

Virginia Teehan, Director of Hunt Museum 

Maurice Hurley, City Archaeologist, Cork City Council 

Eamonn McEneaney, Manager, Waterford Treasures 

Simon Berrow, Project Manager, Irish Whale 

and Dolphin Group 

€52,013 under Other Grants 

€35,000 under the Archaeology 

Grants 


€3,500 under Publication Grants 

€14,710 under Museums 

and Archives Grants 

€8,000 under the Wildlife Grants 

€2,500 under the Local Heritage 

Grants 


The members withdrew from the meetings when the projects were being discussed and played 

no part in the decision to grant funding. 

Note: 15 Premises 

The Council occupies offices in Rothe House, Kilkenny under a short-term lease at a cost in 

2005 of €50,000 (2004 €50,000). During 2004 the Council acquired the Bishop’s Palace in 

Kilkenny for use as its permanent Headquarters and refurbishment will commence in 2006. 

Note 16: Going Concern 

The Council draws funds from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 

as and when required. It recognises this income on a cash receipts basis but recognises 

expenditure on an accruals basis. The Council believes that the department will continue to 

fund its approved activites and on this basis it is appropiate to prepare the financial statements 

on a going concern basis. 

Note 17: Approval of Financial Statements 

The Financial Statements were approved by Council on 13 April 2006 

59


SCHEDULE 1 

TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

61

Applicant 

Airfield Trust 

LOCAL HERITAGE GRANTS 

Project 

Community with nature at Airfield, Co Dublin - A 

nature programme for schools 

Amount 

Paid € 

4,500 

An Taisce - Meath Division Boyne Canal Towpath Walk Development 6,500 

An Taisce National Trust for 

Ireland - Cork Association 

An Taisce National Trust for 

Ireland - Cork Association 

Arklow Tidy Towns 

Aughney, Tina 

Ballinamore Tourism Initative 

Ballincollig Tidy Towns 

Association 

Ballyboughal Hedgerow Society 

Ballymurn Heritage Committee 

Bellevue Gate Lodges Restoration 

Committee 

A series of round table meetings for environmental 

NGO’s to develop position and strategy on biodiversity. 

A mobile interactive education/outreach unit on 

Heritage located in Cork during June in the 2005 

European Capital of Culture year. 

Dune protection and stabilisation on Arklow Town 

Beach, Co Wicklow 

Batline and Summer Education Events- a public service 

available for the summer months on all bat related 

topics 

A survey on a fixed number of Sweat houses located in 

Co Leitrim 

Flora & Fauna and Habitats Survey in Ballincollig 

Regional Park, Co Cork 

2 information signs in Ballyboughal parish as part of 

Hedgegrow Nature Trail, Co Dublin 

Repairs to structures at Kilmallock Cemetery, Co 

Limerick 

7,000 

6,000 

4,500 

5,000 

2,500 

2,000 

2,200 

1,500 

Restoration of Barn, Ballinasloe, Co Galway 6,000 

Birdwatch Ireland - South Dublin Dalkey Islands Tern Project 2005, Co Dublin 4,000 

Birdwatch Ireland - West Kerry 

Raising awareness of and supporting or initiating 

conservation measures for red list bird species in Kerry: 

Clough, Corncrake, Roseate Tern, Barn Owl and Hen 

Harrier 

2,694 

Burren Geopark Committee Geological information signage at the Burren, Co Clare 4,000 

Cargin Cemetery Committee 

CELT (Centre for Environmental 

Living & Training), Scarrif, Co 

Clare 

Charlestown & District 

Development Association Ltd 

Clogher Historical Society 

Cargin Cemetery Restoration Project, Headford, Co 

Galway 

CELT Adult Training and Awareness Programme 

2005- A programme of exhibitions and training events 

covering Woodland/ Wetland/ Water Ecology and a 

range of traditional skills. 

1,274 

6,000 

A Photographic Exhibition of Charlestown, Co Mayo 4,000 

Update and modify existing website to provide facility 

for smaller heritage groups- Clogher, Co Monaghan 

4,000 

Cloghran Historical Society Cloghran Graveyard Restoration, Swords, Co Dublin 12,000 

Co Donegal Railway Restoration 

Limited 

Coiste Logainmneacha Chondae 

Mhuineachain 

Collection of irreplaceable industrial railway heritage 

items with associated local publicity to raise awareness. 

Provision of a comprehensive guide to the meaning of 

placenames on Co Monaghan. 

4,000 

7,000 

62

Applicant 

Coiste Logainmneacha Chorcai 

Cook, Ted 

Cork Campus Radio 97.4 FM 

Corkery, Donal 


Project 

Transcription of Ordnance Survey Namebook for the 

Barony of Imokilly, Co Cork from microfilm 

Community Environmental Education- Night courses on 

conservation skills in the natural heritage area 

Radio Documentary “Gone but not forgotten” - The 

legacy of the huguenots in Cork & their context in 

Ireland 

A wildlife and archaeological survey of Gleninchaquin 

Park, Kenmare, Co Kerry 

Amount 

Paid € 

4,500 

3,000 

3,000 

5,000 

Crann National Tree Awareness Campaign 7,000 

Cruicetown Cemetery 

Conservation Committee 

Daibhre Limited 

Derry and Raphoe Action 

Doherty, Andrew 

Donegal Heritage Office 

Donegal Heritage Office 

Dublin Civic Trust 

Galway Education Centre 

Reinstatement of Boundary Wall & record of those 

interred 

Restoration and public display of the RNLB Rowland 

Watts on Valentia Island 

Promotion of Awareness of the Planning and 

Development Act 2000 to Owner/Occupiers of 

Protestant Donegal Churches 

Cheekpoint, Co Waterford Fishing Heritage Project- 

Raising awareness of the social history of fishermen and 

exhibition for the Ireland/Newfoundland exchange 

Raise public awareness of the natural, built and 

cultural heritage in graveyards. The project will consist 

of a series of three public seminars and workshops 

throughout the county. 

Heritage in your Hinterland- Brochure containing 

heritage information for County Donegal. The brochure 

will contain a map with information on local heritage 

“The History and Conservation of Dublin Antique Street 

Furniture”- A one day instructive seminar & booklet 

“Birds for Schools”- A bilingual calendar, poster DVD 

and website on birds in the locality. 

5,000 

-341 

1,000 

2,000 

2,300 

3,800 

4,500 

7,000 

Glenbower Wood & Lake Ltd Glenbower Wood & Lake Management Plan 4,500 

Gergelyova, Maria 

Irish Georgian Society 

Irish Peatland Conservation 


Irish Wildlife Trust 

Killoughey Community Council 

Kinvara Community Council 

Developing New Audiences for Heritage Sites in Co 

Galway- making local heritage physically & intellectually 

accessible to wide audiences. 

Funding towards conference “European Country House 

in the 21st Century” 

Bog of Allen Education Programme- series of illustrated 

slide shows and walks, a travelling exhibition and a 

visitor’s guide and map leaflet. 

