Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she can promote the various historic houses or sites throughout the country in such a way as to develop increased interest in Ireland’s culture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22608/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has responsibility for heritage which includes historic properties and recently published Heritage Ireland 2030 which is Ireland’s national heritage plan and available at this link www.gov.ie/en/publication/778b8-heritage-ireland-2030/. I understand that Heritage Ireland 2030 is a framework for the protection, conservation, promotion and management of Ireland’s heritage for the next decade and beyond. Further detail of the plan, its background, public and stakeholder consultation and relevant agencies such as the Heritage Council can be also found at this web page.
The Office of Public Works is responsible for managing maintaining and presenting some of Ireland’s iconic heritage properties, including two World Heritage Sites, 780 National Monuments and over 2,000 acres of gardens and parklands. Details are available on its HeritageIreland website at this link www.heritageireland.ie/
From my own Department’s perspective, in 2019 and 2020, I provided funding through the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme based in my department to the Historic Houses of Ireland (HHI) – a representative organisation for Ireland's privately owned historic houses and castles. This support enabled HHI to survey their membership and explore/appraise the creative potential of historic houses focusing on:
the potential for historic houses that enable public access and host events, support local economies/communities, and also contribute to a sense of wellbeing;
how to promote historic houses as "creative spaces" as part of a wider creative ecosystem including opportunities for local artists, enterprises and cultural groups; and
how historic houses and their associated grounds could be used as centres for learning and educational initiatives for children.
In 2020, I was delighted to see a very comprehensive report published by HHI entitled Historic Irish Houses – A Creative Reappraisal (available at www.creativeireland.gov.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/HHI-CI-Report.pdf). I immediately supported a workshop organised by the Creative Ireland Programme and HHI which sought to foreground the opportunities for historic house owners in relation to the hosting of micro-festivals. More recently, I am providing funding to HHI through the Creative Ireland Programme to support Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 which is taking place on 11 June. This will see HHI deliver Big House Inside Out – a series of free, fun, creative events for children and young people at selected Irish historic houses. I very much enjoyed launching Cruinniú na nÓg 2022 at Killruddery House last week where I saw first-hand the wonderful opportunities that exist for privately-owned historic houses to become focal points for cultural, creative and community activities throughout Ireland.
In addition, in 2021, my Department supported Other Voices to deliver a series of on line concerts as part of a programme entitled Courage. These included concerts at Kilkenny Castle, Kilruddery House, Swords Castle, Glenveagh National Park and Muckross House. While the primary objective of this programme was to support artists and promote wellbeing during the Covid pandemic, these concerts reached a large international audience and had the ancillary benefit of promoting Ireland's built heritage globally.
