Useful Links

Want to explore more of Ireland’s heritage? Or get involved in protecting and conserving it?
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

The Heritage Council

heritagecouncil.ie

The Heritage Council works with others particularly at local level, to increase awareness our national heritage and to highlight its importance to public policy and everyday life.

European Heritage Days

europeanheritagedays.com

National Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days – a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union in which more than 50 countries participate each year.

HeritageMaps.ie

heritagemaps.ie

Here you can look at a wide range of built and natural heritage data sets in map form and create customized maps, measure area and distance, identify points of interest and study local flora and fauna.

Heritage Ireland

heritageireland.ie

HeritageIreland.ie allows you to search the heritage sites and National Monuments of Ireland.

Heritage in Schools Scheme

heritageinschools.ie

Ireland’s leading outdoor education programme for primary school children providing a panel of 176 diverse Heritage Specialists who work directly with children in primary schools throughout the country.

National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage

nationalinventoryich.chg.gov.ie

The National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage to protect, promote and celebrate Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and traditions.

KnowYour5k

ouririshheritage.org

‘KnowYour5k’ is a new initiative from the Heritage Council and National Museum of Ireland which provides an opportunity to share discoveries about our hidden heritage.

Tidy Towns

tidytowns.ie

Tidy Towns is competition that brings everybody together to work in common cause towards improving their town or village, urban or rural, big or small.

Volunteer Ireland

volunteer.ie

Information on volunteering in Ireland.

National Biodiversity Data Centre

biodiversityireland.ie

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is a national centre for the collection, collation, management, analysis and dissemination of data on Ireland’s biological diversity.

NPWS

npws.ie

The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is charged with the conservation of a range of ecosystems and populations of flora and fauna in Ireland.

Irish Trails

irishtrails.ie

Irishtrails.ie allows you to search for and find information on waymarked walking, cycling and other trails in Ireland.

Pilgrim Paths

pilgrimpath.ie

Pilgrim Paths is a network of walking routes along medieval pilgrimage paths.

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

iwdg.ie

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is dedicated to the conservation and better understanding of whales, dolphins and porpoise in Irish waters.

Coillte

coillteoutdoors.ie

Each year, Coillte welcomes over eighteen million visitors to its forests. There are ten forest parks and more than 150 recreation sites for you to enjoy.

An Taisce

antaisce.ie

An Taisce is the National Trust for Ireland which works to protect Ireland and help her retain her identity as a country of natural and symbolic beauty.

Irish Wildlife Trust

iwt.ie

The Irish Wildlife Trust aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it.

Fingal Biodiversity

fingalbiodiversity.ie

Fingal Biodiversity will help you find out more about the region’s biodiversity, and how you can get involved in enjoying and protecting our natural heritage in your area, for now, and for future generations.

Birdwatch Ireland

birdwatchireland.ie

BirdWatch Ireland, the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland. Established in 1968, we currently have over 15,000 members and supporters and a local network of over 30 branches nationwide

Bat Conservation Ireland

batconservationireland.org

Bat Conservation Ireland studies and promotes the conservation of bats and their habitats.

BatLife Europe

batlife-europe.info

BatLife Europe is an international NGO built from a partnership of national bat conservation organisations committed to promoting the conservation of all bat species and their habitats throughout Europe

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

doeni.gov.uk/niea

NIEA is the government body responsible for protecting natural heritage. Their objective is to create prosperity and well-being through Environment and Heritage excellence.

The Irish Environmental Network

ien.ie

The Irish Environmental Network is made of up of 34 of Ireland’s national environmental NGOs. All of its member groups are involved in the well-being, protection and enhancement of the environment.

Teagasc

teagasc.ie

Teagasc is the national body providing integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture and food industry and rural communities.

Ireland's Wildlife

irelandswildlife.com

Ireland’s Wildlife is an online resource and community for everyone interested in the wilder side of Ireland. The website offers convenient access to Irish wildlife information, resources and news

Ireland's Wildlife Matters

irishwildlifematters.ie

Irish Wildlife Matters aims to give useful and easy to follow information of rescue, rehabilitation and treatment of wildlife casualties for members of the public, rehabilitators and veterinary surgeons.

Invasive Species Ireland

invasivespeciesireland.com

Invasive Species Ireland provides information on a range of species, policy related to individual species or groups of species, and action plans to deal with species that threaten the biodiversity and economies of Ireland.

Biology.ie

biology.ie

Biology.ie was founded in August 2005 as an interactive tool for the collection of Nature’s Calendar or phenology observations with the primary aim to increase biodiversity awareness by allowing users keep an online map and nature notes.