World Oceans Festival 2005- Festival to celebrate 

Ireland’s marine heritage 

Repairs to Stonework of Killoughey Cemetery, 

Tullamore, Co. Offaly 

Archaeological survey of St. Coman’s Church, Kinvarra, 

Co Galway 

3,000 

4,000 

7,000 

5,967 

5,500 

4,438 

Lenihan, Edmund The Holy Wells of Three Clare Parishes 2,000 

63

Applicant 

Lickey Concern Group 


Project 

Heritage Walks of the River Lickey, Dungarvan, Co 

Waterford 

Amount 

Paid € 

4,000 

Lismullin Institute Series of Evening Seminars on Heritage 1,250 

Lough Ree Environmental 

Summer School 

Loughrea Environmental Group 

Lough Ree Summer School Awareness Programme- 

Fieldtrips, Seminars and workshops 

An Archaeological Survey and specification of works for 

the proposed restoration works at the Childrens Burial 

Ground, Loughrea, Co Galway 

6,000 

2,000 

Louth Local Authorities Archives Establishment of a county oral history archive 7,000 

Marine Dimensions 

Merc Consultants 

Newbridge Tidy Towns 

Association 

O Briensbridge Community 

Group 

Offaly Historical and 

Archaeological Society 

To raise awareness of Ireland’s marine environmental 

heritage through creation of an online resource. 

Collation and dissemination of data relating to the 

biodiversity of Kilkieran Bay, Co Galway. 

Interpretative signage in the Liffeyside amenity area, 

Newbridge, Co Kildare 

6,500 

6,500 

4,000 

Archaeological Assessment at ‘Briensbridge, Co Clare 2,647 

Conservation Report for Shinrone Glass House, Co 

Offaly 

2,500 

O Keefe Lascar, Lynn Doorus Orchard Project- Restoration of walled garden 6,000 

Oranmore Community 

Development Association Limited 

Restoration of Tobernacallybeartha Well and 

Enhancement of its Environs, Oranmore, Co Galway 

2,397 

Rathannna Community Group Wildlife Notice Board at Rathanna, Borris, Co Carlow 1,500 

Rathmullan 21 

Ros Tapestry Project 

Conservation report for Rathmullan Abbey, 

Rathmullen, Co Donegal 

The Ros Tapestry Project- Display of Tapestries in local 

Church, New Ross, Co Wexford 

8,000 

2,000 

Roscommon County Council Golden Mile ‘Hedgerow’ Competition 2,400 

Rothe House Trust Limited 

Ruan Tidy Village Group 

Shannon Dolphin & Wildlife 

Foundation 

Sisters of Mercy 

South Wicklow Countryside 

Awareness 

Archaeological Investigations Rothe House Garden 

Restoration Project 

Detailed study of animal and plant life in the Turlough 

area, Ruan, Ennis, Co Clare 

Shannon Dol-Fun- A weekend of dol-fun with a range 

of activities at the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife 

Centre, Kilrush. 

Conservation Works at The Cemetery, Convent of 

Mercy, Ennis, Co. Clare 

6,000 

2,500 

2,500 

3,000 

A Series of Talks on heritage and environmental issues 910 

St Brigid’s Cathedral Select Vestry Kildare Cathedral Organ Restoration 8,000 

St Manchans Restoration Conservation of St Mella’s Cell , Ballycumber, Co Offaly 8,000 

St. Joseph’s Training Centre Coppercraft revival 6,887 

The Select Vestry of Cobh & 

Glanmire, Cork 

The restoration of the organ in the Church of St. Marys 

and All Saints 

7,000 

64

Applicant 

Tramore Development Trust Ltd 

Trevet Graveyard Project 

Truagh Development Association 

Heritage Sub-Committee 

Tulla Parish Council 

Voice of Irish Concern for the 

Environment 


Project 

The natural history maritime and coastal survey of 

Gerald Geoffrey Spencer 

Archaeological survey of Trevet Graveyard, Tara, Co 

Meath 

Development of Truagh Heritage Archive, Truagh, 

Emyvale, Co Monaghan 

Preservation works at St Mochulla’s Church, Tulla, Co 

Clare 

The EU Water Framework Directive Participants 

Toolbox 

Amount 

Paid € 

6,494 

4,500 

6,500 

6,000 

4,000 

Walsh & Son’s Restoration of street clock, Navan, Co Meath 6,000 

Waterford City Archives John Roberts Weekend 2005 2,000 

West Cork Arts Centre 

West Limerick Community Radio 

Wexford Naturalist Field Club 

WF Baker, See House 

Committee, Cork 

Living Landscape 2005: Ireland and Catalunya - Spain- 

Exhibition and seminar exploring the concept of 

‘landscape’ in a European context. 

Folklore live- Radio programmes on the National 

Folklore Survey of the early 1930’s 

Establish a county recording database to promote 

interest in Wexford’s natural environment 

Condition report and repair programme for See House 

Gates 

4,000 

8,000 

2,000 

3,630 

Wilcox, John Survey of Kinvarra Tital Mill, Kinvarra, Co Galway 1,431 

Windgap Finance Committee 

Youghal Through The Ages 

Committee 

Complete the restoration of the mosaics and erect 

signage at Windgap Grotto, Co Kilkenny 

1,750 

Youghal Through The Ages- Historical Conference 4,000 

TOTAL 350,628 

65

Applicant Name 

PUBLICATION GRANTS 

Project Title 

Amount 

Paid € 

Archaeology Ireland Kilkenny Walls Heritage Guide 2,500 

Ardmayle Heritage Society Ardmayle Graveyard Headstone Inscriptions 1,500 

Browne, Juanita Ireland’s Mammals 4,000 

Church of Ireland College of 

Education 

Kildare Place Archival History Pack for Schools 4,000 

Community Planning Network Planning Matters Website. 2,500 

Conneely, Aisling 

Galway’s Heritage in Stone - Catalogue of late medieval 

sculpture in Co Galway 

1,500 

Cork Opera House Cork Opera House and the History of Opera in Cork 3,500 

Counahan, Sandra Irish Traditional Embroidery Mountmellick Work 2,000 

Daly, Eugene Folklore of Leap and Glandore 2,000 

de Paor, Maire Dun Iosa 1,000 

de Paor, Maire Duant Diaga le Tadhg Gaelach O Suilleabhain 2,000 

East Galway Ecclesiastical 

Heritage Steering Group 

Ecclesiastical Heritage of East Galway 3,000 

Four Courts Press The History and Archaeology of Medieval Trim 3,456 

Galway Civic Trust Website for Galway Civic Trust 1,018 

Griffin, Kevin The Renihan Diaries 1882-1925. 2,400 

Group for the Study of Irish 

Historic Settlement 

Irish Legal History Society 

Jordan, Peter 

The Parish in Ireland: Prespectives on Medieval and 

Reformed Communities 

The Star Chamber Court in Ireland - The Court of 

Castle Chamber 1570-1641 

A History and Catalogue of the Waterford Municipal 

Art Collection 

1,000 

3,000 

2,500 

Keenan, James Dublin Cinemas: A Pictoral Record of Selected Venues 4,000 

Lucey, John 

The Irish Pearl; A Cultural, Social and Economic 

History. 

