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
http://www.architecturetours.ie/