The Native Woodland Trust

nativewoodlandtrust.ie

The Native Woodland Trust is Ireland’s fastest growing organisation dedicated to the preservation of our Ancient Woodlands and to the planting of new trees and woods all over Ireland

Green Economy Foundation

greeneconomyfoundation.ie

Green Economy Foundation are an environmental non-government organisation who work on a whole variety of issues, from farming to economics, from biodiversity to climate change

Coastwatch Europe

coastwatch.org/europe

Informed public participation in protection and management of our coastal zones

Friends of the Earth Ireland

foe.ie

Friends of the Earth campaigns for environmental justice and sustainability.

Friends of the Irish Environment

friendsoftheirishenvironment.org

Friends of the Irish Environment is a network of environmentalists who are willing to offer advice and where possible assistance in dealing with sustainable planning, access to environmental information and environmental justice.

Eco Unesco

ecounesco.ie

ECO-UNESCO is Ireland's Environmental Education and Youth Organisation affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations

Global Action Plan

globalactionplan.ie

Global Action Plan supports schools, communities and businesses to take practical, environmental action to live and work as sustainably as possible.

The Hedge Laying Association of Ireland

hedgelaying.ie

The HLAI encourage and facilitate the conservation, protection and appropriate management of hedgerows

Sustainable.ie

sustainable.ie

A guide to sustainability-minded organisations, websites, events and products in Ireland.

Irish Peatland Conservation Council

ipcc.ie

IPCC - conserving a representative sample of Irish peatlands for future generations to enjoy. Visitor Attraction, Save the Bogs Campaign, Donate, Volunteer.

Zero Waste Ireland

zerowasteireland.com

ZWAI is a policy oriented organization, established in 2004, to focus on Zero Waste principles (whole lifecycle approach) where waste is seen as a resource.

The Organic Centre

theorganiccentre.ie

We offer the largest selection of organic seeds online, along with training courses for advice on gardening, vegetables, seeds & sustainable living.

Butterfly iDail

woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/activities/2015/09/butterfly-idial

Keep your eyes peeled while you’re out in your garden or the woods.

Local Authority Waters Programme

lawaters.ie

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is working to identify the issues affecting water quality in Ireland.

Catchments.ie

catchments.ie

Looking after our rivers, lakes and coastal waters so they can meet our current and future needs, and also continue to support the ecosystems that depend on them, is vital for Ireland’s future

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

pollinators.ie

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is about all of us, from farmers to local authorities, to schools, gardeners and businesses, coming together to try to create an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive.

Irish Seed Savers Association

irishseedsavers.ie

We grow, conserve, & distribute Irish organic vegetable seeds, grains and fruit trees. Irish Seed Savers Association is a registered charity.

Irish Historic Houses Association

ihh.ie

The Irish Historic Houses Association represents Ireland’s privately owned historic houses and castles, irrespective of their size or how well they are known.

National Archives

nationalarchives.ie

The National Archives holds the records of the modern Irish State which document its historical evolution and the creation of Ireland’s national identity.

Irish Archives Resource

askaboutireland.ie

The Irish Archives Resource links to archival collections throughout the island of Ireland.

NIAH

buildingsofireland.ie

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) identifies, records, and evaluates the architectural heritage of Ireland as an aid in the protection and conservation of built heritage.

The Irish Georgian Society

igs.ie

The Irish Georgian Society is a membership organisation whose purpose is to promote awareness and the protection of Ireland's architectural heritage and decorative arts.

National Library of Ireland

nli.ie/en/homepage.aspx

NLI collects, preserves, promotes and makes accessible the documentary and intellectual record of the life of Ireland and to contributes to the provision of access to the larger universe of recorded knowledge.

Catholic Parish Registers

registers.nli.ie

Explore your family history using the Catholic Parish Registers’ archival resources.

1901 & 1911 Census

nationalarchives.ie/genealogy/1901-1911-census

National Archives’ Census website comprises digitised images and a searchable index of household returns and ancillary records for the censuses of Ireland of 1901 and 1911.

National Folklore Collection

duchas.ie/en/info/cbe

The objectives of the National Folklore Collection (NFC) are to collect, preserve and disseminate the oral tradition of Ireland.

The Schools' Collection

duchas.ie/en/cbes

This is a collection of folklore compiled by schoolchildren in Ireland in the 1930s.

Monastic Ireland

monastic.ie

The aim of the Monastic Ireland project is to assemble accurate and comprehensive information relating to the history, landscape and material culture of Irish monastic houses c. 1100–1700.

Oral History Network of Ireland

oralhistorynetworkireland.ie

The Oral History Network of Ireland would work to bring together individuals, local history groups and academics, collecting and using oral history, so that each could learn from the other.

Irish Traditional Music Archive

itma.ie

Explore individual sound recordings, books, videos, manuscripts, exhibitions and images selected from the collections and digitised by ITMA.

National Monuments Service

archaeology.ie

NMS plays a key role in the protection of our archaeological heritage, including archaeological research, surveying, conservation and management.