3,500 

Mc Elheron, Anthony Merlins of the Wicklow Mountains 2,000 

McNiff, Peter 

Mercier Press 

Stories from a Small Town - Anecdotal History of 

Greystones, Co Wicklow 

Ventry One - A translation of Bearnard O Lubhaing’s 

Ceann Tra hAon - a memoir originally published in 

1998 by Coisceim and now translated by Gabriel 

Fitzmaurice. 

1,199 

2,000 

Mercier Press Famine in Cork City 3,000 

Navan Travellers Workshop On line gallery of Irish Travellers 1,875 

O Clabaigh, Colman The Irish Benedictines - A History 2,500 

Prendergast, James The Story of Johnstown House, Co Meath 1,000 

Quinn, Bob The Atlantean Irish 4,000 

Rosslare Historical Society Rosslare in History 2,000 

Royal Irish Academy Irish Historic Towns Atlas, Volume II 3,500 

66


South West Coast Yawl Rowing 

Association 

PUBLICATION GRANTS 

Project Title 

History of the South West Coast Yawl Rowing 

Association 

Amount 

Paid € 

1,500 

The Collins Press Horse in the Landscape 3,000 

The Collins Press Stone upon Stone – The use of Stone in Irish Building 2,500 

The Collins Press Ireland’s Coastline - History and Heritage 3,500 

The Collins Press Killarney History and Heritage 3,000 

The Woodfield Press 

Timoney, Mary 

University College Dublin 

Voice Books Ltd. 

Francesca Trench - A diary kept during the Gaelic 

Revival 

Had Me Made - A Study of the grave memorials of Co 

Sligo from 1850 to the present time 

Belatedly hatching ornithology collections at the 

National Museum of Ireland 

The Stories of an Irish Hall; the Butt Hall, Ballybofey, 

Co Donegal. The entire history of the Isaac Butt Hall, 

Ballybofey which was built in 1919. 

3,500 

3,000 

3,000 

1,000 

Waddell, John Foundation Myths; the Beginning of Irish Archaeology 3,500 

Waterford Treasures 

Publication of Shadows of the Past, a photographic 

stroll through Waterford 

3,500 

Wolfhound Press The Ancient Books of Ireland 3,500 

Wordwell Limited Mound of Hostages 3,000 

Wordwell Limited Above and Beyond - essays in memory of Leo Swan 3,500 

Wordwell Limited 

Short guide to Irish antiquities shown on Discovery 

Series Ordnance Survey maps by Paul Mulligan 

1,000 

Wordwell Limited Fortress Ireland by John McEnery 3,500 

Youghal Town Council 

A public awareness poster of the historic shopfronts of 

Youghal 

1,000 

TOTAL 119,948 

67


Archaeological Services Unit, 

University College Cork 

Clancy, Padraig 

Clyne, Miriam 

Comber, Michelle , Department 

of Archaeology, NUI Galway 

Cork City Council 

Council for British Archaeology 

Council for British Archaeology 

ARCHAEOLOGY GRANTS 

Project Title 

Monograph Manuscript of Excavations at Curraghtoor, 

Co Tipperary 

The ‘Royal’ Plain of Kildare: Curragh Geophysical 

Survey 

Report on the human remains from the archaeological 

excavations at St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam, Co Galway 

Ringfort and the settlement landscape of the Burren in 

the first millennium AD 

Funding towards hosting the annual conference of the 

European Association of Archaeologists 

British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography- Information 

System Upgrade 

To support the British & Irish Archaeological 

Bibliography 2005 

Amount 

Paid € 

19,887 

1,500 

9,800 

15,000 

35,000 

14,000 

14,977 

Dowd, Marion Examination of human remains from Irish Caves 14,000 

Dublin City Council 

Finan, Tom 

Galway Archaeology & Historical 

Society 

Archaeology & Development Strategic Research Agenda 

for Dublin City: Pilot Project at Ship Street & Environs 

Excavation of ecclesiastical complex at Kilteasheen, Co. 

Roscommon 

Journal of Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 

to CD 

10,000 

7,000 

4,400 

Johnston, Susan Publication of the excavations at Dun Ailline 1,339 

Lenihan, Eoin 

A study of ringfort settlement and dwelling in the 

Inchiquin area, Co Clare 

5,000 

Margaret Gowen & Co Ltd The Lisheen Mine Archaeological Project 1996-8 8,000 

O Connell, Michael, Palaeo 

Environmental Research Unit, 

Department of Botany, NUI 

Galway 

Palaeooeclogical studies towards providing an 

environmental context for archaeological investigations 

of pre bog field systems 

10,000 

O Drisceoil, Coilin The Dungarvan Valley Caves Project 5,043 

Offaly County Council Geophysical survey of Killeigh village 4,500 

Orser, Charles Derryveagh Village Project 3,975 

Raphoe Community in Action 

Raphoe Community in Action 

Shell, Colin, University of 

Cambridge 

Thornton, Sarah, Department of 

Archaeology, University College 

Dublin 


Walsh, Claire 

Woodman, Peter Prof, 

Deartment of Archaeology, 


Beltany Stone Circle and early Christian Settlement- 

Survey 

Funding towards Conference- “Beltany Rediscovering an 

Ancient Landscape” 

Understanding the Loughcrew (Slieve na Calliagh) 

landscape: phase two, on the ground 

3,000 

500 

14,000 

Geophysical survey on Lambay Island , Co Dublin 15,700 

Publication of the excavation of a Bronze Age 

Settlement at Rathgall, Co. Wicklow 

Publication of the Excavation at Illaunloughn, Co Kerry: 

Early medieval monastic island 

10,000 

5,858 

Develop a database for the Irish Mesolithic 9,338 

68


Wordwell Limited 

ARCHAEOLOGY GRANTS 

Project Title 

Unearthing Hidden Ireland: Historical Archaeology 

of Ballykilcline, Co Roscommon. Edited by Charles E 

Orser 

Amount 

Paid € 

4,000 

TOTAL 245,817 

69


Conroy, Deirdre 

ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH GRANTS 

Project Title 

Model Agricultural Schools in Nineteenth Century 

Ireland - History, Conservation and Heritage Analysis 

Amount 

Paid € 

15,000 

Dublin Civic Trust Survey of Dublin’s 20th century Architectural Heritage 15,000 

Hill, Judith Essay on Public Buildings in Limerick 1780 - c1860 479 

Irish Georgian Society 

Neguisse, Elene, Geography 

Department, Trinity College 

Dublin 

Catalogue of Irish Theses and Dissertations Pertaining 

to Architecture and the Allied Arts 

An assessment of the implementation of legislative 

measures to protect the built heritage by local 

authorities in Ireland 

3,900 

2,000 

TOTAL 36,379 

70


Boole Library Archives Service, 


MUSEUMS & ARCHIVES GRANTS 

Project Title 

Exhibition of the William Burges Archive at St. Fin 

Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. 

