merrion street

Minister of State Brian Hayes today (15 May 2013) launched an initiative called ‘Friends of Irish Heritage’ run by his office, the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW manages approximately 780 National Monuments that are in State Care, including important historic properties such as Dublin Castle, Kilkenny Castle and the Phoenix Park. The Minister was meeting today with Paul O’Brien, who has successfully worked with OPW with his ‘Dublin Battlefields Tours’ throughout 2012.  Other successful 2012 initiatives include Selskar Abbey in Wexford and Nenagh Castle, Co. Tipperary.

The Minister said,  “My Office is inviting submissions from local and community groups and local authorities that have an interest in becoming involved in our built heritage. This is an ongoing development from last year’s scheme and we are again asking communities to come forward with their ideas about how to present their local site in this, the year of the Gathering.”

Submissions will shortly be invited via advertisements in the national press and applicants will be requested to outline how their communities and groups propose to work with OPW at a local level to raise awareness of heritage sites, generate more visitors, organise suitable events and assist OPW to expand its presentation of heritage sites.

The Minister urged interested parties, “Remember, even if you applied last year we would still like to hear from you. If you have spent time revising your proposals or if you have a different idea you would like to suggest, please let us know. The OPW wants to work in partnership with local communities to help them become true ‘Friends of Irish Heritage’.  Working together we can help each other to showcase the outstanding historical and cultural heritage that this country has to offer.”

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Notes to Editors: The ‘Friends of Irish Heritage’ initiative being launched today was formerly referred to as the Community Involvement Initiative in 2012 and the purpose is to encourage local communities to become involved in the promotion and management of local heritage sites. In 2012, some of the successful initiatives included local community groups arranging and carrying out winter tours in the Keep in Trim Castle, Co Meath to daily tours in Selskar Abbey in Co. Wexford.