Heritage and Conservation

Archaeology Information and Advice

Local authorities may provide information and advice about archaeological finds, the protection of national, historic and recorded monuments, and the impact of development on or near archaeological sites.

Architectural Heritage Publications

Local authorities may publish documents about specific architectural heritage sites or types of architecture to promote awareness of local heritage.

Community Archaeology Support

Local authorities may support community and voluntary groups and individuals to improve local heritage sites by providing heritage advice and help with site surveys, excavations and the stabilisation of ruins.

Community Heritage Support

Local authorities may support community and voluntary groups who are developing community heritage projects by providing heritage advice, supporting them with projects and facilitating engagement between national heritage stakeholders and the local community.

Donations to Museums

Local authority museums may accept historical artefacts, memorabilia, photographs, documents and maps from groups and individuals who want to donate them.

Heritage Awareness Initiatives

Local authorities may run guided tours of heritage sites, open days and initiatives with schools to showcase local heritage.

Heritage Data Collection

Local authorities may support projects to collect local heritage data such as area placenames and historic graveyards and preserve it for future generations.

Heritage Forums Support

Local authorities may set up and support forums (groups) where elected councillors and community, voluntary and heritage groups work together to develop heritage plans and identify priority actions to manage local heritage.

Heritage Programme

Local authorities may run education programmes, commemorations, re-enactments and open days to raise awareness of, protect and preserve local heritage.

Heritage Regeneration Initiatives

Local authorities may work with community and heritage groups, businesses and the tourism sector to develop projects to protect local heritage buildings and spaces and provide an attractive place to live, work and visit.

Historic Burial Grounds Management

Local authorities may manage historic burial grounds to protect their historic, cultural and social importance and preserve them for the future.

National Heritage Week Programme

Local authorities may run events and activities including tours, recitals and re-enactments to celebrate and build awareness of Ireland's heritage and support its conservation, as part of National Heritage Week.

Protected Structures Declaration

You must apply to the local authority for a declaration to carry out works to a protected structure in advance. Protected structures are structures of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

Protected Structures Enforcement

Local authorities may take action against owners of protected structures that are at risk and in need of repair. Protected structures are structures which are of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

Protected Structures Record

Local authorities maintain a public record of protected structures. Protected structures are structures which are of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

Public Museums

Local authorities may provide and manage museums to exhibit objects which show the history of the locality and its people and preserve them for future generations.

Record of Protected Structures Consultation

Local authorities prepare a record of protected structures of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. You can have an input into the record through consultation.

World Heritage Sites Promotion

Local authorities, together with other agencies, may promote World Heritage Sites in Ireland. They do this through conservation, improved accessibility and public engagement to protect, preserve and highlight them as areas of significant cultural, historical or scientific importance.

Architectural Conservation Area Consultation

Local authorities may designate an area, group of structures or townscape as a place of special architectural, historical, archaeological, technical, social, cultural, or scientific, interest. You can have an input into the designations through consultation.

Architectural Conservation Area Register

Local authorities maintain a public register of architectural conservation areas. Architectural conservation areas are places, groups of structures or townscapes of special architectural, historical, archaeological, technical, social, cultural or scientific interest.

Architectural Conservation Areas Structures Acquisition

Local authorities may acquire structures and adjoining grounds in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) to secure the protection of the structure. An ACA is a place, area, group of structures or townscape that is of special architectural, historical, archaeological, technical, social, cultural, or scientific, interest, or that contributes to the appreciation of a protected structure.

Architecture at the Edge Programme Support

Local authorities may run talks, tours, workshops, films and exhibitions to promote and celebrate architecture in the West of Ireland as part of the Architecture at the Edge Programme.

Historic Buildings and Sites Management

Local authorities may manage heritage buildings and sites to protect their historic, cultural and social importance and secure their long term future for the benefit of the community.

Historic Towns Initiative

Local authorities may work with property owners to secure government funding to repair building fronts to preserve and protect local heritage.

Landscape Conservation Area Consultation

Local authorities may name particular areas as landscape conservation areas to protect and preserve their character. You can have an input into the designations through consultation.

Open House Initiative

Local authorities, together with the Irish Architecture Foundation, may provide access to buildings of architectural merit and organise talks, tours, workshops and exhibitions, as part of the Open House initiative to showcase local architecture and urban design.

Architectural Conservation Area Grant

Local authorities may provide financial support to owners of historic buildings in architectural conservation areas to carry out repairs to windows, doors, roofs, chimneys, gutters, railings and shop fronts. Architectural conservation areas are places, groups of structures or townscapes of special architectural, historical, archaeological, technical, social, cultural or scientific interest.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme

Local authorities may provide financial support for the repair and conservation of protected structures and buildings in an architectural conservation area. A protected structure is one with architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

Community Monuments Fund

The aim of the Community Monuments Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments

County Heritage Grant

Local authorities may provide financial support to community and heritage groups to carry out projects which help to conserve, promote and improve local heritage.