Amount 

Paid € 

9,800 

Clare County Archives Roger Casement Exhibition 2,000 

Clogher Historical Society 

Co. Donegal Railway Restoration 

Limited 

Connemara Pony Breeders Society 

Cork Youth International Video, 

Film & Arts Festival 

Donegal County Archives 

Dublin Institute of Advanced 

Studies 

Dungarvan Museum 

Clogher Historical Society Archival Project, Clogher, Co 

Monaghan 

3,800 

Conservation of two railway vehicles 8,000 

Conservation and microfilming of the minute books of 

the Connemara Pony Breeders Society 

Processing the records of the Cork Youth International, 

Video, Film, Arts Festival 

Archival Education Packs for Primary Schools in 

Donegal. 

2,000 

943 

5,000 

Irish Script on Sreen Project 10,000 

Image management system online/conservation of 

materials 

1,450 

Holy Ghost Congreation Archival Quality Mobile Shelving 9,000 

ICOM Ireland 

Institute for the Conservsation 

of Historic and Artistic Works in 

Ireland 

ICOM Ireland- Bursaries for attendance at 

International ICOM Committee meetings 

1,300 

Contribution towards Operational Costs 20,351 

Ionad Culturtha Mhuscrai Cataloguing and scanning of manuscripts 1,000 

Irish Film Archive Film Transfer Project 11,400 

Irish Museums Association Contritution towards Operational Costs 15,000 

Irish Museums Association Survey of Museums in Ireland 2,500 

Irish Labour History Society 

Conservation survey of Trade Union and Spanish Civil 

War banners, 1918 to 1950 

1,728 

Irish Railway Records Society Irish Railway Records Bookbinding Project 4,400 

Irish Traditional Music Archive Shields Tape Recordings Digitisation Project 7,000 

Kerry County Library 

Thomas Ashe Display Unit, Dingle Library- 

Conservation Needs Analysis 

Kilcormac Parish Conservation of the Kilcormac Pieta 5,907 

Knock Museum Textile Storage Unit 5,000 

Limerick City Gallery of Art Conserving and documenting the permanent collection 7,800 

Louth Local Authorities Archives Conservation of Ardee Poor Law Minute Books 2,000 

Michael Davitt Museum 

Documentation and stable archival storage of material 

and a feasibility study conservation work required. 

998 

2,000 

Museums of Mayo Network Development of the Museums of Mayo Website 5,000 

Na Piobairí Uileann Digitisation of Na Píobairí Uilleann Sound Archive 5,500 

National Irish Visual Arts Library 

Listing and presentation of college registers and 

creation of database 

4,000 

National Preservation Office Contribution towards operational costs 2,206 

71


National Print museum 

Offaly County Library and Archive 

Service 

MUSEUMS & ARCHIVES GRANTS 

Project Title 

Conservation and restoration of ledgers, books and 

other paper material owned by the National Print 

Museum 

Amount 

Paid € 

2,250 

Conservation of the Berry Letters 3,000 

Old Athlone Society Cataloguing the collection of the Old Athlone Society 4,500 

South Tipperary County Museum Training in museum basics 3,267 

St Canices National School 

The Castletown Foundation 


The conservation of primary school records for 

St. Canice’s National School, New Ross and their 

availability as primary sources in alternative formats. 

The conservation and consolidation of six arabesque 

panels at Castletown House, Co Kildare 

Curation, documentation and development of a unique 

collection of fossil amphibians from the Carboniferous 

of Ireland 

2,700 

12,000 

2,000 

Waterford City Archives Reboxing Waterford Corporation Minute Books 1,000 

Waterford City Archives 

Waterford Treasures 

Westmeath County Archives 

Service 

Wexford County Archive 

Conservation and scanning of the Sinnott Map of 

Waterford City 

Conservation with a view to display of 15th century 

chasuble, part of Waterford set of Vestments 

Conservation of the Rent Book of Robert William Lowry 

1839 

Conservation of the Co of Wexford Grand Jury 

Presentments 1858 to 1900 

-525 

14,710 

1,000 

3,500 

TOTAL 206,485 

72


WILDLIFE GRANTS 

Project Title 

Amount Paid 

€ 

Aldwell, Christopher Donegal Butterfly Survey 2,360 

Bat Conservation Ireland Car Based Monitoring Project 15,000 

Bat Conservation Ireland Equipment for Car Transect Bat Monitoring 3,178 

Bell, James, Institute of Biological 

Sciences University of Wales 

Genetic considerations to the design, function 

and management of marine island Special Area of 

Conservation 

14,420 

Birdwatch Ireland Countryside Bird Survey 12,700 

Birdwatch Ireland Farmland Bird Survey 30,000 

Birdwatch Ireland - Mayo 

Bond, Kenneth 

Brown, Mark , Department of 

Zoology, Trinity College Dublin 

Centre for Environmental Science 

National University of Ireland, 

Galway 

Survey of Breeding Waders of the Coastline of 

Southwest Mayo 

A survey of the Lepidoptera (moths & butterflies) of Co 

Clare 

Determining the origin of Irish populations of the rare 

mountain bumble bee, Bombus monticola: long term 

resident or recent invader? 

4,000 

3,843 

6,000 

Irish Beetle Seminar -238 

Cohab 2005 International Conference on Health & Biodiversity 10,000 

Coveney Wildlife Consulting Ltd 

Deegan, Bryan 

Seabird & Marina Mammal Survey in 2005 at the 

Blackwater Bank & Irish Sea Front 

Generation of GIS Project for inshore and offshore 

biodiversity. 

4,500 

10,000 

Fuller, Janice A survey of Hedgegrow diversity in East County Galway 9,983 

Gowran, Joe Coppice Silviculture Assessment plots baseline study 1,523 

Hochstrasser, Tamara -Dept 

of Environmental Resource 

Management University College 

Dublin 

Digitization of grassland heritage data 11,000 

Irish Biogeographical Society Sponsorship of Bulletin 600 



Conservation Plan for Lodge Bog, Co Kildare 5,000 

Irish Raptor Study Group Golden Eagle Re-introduction Programme 12,700 

Irish Whale & Dolphin Group ISCOPE Whale & Dolphin Guide 8,000 

Irish Wildlife Trust 

Kelly Quinn, Mary, Department 

of Zoology, University College 

Dublin 

McCarthy, TK -Zoology 

Department, National University 

College Dublin 

A Continuation of the 2004 National Lizard Survey of 

Ireland 

Biodiversity of the Macroinvertebrate Communities of 

Small Oligotrophic Upland Lakes in Ireland 

The Distribution and General Ecology of Irish Biting 

Midges 

3,000 

15,000 

9,000 

Mihai Coroi A survey of streamside byrophytes in Co Cork 7,000 

Murray, Declan, Department of 

Zoology, University College Dublin 

Irish Chironnmidac - Reference collection and updated 

checklist 

10,000 

73


National Association of Regional 

Game Councils 

Natura Environmental 

Consultants Ltd. 

