Heritage & Conservation Services

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Local authorities may provide and support heritage centres to exhibit local historical and cultural information, provide guided tours and host heritage events.

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

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.

Local authorities may provide information and advice to promote and increase public awareness of local heritage.

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

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.

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

Local authorities may set up and support committees where councillors and heritage sector representatives can work together to protect archaeological and architectural heritage.

Local authorities maintain a public record of historic monuments and places.

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.

Local authorities may plant trees, host forest and woodland walks and give away free trees, as part of National Tree Week.

Local authorities may acquire protected structures and adjoining grounds to protect the structure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Local authorities may prepare guidelines for development in Architectural Conservation Area which explains the architectural heritage and character of the area. An Architectural Conservation Area 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.

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.

Local authorities may run initiatives to raise awareness of architectural conservation.

Local authorities may provide information and advice about the conservation and protection of historic structures.

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.

Local authorities may run exhibitions, events and festivals to increase public awareness of, and involvement with, architecture.

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.

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

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.

Local authorities may run a programme of works and events to protect and preserve historic walled towns.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Archive Services develop and provide catalogues, research guides and indexes so you can search for archives and resources relevant to their research.

Archive Services maintain and preserve records to protect and make them accessible for future generations.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Archive Services provide photocopies and scans of extracts from archival collections to researchers and the public.

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

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

Archive Services provide information and advice to researchers, students, and the public about using archives for local and family history and academic research.

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

Archives Services may provide online services such as digitised archives, catalogues, presentations, papers, and educational, family and local history resources.

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

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.

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

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

Archives Services may publish records retention schedules to provide information about the timeframes for keeping records and archives.

Local authorities prepare plans to protect, manage and promote local biodiversity. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

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

Local authorities run initiatives to protect plants, animals and wildlife habitats as part of their biodiversity awareness activities.

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.

Local authorities may plant wildflower meadows and delay cutting grass in public areas to protect bees and their food sources.

Local authorities assess relevant planning applications measure the impact on special protection areas (SPAs). SPAs protect rare and vulnerable birds, migratory birds and wetlands.

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

Local authorities may maintain a public register of all tree preservation orders.

Local authorities manage biosphere reserves to protect wildlife, habitats and natural resources, develop the local economy, and promote environmental education. A biosphere is a special designation awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) but managed in partnership by communities, non governmental organisation and local and national governments.

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

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.

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.

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

Local authorities collect conservation data and give it to relevant agencies.

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

Local authorities collect heritage data on and give it to relevant agencies.

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.

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.

A-Z listing of all services provided by Heritage & Conservation.

Local authorities may prepare plans for the conservation of specific heritage sites.

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

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.

Local authorities may maintain a public register of skilled trades and crafts people who have traditional skills for carrying out work on historic buildings.

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.

Local authorities support the national Tidy Towns Pollinator Awards by providing funding towards the awards and helping Tidy Towns groups to carry out pollinator friendly actions in their towns and villages. This is part of the national Tidy Towns competition.