Press release
Capacity building and heritage skills the focus of Government Heritage Summit
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The second annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit will take place on Wednesday 25 October 2023 in Trinity College Dublin and online. The Summit will once again bring together stakeholders, members of the public and those working to protect heritage in communities, by showcasing successful projects, exploring challenges and opportunities and outlining progress in delivering the objectives of Ireland’s national heritage plan.
This free event, open to the general public and heritage stakeholders, will be compered by broadcaster Mary Kennedy. Following an opening address by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, the event will feature speakers from local community groups around the country highlighting the importance of community involvement in heritage and the supports offered to them. A Heritage Council session will focus on capacity building in the area of traditional training skills.
A keynote address from Dr William Megarry of Queen’s University Belfast and Focal Point for ICOMOS will present on the ‘Cultural Heritage, Climate and the Importance of Working Together for Meaningful Climate Action’.
Further panel discussion will focus on the broader issue of building capacity of the wider heritage sector, across Government, central and local, and the whole heritage family so that it remains robust and able to address the challenges that heritage faces.
Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcom Noonan said:
“Heritage Ireland 2030 was built around engagement and participation, inclusiveness and partnership. The annual Summit is a key element to facilitate discussion and input, both from those working in the heritage field and more broadly from members of the public.
"Having listened to attendees last year, the theme of this year’s Summit is capacity building. It’s an area that is very much emphasised in the Programme for Government and the Heritage Ireland 2030 plan, and one which I have advocated for strongly as Minister. Ultimately the good health of our cultural, built, natural, and archaeological heritage depends entirely on the expertise and energy of the people who work with it and look after it.
"At Wednesday’s summit I look forward to taking stock of the progress made so far in delivery of the heritage plan – and much has been achieved to date – and most importantly, listening to how we can work together to ensure our heritage is protected for generations to come.”
Details of the programme and registration for Heritage Ireland 2030 are available on Eventbrite.
The Summit will also be streamed online.
Heritage Ireland 2030 is Ireland’s national plan for the protection of our heritage. It was approved by Government in February 2022. As part of the implementation structure, an annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit will be held, to bring together stakeholders and those interested in heritage, underpinning the principle of collaboration that is central to the strategy.
The Strategy lays out a roadmap for the best possible future for Irish heritage, through a joined up approach between Government, stakeholders and community, working together for the protection, conservation and management of Ireland’s heritage for the next decade and beyond.
The objectives of Heritage Ireland 2030 are set out under three themes: Communities, Partnerships and Leadership. The aim of the Heritage Ireland 2030 framework is to provide for structured collaboration to protect our heritage in all its forms – built, natural, cultural, linguistic, tangible and intangible – for future generations to enjoy. An accompanying action plan comprises over 150 discrete actions to be implemented.