O Mahony, Declan 

Parks Division- Fingal County 


Sigwart, Julia, Department of 

Zoology, University College Dublin 

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust 

WILDLIFE GRANTS 

Project Title 

Amount Paid 

€ 

Set Aside Project 15,000 

Local Biodiversity Areas : Pilot Study 10,000 

The current distribution and status of the Pine Marten 

(Martes martes) in Ireland - a re-survey of O` Sullivan 

(1983) 

15,000 

Ecological Study of the Coastal Habitats in Co Fingal 15,000 

A Key to the Irish Chitons 5,000 

Satellite-tracking the spring migration of Light bellied 

Brent Geese 

10,000 

Wing, Steve The Natural History Records of Cape Clear 3,000 

TOTAL 281,569 

74

Applicant 

BUILDINGS GRANTS 

Project 

Amount 

Paid € 

Altamont, Lord Jeremy Temporary Roof at Westport House, Co Mayo 27,023 

Alfred Beit Foundation Roof Repairs at Russborough, Co Wicklow 382,487 

Alt Presbyterian Church 

Bayley, E 

Roof Repairs at Alt Presbyterian Church, Castlefinn, Co 

Donegal 

Repairs to windows at Ballyarthur, Woodenbridge, Co 

Wicklow 

32,500 

7,474 

Brennan, Conor Roof Repairs at Thatch, Kilmanagh, Co Kilkenny 7,000 

Brophy, Ellen 

Building of Ireland Charitable 

Trust 

Roof Repairs at thatched cottage, Ballyfoyle, Co 

Kilkenny 

4,000 

Publication of Buildings of Ireland 17,724 

Buildings Lime Forum Publication of a handbook on lime in Buildings 6,000 

Burke, Theresa 

Repairs to Windows, drainage and roof of an 

outbuilding at Palmerston House, Co Galway 

15,000 

Butler, Judith Roof repairs at thatched cottage, Tullow, Co Carlow 12,000 

Byrne, Pat 

Roof repairs to thatched cottage at Ballygarrett, Co 

Wexford 

29,516 

Calry Parish Church Roof Repairs at Calry Church, Co Sligo 15,000 

Camphill Community Roof Repairs at Callan Workhouse, Callan, Co Kilkenny 50,000 

Chapelizod Church 

Childs, Anthony 

Church of the Holy Trinity 

Coughlan, Mary 

Cullinan, John 

Repairs to parapets and stonework in bell tower at 

Chapelizod Church, Co Dublin 

Completion of external render & rainwater goods at 

Togherstown House, Co Westmeath 

Repairs to stonework at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 

(St Pauls Church), Fethard, Co Tipperary 

Roof repairs at thatched cottage, Annaghmore, 

Shannon Harbour, Co Offaly 

Roof repairs at thatched cottage, Garrans, Co 

Waterford 

25,000 

20,000 

20,000 

6,000 

11,500 

Daly, Anthony Roof Repairs at Manorhamilton Castle, Co Leitrim 14,017 

Daly, Sean Roof Repairs to Rockfield Stables, Co Westmeath 25,000 

Diocese of Ardagh and 

Clonmacnoise 

Diocese of Waterford & Lismore 

Doyle, Ray 

Ellerton, Myra 

Roof repairs at St Joseph’s Temperance Hall, Longford 5,000 

Roof Repairs to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, 

Waterford 

Repairs to roof of thatched cottage at Ballygarra, Co 

Wexford 

Rainwater goods and works to belltower of Drumreilly 

Church of Ireland, Co Leitrim 

680,858 

10,000 

5,500 

Farrell, Peter Roof Repairs to Rath House, Co Laois 19,554 

Frank, Godfrey 

Gardiner, James 

Roof Repairs at Boyne Valley Cottage, Donore, Co 

Meath 

Roof repairs at thatched cottage, Poulacapple, Co 

Tipperary 

7,000 

8,000 

75

Applicant 


Project 

Amount 

Paid € 

Haskins, Daniel Repairs to windows at Oatlands House, Co Wicklow 12,705 

Headfort House Roof repairs at Headfort House, Kells, Co Meath 130,000 

Horgan, David 

Repairs to windows at Whitewood House, Nobber, Co 

Meath 

10,000 

ICOMOS Sponsorship of Maura Shaffrey Memorial Lecture 1,000 

ICOMOS 

Funding towards attendance at Venice Charter 

Conference- Hungary 2004 

2,500 

Irish Georgian Society Sponsorship of Traditional Buildings Skills weekend 7,500 

Irish Landmark Trust 

Kavanagh, Andrew 

Keane, Tom 

Kilmore Parish Church 

Kilteevan Old Church 

Magner, Eileen 

Conservation Report for St Finian’s Church, Redcastle, 

Co Donegal 

Further repairs to external walls at Borris House, Borris, 

Co Carlow 

Rendering and window repair at Morgan’s House, Co 

Limerick 

Repairs to the tower, roof and window, Kilmore Parish 

Church, Co Monaghan 

Repairs to roof and rainwater goods at Kilteevan Old 

Church, Co Roscommon 

Roof Repairs at Laurentinum House, Doneraile, Co 

Cork 

2,952 

20,000 

20,000 

10,000 

20,000 

22,000 

Mathews, Bridie Roof Repairs at Kildevin House, Co Westmeath 20,000 

Mayglass 

Molyneux House 

Moore, Charles 

Moran, Alan 

Repairs and maintenance at mud walled farm complex, 

Mayglass, Co Wexford 

Repairs to stonework and chimney at Molyneux Home, 

Dublin 

Roof Repairs to flat roof at Mooresfort House, Co 

Tipperary 

Repairs to Windows at Rush Hill House, Co 

Roscommon 

3,975 

5,500 

20,000 

15,000 

Nugent, Nicholas Roof Repairs at Bellinlough Castle, Co Westmeath 35,000 

O Connor, Margaret 

Offaly County Council 

Repairs to roof and stonework at Clashleigh Cottage, 

Co Tipperary 

Pointing and grouting at St. Brendan’s Church, Birr, Co 

Offaly 

15,000 

25,000 

Phelan, Paddy Roof Repairs to Tig Seana Baile Anna, Co Waterford 8,500 

Power, Nicholas Roof repairs at thatched cottage, Rosslare, Co Wexford 8,000 

Rathaspeck Manor Gate Lodge 

Representative Church Body 

Ryan Purcell, Rosemary 

Repairs to windows at Rathaspeck Manor Gate Lodge, 

Co Wexford 

Survey of Stained Glass Windows in the Church of 

Ireland 

Roof repairs to Burton Park House, Churchtown, Co 

Cork 

6,666 

35,500 

25,000 

Ryan, Meave Roof Repairs at Farran House, Co Waterford 10,000 

76

Applicant 

Sean McCarthy Memorial 

Weekend 


Project 

Amount 

Paid € 

Repairs to Kerry Cottage, Finuge, Co Kerry 15,000 

Sirius Arts Centre Repairs to the Stonework at Sirius Arts Centre, Co Cork 20,740 

