Local Authority Heritage Officers

County Heritage Officers are employed by Local Authorities in partnership with the Heritage Council under the auspices of the Heritage Officer Programme. The Programme has developed from an initial intake of three County Heritage Officers in 1999 to twenty five officers today.

Heritage Officers manage the heritage function within a county in a strategic and co-ordinated manner. They aim to promote enhanced levels of understanding, conservation and preservation by improving the status and perception of heritage in their local area.

The Office of Public Works (OPW)

The Office of Public Works is one of the oldest State bodies in Ireland, having been originally established in August 1831. The OPW’s mission is – ‘To deliver, in support of Government policies, high quality customer services in property, flood risk management, general procurement and heritage in the most sustainable, efficient, and economic way possible”.

OPW has responsibility for the day-to-day management of a range of the built heritage including its conservation and presentation. Most of the State’s prime monuments and archaeological sites are included in the collection of over 700 National Monuments in the care of OPW. The maintenance and conservation of these is a painstaking task, involving research and direction by architects and archaeologists, who are experts in the conservation of ancient structures, together with a skilled workforce using traditional crafts and, where appropriate, modern technology. This ensures that the monuments, which were created over the ages – in some cases, over 5,000 years ago – will be passed on to future generations to care for and appreciate. For further information about monuments and sites in the care of the OPW visit www.heritageireland.ie

The Local Authorities Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is a local authority shared service working with the 31 local authorities, relevant State agencies, stakeholders and communities. LAWPRO works to coordinate efforts to achieve the water quality objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. It supports the involvement of local communities in caring for their local waters as well as in decision-making and river basin management plans. They identify the issues impacting on water quality in the PAAs and refer them for action.

If you’re interested in a heritage project that focuses on a lake, river, seashore or other waterway, you may want to check-in with your Community Water Officer. Don’t forget, Sunday, 20th August 2023 is National Heritage Week’s Water Heritage Day, supported by the Local Authorities Water Programme. The day is dedicated to all things water related, which will highlight outstanding projects focused on water heritage. Water Heritage Day is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate water as an integral part of our natural heritage as well as a vital part of our future. It also gives us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of water and water quality to our daily lives and consider what more we can do to conserve this valuable resource.

Fáilte Ireland

The key role for Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, is to support and help the Irish tourism industry to meet the challenges facing the entire global tourism market and to sustain, or increase, the level of activity in the sector.

Irish Landmark Trust

Irish Landmark is a non-profit organisation that finds interesting and unusual properties that are in need of conservation, and gives them new life. Since 1992, it has been turning historic buildings into truly special self-catering holiday accommodation. Its properties range from lighthouses and schoolhouses, to castles and gate lodges.

As an educational charity, its primary aim is to conserve and sustain iconic buildings. That’s why Irish Landmark properties are living buildings, not museum settings. Irish Landmark always respects the history and architectural integrity of the structures it conserves, but it also ensures they have all the contemporary comforts you want in a holiday home.

The National Lottery

The National Lottery commenced 36 years ago with the objective of raising money for Good Causes organisations – organisations working to develop our culture and heritage, support our youth, grow participation in sports, and contribute to an inclusive and just society.

Nearly 30 cents in every €1 spent on all National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes and on average over 4,500 beneficiaries across Ireland receive Good Causes funding every year, including hundreds of Heritage groups and projects, supported with funding through The Heritage Council.

In total more than €6 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established.

The Good Causes Awards initiative to celebrate the inspirational work carried out by hundreds of volunteers, coaches, caregivers and other individuals across Ireland, and the organisations they represent.

This year, five heritage groups have been announced as National Finalists who will represent the Heritage Category in the 2023 National Lottery Good Causes Awards, being held in October.

They are:
- Tipperary Town Revitalisation
- The Little Museum of Dublin
- Mayo Dark Skies
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland
- Donegal Railway Heritage Museum

Media Partners