The 15th annual Galway City Heritage Conference took place in the Harbour Hotel on Friday 28 March 2025 – with a large attendance for a day of thought-provoking presentations and discussions. The theme of this year’s conference was “New Discoveries and Research in Irish Rivers, Lakes and Seas”. As part of the Conference, Councillor Donal Lyons, Chairperson of the Urban Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), launched the recently-adopted Galway City Heritage Plan 2025-2030.
Eoghan Lynch, Senior Planner commented that, “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. By engaging with our Heritage, and exploring the origins and development of today’s society, Heritage can highlight shared experiences and reflect on how elements we value as intrinsically important to us in Ireland, have been shaped through our wider engagements with the world - helping to create inclusive, sustainable communities.”
Extensive public consultation took place during the preparation of the Heritage Plan, with Eoghan Lynch acknowledging his appreciation of members of the Heritage Forum; members of the Urban Development SPC; and of Heritage Section staff, including Heritage Officer Dr. Jim Higgins, for their valuable input in the preparation of the sixth Heritage Plan for Galway City.
The Galway City Heritage Plan sets out the overall framework for identifying, raising awareness of and promoting the conservation of the heritage of Galway city.
Staff in the Heritage Section will work in close collaboration with the Elected Members, members of the Galway City Council Heritage Forum, the Heritage Council, and other partners including voluntary heritage groups, to deliver the aims and actions of the plan over the period 2025-2030.
The Galway City Heritage Plan will be available from the Galway City Council website in the coming weeks.