Sisters of Charity of Jesus and 

Mary 

St Andrews Church 

St Carthages Cathedral 

Conservation Report on Moore Abbey, Co. Kildare 9,500 

Cast iron rainwater goods at St Andrews Church, 

Dunmore East, Co Waterford 

Repairs to copings of St Carthages Cathedral, Lismore, 

Co Waterford 

10,000 

20,000 

St George, Richard Roof Repairs to Kilrush House, Roscommon 20,000 

St James Church Roof repairs to St James Church, Athboy, Co Meath 20,000 

St John’s Church Longford 

St Mary’s Abbey 

Replacement of Lead Parapet Gutters and rendering at 

St Johns Church, Longford 

Repairs to roof and rainwater goods at St Mary’s 

Abbey, Trim, Co Meath 

33,966 

25,000 

St Patrick’s Cathedral Conservation Report on St Patricks Cathedral, Dublin 10,000 

St Paul’s Church 

Strokestown Park 

Stutchburry, Bettina 

Thompson, David 

Togra Fiontar & Cultur Ulabh Teo 

Townley Hall 

United Parish of St Doulaghs, 

Malahide 

External pointing to St. Paul’s Church, Cahir, Co 

Tipperary 

Roof Repairs & Rainwater Goods at Strokestown 

House, Co Roscommon 

Funding to provide assistance during the Survey of 

Stained Glass Windows in the Church of Ireland 

Repairs to windows and door at Castlegarde, Co 

Limerick 

Roof repairs at Teach Mici MacThomais, Letterkenny, 

Co Donegal 

Repairs to roof and external stonework at Townley Hall, 

Co Louth 

Repairs to Gutters and restoration of Wall Paintings at 

St. Doulagh’s Church, Malahide, Co Dublin 

28,000 

2,925 

5,000 

3,846 

9,460 

20,000 

2,938 

Waterford County Council Roof repairs to Dispensary, Portlaw, Co Waterford 9,363 

Windsor, Sean Stabilistion works at Wilton Castle, Co Wexford 15,000 

Total 2,235,689 

77


OTHER GRANTS 

Project Title 

Amount 

Paid € 

A New Munster Film Project Film Project on The Life of Captain William Hobson 2,000 

Archaeology Ireland Food and Culture Conference 4,000 

Ashfield Press Publication of Secret Sites 3,000 

Belmullet Festival Committee Bellmullet Annual Heritage Day 1,000 

Birdwatch Ireland Funding for Barn Owls and Bird Hide 32,000 

Building Limes Forum Sponsorship of Annual Building Limes Forum 900 

Butler Gallery Standards and Accreditation Grant -IT Equipment 10,414 

Chester Beatty Library 

Chester Beatty Library 

Standards and Accreditation Grant -Digital Security 

System and IT Equipment 

Standards and Accreditation Grant- Environmental 

Monitoring Equipment 

54,798 

36,000 

Chester Beatty Library Standards and Accreditation Grant- IT Equipment 6,130 

Countryside Recreation Network Sponsorship of two day Conference on Greenways 4,000 

De Courcy, Catherine Distribution of the Archive of J.W de Courcy 4,000 

Donegal County Museum 

Dublin Civic Trust 

Standards & Accreditation Scheme- IT Equipment, 

shelving and security system 

Grant aiding a series of seminars October-November 


21,784 

10,000 

Earth Science 2000 Sponsorship of Earth Science 2000 1,000 

Film Corporation of Ireland Ltd Documentary on the Life and work on John ffrench 6,000 

Galway Mayo Institute of 

Technology 

Howth Transport Museum 

Society 

Hunt Museum 

Sponsorship of prize for Bachelor of Arts in Heritage 

award 

119 

Improvement works at Howth Transport Museum 13,395 

Standards & Accreditation Grant-Upgrading security 

system, upgrading cataloguing system and funding 

towards archival project 

47,076 

Hunt Museum Funding towards conservation/environmental plan 4,938 



Irish Peatlands Public Presentation and Archival Project 1,000 

Irish Rare Breeding Birds Panel Administration Costs of Panel 4,000 

Irish Seal Sanctuary Balance Sea Alarm Conference, Balbriggan 1,000 

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Equipment for Cetacean Monitoring 40,000 

Joyce, Cian Bird & bat boxes 179 

Kerry Literary and Cultural Cent Listowel Heritage Conference 6,000 

Kilkenny Arts Festival Sponsorship of Kilkenny Arts Festival 5,000 

Kilkenny County Council 

Knock Folk Museum 

Seminar on the Care and Conservation of Historic 

Graveyards 

Standards and Accreditation Grant- Lighting at Knock 

Museum 

6,000 

18,996 

78


OTHER GRANTS 

Project Title 

Amount 

Paid € 

Landscape Alliance Ireland European Landscape Convention Workshop 7,000 

Meitheal Mara Boats Show Exhibition 3,440 

Monaghan County Council 

Monaghan County Museum 

Muckross House & Traditional 

Farms 

Museum Chorca Dhuibhne 

National Transport Museum, 

Howth 

Public Consultation for the development of a County 

Monaghan Heritage Plan 

Standards and Accreditation Grant- Security System 

and Equipment 

5,000 

28,405 

Replacement of Windows in Quilles Farmhouse 14,722 

Standards & Accreditation Grant- Re-binding of books 

and equipment 

Standards & Accreditation Grant- Equipment, Security 

systems and shelving 

21,736 

11,101 

Rothe House Window Restoration at Rothe House 4,000 

Royal Irish Academy Historic Town Atlas 2,100 

Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife 

Trust 

Whales and Dolphin Guide 10,000 

Sheffield Hallum Univeristy Countryside Recreation Network Research Grant 1,479 

The National Print Museum 

Standards & Accreditation Grant- Equipment, storage 

facilities & security 

68,450 

Ulster Museum Mesolithic Conference 2005 6,000 

Viking Congress XV Viking Congress 4,000 

Waterford Treasures Standards and Accreditation Grant- Display cases 72,000 

Wexford Historical Society Digging Wexford Conference 1,500 

Wicklow Uplands Council Wicklow Sustainable Trails Network 12,500 

Wicklow Uplands Council 

Bursary for attendance at Europarc Assembly in 

Apeldoorn (Sept 2005) 

2,000 

Wicklow Uplands Council Core Funding Grant 60,000 

Woodlands of Ireland Publication of Conference Proceedings 7,000 

Woodlands of Ireland Core Funding Grant 30,000 

Woodlands of Ireland 

Seed Collection Pilot Project & Devlopment of Training 

in Coppice Management 

8,700 

WSG 2005 International Wader Study Group Conference 2005 1,000 

TOTAL 726,862 

Irish Landmark Trust Limited Grant 2005 360,000 

Discovery Programme Limited Grant 2005 1,573,748 

TOTAL GRANTS PAID IN 2005 6,137,125 

79

FINANCIAL THE HERITAGE STATEMENTS COUNCIL OF THE HERITAGE COUNCIL 

FOR NOTES THE TO YEAR THE ENDED FINANCIAL 31 DECEMBER STATEMENTS 2005 


Note 10: Tangible Fixed Assets 

Buildings Office Office Plant & Computers Works of Total 

Furniture Equipment Equipment 

Art 

COST 

FINANCIAL € € STATEMENTS 

€ € € € € 

OF THE 


2005 1,587,922 96,193 74,612 0 386,107 194,490 2,339,324 

Additions 0 4,755 39,256 2,100 94,827 0 140,938 


Disposal 0 0 (-16,516) 0 0 0 (-16,516) 