Decade of Commemorations Grant Scheme

Local authorities may provide financial support to community and voluntary groups to carry out projects to commemorate events that took place between 1912 and 1922 as part of the national Decade of Commemorations programme.

Historic Structures Fund Grant

Local authorities may provide financial support to owners of historic structures and buildings to conserve and improve them for the benefit of communities and the public.

Protected Structures and Architectural Conservation Areas Development Contribution Rebate Scheme

Local authorities may reduce development contributions for owners of protected structures in architectural conservation areas where the restoration is being carried out to a high conservation standard. Architectural conservation areas are places, groups of structures or townscapes of special architectural, historical, archaeological, technical, social, cultural or scientific interest.

Architectural Design

Local authorities design and develop public buildings and spaces and renovate historic buildings to provide libraries, community centres, cultural spaces and heritage attractions.

Monuments Maintenance

Local authorities preserve historical and cultural monuments by carrying out cleaning, landscaping and conservation works.

Archives and Education Programme

Archives Services may provide educational resource material, access to archives, talks, presentations and project partnerships to educators and students.

Archives Assessment

Archive Services may assess records held by individuals and organisations to check if they need to be preserved and made available to the public.

Archives Exhibitions

Archive Services may curate and exhibit archives to feature collections, historical events and topics for the public.

Archives Information and Advice

Archive Services may provide information and advice to history and heritage groups and the public on preserving archives, local history and donating archive collections. They use social media and websites to raise awareness of their resources.

Archives Partnership Programmes

Archive Services may organise or take part in events and projects in partnership with other bodies including Creative Ireland, the Decade of Centenaries Programme and EU Peace funded programmes. They also take part in national festivals and events such as Heritage Week, Seachtain na Gaeilge and Bealtaine.

Archives Public Engagement Programme

Archives Services may give talks, presentations and lectures to the public and to history, heritage and other relevant groups, and present papers at conferences.

Archives Publications

Archive Services may publish books, educational resource packs and articles to feature collections, historical events and topics.

Archivist in Residence

Local authorities may engage an archivist to take up a residency for a specified period of time to deliver their Archivist in Residence Programme.

Archivist in Residence Programme

Local authorities, together with an archivist in residence, may run a programme of archive related events for a specified period of time.

Explore Your Archive Week Initiative

Archive Services take part in an annual archive awareness campaign by holding events and activities for community, school and history groups, and the public.

Local Archives Acquisition

Archive Services acquire, buy and accept donations and deposits of archive collections to preserve them, make them available to researchers and put them on public display.

Public Archives Access

Archive Services provide researchers, students and the public supervised access to archives in a dedicated reading room.

Public Records Acquisition

Archive Services may acquire, buy and accept donations and deposits of public records to preserve them and make them accessible to the public.

Heritage Plan Consultation

Local authorities may prepare plans to protect local heritage. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Biodiversity Information and Advice

Local authorities provide information and advice to the public about protecting habitats, planting wildlife meadows, developing and preserving ecosystems, and removing invasive species to protect local biodiversity.

Tree Preservation Order

Local authorities may issue preservation orders for trees and woodlands to prevent them from being cut down or destroyed without permission.

Commemorations Programme

Local authorities may mark significant historical events by hosting commemoration ceremonies or exhibitions, laying wreaths, holding prayer or memorial services, or planting trees.

Decade of Commemorations Programme

Local authorities may run a programme of events and activities to commemorate events that took place between 1912 and 1922 as part of the national Decade of Commemorations Programme.

National Commemorative Programmes Support

Archive Services may take part in national programmes such as the Decade of Centenaries and National Famine Commemoration to commemorate and celebrate significant Irish historical events.

Conservation Reports

Local authorities may provide reports and information on conservation to government departments and other agencies.

Heritage Reports

Local authorities may provide reports and information on heritage to government departments and other agencies.

Cross-Border Heritage Initiatives

Local authorities, together with cross-border Local authorities, may develop projects that connect communities, promote peace and positive community relations, and develop an understanding of the shared heritage and culture of communities on both sides of the border.

European Heritage Partnership Initiatives

Local authorities, together with European partners, may take part in projects that explore their shared heritage and develop a better understanding of the cultural and historic links between them.

Heritage Education and Training

Local authorities may provide heritage education to school children and community, voluntary and heritage groups to increase their knowledge and appreciation of local heritage.

Heritage in Schools Scheme Support

Local authorities may support a scheme to provide primary schools with access to heritage specialists who can work with teachers and students to develop a knowledge of, and appreciation for, local heritage as part of the national Heritage in Schools Scheme.

Traditional Building Skills Training

Local authorities, together with other stakeholders, may provide training to trades and crafts people on traditional building skills such as use of lime mortars, historic masonry repairs and historic joinery.

Heritage Research Bursary

Local authorities may award a bursary to third level students to research a heritage topic and document their findings for future generations.