Publication
Legal Protections for Archaeological Monuments
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
Ireland is exceptionally rich in archaeological monuments, with over 145,000 known archaeological sites and monuments recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record. The majority of these archaeological sites are in private ownership, spread across almost every townland in the country.
Please note that it is an offence under the National Monuments Acts to dig, excavate or carry out metal detection anywhere for the purpose of uncovering archaeological features or objects without or otherwise than in accordance with a licence or consent issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Archaeological monuments are protected in a number of ways under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.