2005 1,587,922 100,948 97,352 2,100 480,934 194,490 2,463,746 


Accumulated 

Depreciation 

As at 1 January 14,033 52,075 65,008 0 214,684 0 345,800 


Charge for year 39,698 9,401 7,600 315 100,300 0 157,314 

On disposals 0 0 (-16,516) 0 0 0 (-16,516) 


2005 53,731 61,476 56,092 315 314,984 0 486,598 

NET BOOK 

AMOUNTS 


2005 1,573,889 44,118 9,604 0 171,423 194,490 1,993,524 


2005 1,534,191 39,472 41,260 1,785 165,950 194,490 1,977,148 

80

Standing Committee on Archaeology 

Council members: 

APPENDIX A: COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Con Costello (chairperson), Michael McNamara, Michael MacMahon, Maurice Hurley 

Appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 

Ted Creedon, Michael Gibbons 

Appointed by the Heritage Council: 

Liam Downey, Margaret Gowen, Brian Lacey 

Standing Committee on Architecture 


Primrose Wilson (chairperson), Con Costello, Mary Bryan, Ruth Delany, Mary Moylan 


Fionnuala May, Christine Casey, and Finola Reid 


Paul Arnold, Loughlin Kealy 

Standing Committee on Wildlife 


Simon Berrow (chairperson), Nioclás Ó Conchubair, Michael MacMahon, Michael McNamara 

Appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: 

Seamus Kelly, John Murphy 


Rosaleen Dwyer 

Standing Committee on Inland Waterways 


Nioclás Ó Conchubhair (chairperson), Ruth Delany, Michael McNamara 


John Keane, Colin Becker, Daphne Levinge 


Ian Bath 

Museums and Archives Committee 


Eamonn McEneaney (chairperson), Con Costello, Deirdre Ellis-King, Tómas Ó Caoimh, Virginia Teehan 


Colum O’Riordan, Grellan Rourke, Raghnall O’Floinn, John Coll, Elizabeth Crooke, Catherine Marshall 

Education and Communication Committee 


Deirdre Ellis-King (chairperson), Nessa Dunlea, William Smyth, Eamon McEneaney, Primrose Wilson, 

Tomás Ó Caoimh 

Appointed by the Heritage Council 

Catherine Gralton, Leo Hallissey, Liam Downey (archaeology representative), 

Simon Berrow (wildlife representative) 

81

Finance/Audit Committee 


Nessa Dunlea (chairperson), Tom O’Dwyer, Virginia Teehan, Michael MacMahon 

Marine and Coastal Committee 


Simon Berrow (chairperson), Ruth Delany, Michael McMahon, Nioclás Ó Conchubhair, Willie Smyth 


Leo Hallissey, Ted Creedon, Cilian Roden, Gillian Mills, Rick Boelens, Robert Devoy 

Planning Review Group 


Ruth Delany, Mary Moylan, Mary Bryan 


Paul Arnold, Michael Gibbons, Seamus Kelly, Fionnuala May 

82

APPENDIX B: LINKS 

REPRESENTATION ON TASK FORCES, STEERING COMMITTEES, ETC. 

Council of National Cultural Institutions Education Committee 

Council of National Cultural Institutions Marketing Committee 

Board of The Discovery Programme 

Chairperson of EAA Cork 2005 National Advisory Board 

National Planning Guidelines Committee 

Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s Working Group on Building Regulations and Historic Buildings 

Vice-President of European Greenways Association 

Member of the National Coordination Group for the Water Framework Directive (DEHLG) 

Member of Working Group on Public Participation (DEHLG) 

Worked on Shannon River Basin Project, South East River Basin Project, South Western River Basin Project and 

Western River Basin Project 

Comhairle na Tuaithe 

Member of National Way-Marked Ways Advisory Committee 

Member of Rothe House Management Trust 

CAP Rural Development Plan 2000-2006 Monitoring Committee 

Breeding Bird Atlas of Britain and Ireland Working Group 

Comhar- Biodiversity Working Group 

European Environmental Advisory Council’s Biodiversity Working Group 

National Platform for Biodiversity Research 

Golden Eagle Re-introduction Project Steering Committee 

Countryside Bird Survey Steering Committee 

Irish Forestry Certification Initiative 

Dublin City Walls Steering Group 

Ship Street Framework Plan Steering Group 

St Mary’s Church and Graveyard, Kilkenny Steering Group 

Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland Forum to Develop Programme of Continuous Professional 

Development (CPD) 

UCD Forum for Archaeology 2020: A Foresight Study for Irish Archaeology 

Study of Landscape Change in the Burren, County Clare, Steering Group 

European Archaeological Association Scientific Committee for 2005 Conference 

Criteria for National Monuments (Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government) 

Seabed Technical and Advisory Committee 

RIA Conservation Accreditation Board 

Irish Architectural Archive Board 

FÁS thatch traineeship Steering Group 

Kildare County Council Steering Group on re-use of farm buildings 

Clonfert Cathedral Conservation Plan Steering Group 

Bolton Library Conservation Plan Steering Group 

Rothe House Management Trust 

Steering Committee on Inventory of Historic Gardens 

Designed Landscape Steering Group 

83

INTERNATIONAL LINKS 

The Heritage Council has a number of ongoing associations and contacts, both formal and informal, with 

advisory and professional bodies across Europe and beyond, in an attempt to learn and develop through an 

observance of best practice abroad. In some instances, the Heritage Council has subscribed to a number of 

these bodies and organisations and actively partakes in their proceedings. 

President of Europarc 

Member of IUCN 

Member of Cooperative of European Environmental Advisory Councils 

Member of European Association of Archaeologists 

Member of Countryside Recreation Network 

Ongoing contact with English Heritage, English Nature, Countryside Agency, Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural 

Heritage, Department of the Environment (N.I.), UAHS, ICOMOS 

Europarc Natura 2000 Working Group 

Board of ICOM Ireland (International Council of Museums) 

International Board of DEMHIST 

84

APPENDIX C: PUBLICATIONS 

Our full range of publications can be purchased directly via the Wordwell Limited website at www. 

wordwellbooks.com, or by telephoning Wordwell at 01 2862649, Fax: 01 2864215, E-mail: wordwell@indigo.ie. 

Publications can also be downloaded from www.heritagecouncil.ie. 

About the Heritage Council 

- The Heritage Council – An Introduction and Service Standards 

- The Plan 1997-2000 

- The Plan 2001-2005 

- A Guide to Information held by the Heritage Council 

This guide contains manuals prepared in accordance with Sections 15 & 16 of the Freedom of Information Act, 

1997. 

