National Heritage Plan

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands published the National Heritage Plan in April 2002. It is an objective of the Plan to ensure the protection of our heritage and to promote its enjoyment by all, by setting out a clear and coherent strategy for the protection and enhancement of our heritage over the next five years. A key concept of this plan is to "place the protection and enjoyment of heritage at the heart of public life". This concept promotes the idea of increased community ownership of the protection of heritage. This ownership is seen as an integral element in achieving sustainable development and a quality of life for all.

The plan emphasises the significant economic benefits that can accrue by correct management of heritage especially through tourism, while recognising the importance of and value of heritage in its own right.

One of the main aims of the National Heritage Plan is to enhance the role of the Local Authorities in heritage protection and management through the preparation and implementation of Local Heritage Plans and the provision of heritage expertise to support such Plans at local level.

County Kildare Heritage Plan

“The aim of the County Kildare Heritage Plan is to identify, preserve and conserve the built, natural and cultural heritage of the county.” County Kildare Heritage Plan 2005-2009

The County Kildare Heritage Plan 2005-2009, co-ordinated by Kildare County Council, represents a new approach to the management and protection of our local Heritage. This plan, developed by the County Kildare Heritage Forum following extensive public consultation, establishes a coherent strategy for the future management of heritage in the county by setting out objectives and actions for the management and protection of our heritage for the next five years. Within this county there are many individuals and groups, which are dedicated to caring for and managing out heritage. This plan strives to support and co-ordinate the work of these people. The implementation of this plan relies on all stakeholders working in partnership to achieve a common aim to identify, preserve and conserve the built, natural and cultural heritage of the county.

The focus of the Heritage Plan is on gathering information on aspects of heritage, making this information more widely available so as to ensure that informed decisions are made and to raise awareness of the rich and diverse heritage of County Kildare. While working in partnership with communities the Heritage Plan seeks to advise and encourage the popper management and conservation of the heritage resource of the county.

Implementation of the County Kildare Heritage Plan 2005-2011.

The Following projects have been completed under the County Kildare Heritage Plan 2005-2011. Funding was secured from Kildare County Council, the Heritage Council. Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, KELT, Kildare Education centre and other agencies for the completion of these actions.

Heritage Plan projects completed in 2005

- Survey of Thatched Cottages in County Kildare
- Publication: Thatched Cottages of County Kildare
- Study on the reuse and modification of farmhouses and associated farm buildings
- Geology of Kildare
- Biological Guidelines for Local Authorities
- Birds in the School Yard with Kildare Education Centre               VIEW
- Graveyard Conservation Plans
- Graveyards Conservation Plans were completed for the following graveyards:

• Tipper Graveyard
• Gaganstown graveyard
• Great Connell graveyard

Heritage Plan projects completed in 2006

• - Printing of Farmhouse Guidelines
• - Database of Natural Heritage databases          VIEW
• - Hedgerow survey
• - Audit of Museums in Kildare.           VIEW
• - Museum Basics Course.                   VIEW
• - Graveyard training course
• - Birds in the School Yard with Kildare Education Centre Year 2            VIEW
• - Graveyards Conservation Plans were completed for the following graveyards:
  • Passlands
  • Donaghcumpher

Other Heritage projects undertaken:

- Conservation report for Leixlip Spa with KCC Parks Dept.

- Biodiversity Training for KCC staff

Proposed Heritage Plan projects for 2007

• - Heritage Seminar
• - Habitat Mapping
• - Paper Survey of Kildare's Industrial Heritage
• - Hedgerow Maintanance Seminar and workshop
• - audit of archaeological reports/studies
• - Conserving our Built Heritage- Seminar for owners of Protected Structures
• - Biodiversity seminars and workshops
• - Birds in the School Yards Year 3              VIEW
• - Heritage Seminar

County Kildare Heritage Forum

The Kildare Heritage Forum was established in September 2003 to oversee and advice on the preparation and implementation of the County Kildare Heritage Plan. The Forum is made up of various stakeholders, who have an interest in or who are concerned with heritage management in the County.

The County Kildare Heritage Forum represents a coming together, for the first time, of representatives from local government, government departments and agencies, community and voluntary groups, local history groups, the farming community, local development organisations and the education sector, forming a partnership to develop a plan of action for heritage in the County.