merrion street

At the launch of a collaboration between the Irish Architecture Foundation

(IAF) and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) today

(Thursday 12th May) Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and

the Gaeltacht said “contemporary Irish architecture is regarded as equal to

the best in Europe. This is borne out with a proven track record in

international awards and prizes won by Irish architects recently. These

successes continue a strong tradition in Irish architecture as exemplified

in our rich built heritage”.

The Minister was lending his support to the goal of the Architecture Tours

Ireland programme of tours to develop awareness and recognition of Irish

Architecture. This joint initiative aims to create an interest in

architecture as a cultural form, and to develop the profile of Irish

Architects as the authors of the buildings on the tours.

The audience for the tours is international, national and local, and the

initiative aims to cater for school children and Irish interest groups

while also targeting the international audience. In this latter regard the

Minister understands that Architecture Tours Ireland is already working

with Fáilte Ireland to develop channels for promotion including the

international press. The tours will look at a diverse range of themes,

addressing the story of the architectural development of Dublin city. The

walking tours will be led by architects who have had professional tour

guide training.

In his remarks at the launch the Minister expanded further on his

Department’s objectives for the Government Policy on Architecture which

direct grant aided the initiative saying that: “central to the Government’s

drive to regenerate our economy is the fostering of sustainable jobs. The

Government Policy on Architecture complements and supports the Government’s

wider economic strategy in areas such as research, Sustainable Tourism and

the development of a high quality built environment”.

The Minister committed his new Department to continue the very effective

collaboration between national government and the IAF and the RIAI in

developing further initiatives under the Government Policy on Architecture

implementation programme 2009-2015.

The launch today initiates a schedule of two tours each day every Saturday

and Sunday. It will also be possible to arrange ‘tailored tours’ with

Architecture Tours Ireland to suit the needs of groups visiting Dublin on

week days or who have specific areas of interest. Further information is

available at