Annual reports 

- Annual Report 1995-96 

- Annual Report 1997 





- Annual Report 2002 ISBN 1901137268 



Advice to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands 

- Policy Paper on State Sector Expenditure on Heritage ISBN 1901137090 

- Policy Paper on Agriculture and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137104 

- Policy Paper on Forestry and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137082 

- Policy Paper on the Role of the Heritage Council in the Planning Process 

- Policy Paper on the Future of Ireland’s Inland Waterways ISBN 1901137155 

- Policy Paper on Urban Archaeology and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137147 

- Policy Paper on Heritage Awareness in Ireland ISBN 1901137228 

- Policy Paper on Irish Thatched Roofs and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137680 Policy Paper on Ireland’s 

Landscape and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137414 

- Policy Framework for the Irish Museum Sector ISBN 1901137597 

- Policy Paper on a National Biological Records Centre ISBN 1901137619 

- Policy Paper on Ireland’s Waterways Corridor and the National Heritage ISBN 1901137775 

Conference proceedings 

- Taking Stock of our Ecclesiastical Heritage – Kilkenny, February 1997 ISBN 1901137058 

(out of print) 

- Policies and Priorities for Ireland’s Landscape – Tullamore, Co. Offaly, April 1999 (ISSN 1393-6808) 

Consultative documents 

- Consultative Document on the Role of the Heritage Council in the Planning Process 

- Consultative Document on the Future of Ireland’s Inland Waterways (ISBN 1 901137 04 X) 

- Irish Thatched Roofs – Is their future a thing of the past? ISSN 1393 68 08 

- Seeking your Views on Water Quality – Consultation Document 2003 ISBN 1901137 

- Seeking your Views on Water Quality – Report on Feedback 2004 ISBN 1901137651 

- Proceedings – European Environmental Advisory Council 10 th Annual Conference – Agriculture and Nature in 

an Expanding Europe – can a greener CAP fit it all? 

85

Reports 

Wildlife: 

- Evaluation of Environmental Designations in Ireland ISBN 1901137015 

- An Assessment of the Scientific Interest of the Dune System at White Strand, Doonbeg, Co. Clare ISBN 1 

901137031 (out of print) 

- A Guide to Habitats in Ireland ISBN 1901137279 

- Impact of Agricultural Schemes and Payments on Aspects of Ireland’s Heritage ISBN 1901137120 

- An Assessment of Farming Prescriptions under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme in the Uplands of 

the Burren Karstic Region, Co. Clare (ISSN 1393 – 68 08) 

- A Review of the CAP Rural Development Plan 2000 – 2006: Implications for Natural Heritage ISBN 1901137430 

- Conservation of Ireland’s Bats - Development of a Car Survey Monitoring Protocol for the Republic of Ireland 

ISBN 1901137716 

- Farming and Archaeology: The Irish Landscape 

- The Nature of Irish Farming: High Nature Value Farmland in Ireland 

- Conserving Hedgerows 

- Conserving and Enhancing Wildlife in Towns and Villages – A Guide for Local Community Groups 

- Conserving Wildlife 

- Conserving Bats 

Archaeology: 

- Stone Monuments Decay Study ISBN 1901137295 

- Archaeological Features at Risk Report: The recent destruction of Ireland’s archaeological heritage 

- Human Remains in Irish Archaeology – legal, scientific, planning and ethical implications ISBN 19011374222 

- Unpublished Excavations in Ireland ISBN 1901137376 

- Review of Urban Archaeology Research ISBN 1901137287 

- Urban Archaeological Practice in Ireland ISBN 1901137236 

- Review of Archaeological Assessment and Monitoring Procedures in Ireland ISBN 1901137201 

- Archaeology and Forestry in Ireland ISBN 1901137023 

Architecture: 

- Regulatory Environment for the Management and Repair of Historic Buildings ISBN 1901137163 

- A Wexford Farmstead: the conservation of an 18 th century farmstead at Mayglass ISBN 1901137600 

- The Care of Stained Glass 

- Recording and Conserving Ireland’s Industrial Heritage – An Introductory Guide 

Conservation Documents: 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Rothe House, Parliament Street, Kilkenny ISBN 1901137481300 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: St Brendan’s Cathedral, Clonfert, Co Galway ISBN 1901137465 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Portlaw, Co Waterford ISBN 1901137503 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Bere Island, Co Cork ISBN 1901137481300 

- Heritage Conservation Plan : Saint Lachtain’s Church, Freshford, County Kilkenny ISBN 1901137449 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Saint Mary’s Church & Graveyard, Kilkenny ISBN 1901137562 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Kilkenny City Walls ISBN 1901137767 

- Heritage Conservation Plan: Russborough, Co. Wicklow ISBN 1901137457 

86 

Museums & Archives: 

- A Report on a Survey of Museums and their Collections in Counties Longford, Mayo and Tipperary South 

Riding ISSN 1393-6808 

- Towards a National Framework for the Management of Biological Data ISBN 1901137347 

- The Provision of Genealogical Services in Ireland ISBN 190113721X 

- The Introduction of a Standard and Accreditation Scheme for Irish Museums ISBN 190113718X 

- A Survey of Irish Archive Collections ISBN 1901137805

Countryside & Recreation: 

- Guidelines for the Development of Waymarked Ways ISBN 1901137376 

- Medieval Irish Pilgrim Paths No 1: Cosán na Naomh ISBN 1901137309 

- Medieval Irish Pilgrim Paths No 2: St Kevin’s Way ISBN 1 901137 38 4 

- Medieval Irish Pilgrim Paths No 3: Lough Derg ISBN 1901137589 

Education: 

- Geographical Exploration – investigating Ireland’s Heritage ISBN 1901137686 

- Heritage in Schools Scheme Directory ISBN 190113772 

- Irish Water ISBN 19011376784 

Inland Waterways: 

- Waterway Corridor Studies 2002 – The Grand Canal from Ballycommon to Shannon Harbour and The Shannon 

from Shannonbridge to Meelick 

- Waterway Corridor Studies 2004 – 

1. The Royal Canal between Cloondara and Thomastown 

2. Lanesborough to Shannonbridge 

- Waterways Corridor Study 2005 – A Study of Area Surrounding the Upper Shannon navigation down to Roosky 

including the Boyle Rive, Lough Allen, Lough key and the Carnadoe Waters 

- Irish Water ISBN 1901137678 

Joint Publications: 

- The Irish Heritage and Environment Directory 1999 ISBN 0953442608 (with Archaeology Ireland) 

- Sligo Archaeological Guide 

- The Courthouses of Ireland (with the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) 

ISBN 1901137139 

- Heritage Appraisal of Development Plans – A Methodology for Planning Authorities (with Donegal County 

Council and the Irish Planning Institute) ISBN 1901137252 

- Caring for Collections: A Manual of Preventative Conservation (with ICHAWI) ISBN 1901137244 

- Archaeology and Development: Guidelines for Good Practice for Developers (with ICOMOS Ireland) ISBN 

1901137260 

- Dragonflies of Ireland (with the Sciences Division of the Ulster Museum) 

87

Annual Report 2005 - The Heritage Council

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