What is Heritage and why is it important?
In general terms, heritage is what we have inherited from the past, that would remain untouched, but it is much more. It is a link to our past which helps us understand our traditions and how we have evolved as society. Heritage makes the essence that brings us together as a community.
Heritage includes monuments, archaeological objects, architecture, flora, fauna, landscapes, seascapes, geology, wildlife habitats, heritage parks & gardens, inland waterways, and language evolution.
Continued restoration, upgrade and maintenance of heritage objects and archaeological areas make an ever-present part of heritage.
Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible (buildings, monuments, landscapes, archive materials, books, artworks, and artefacts) and intangible (folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge) heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations.
The act of keeping cultural heritage from the present for the future is known as conservation which is promoted by cultural and historical museums and cultural centres.
Architectural heritage refers to buildings or structures of historical or cultural importance, which are a vital part of the country's heritage and require conservation.
Archaeological heritage includes structures, constructions, groups of buildings, developed sites, moveable objects, monuments of other kinds as well as their context, whether situated on land or under water.
Ireland’s seas, lakes and rivers contain an immense wealth of archaeological sites, wrecks and objects. The leaflet below highlights how we can all play our part in preserving and protecting our rich underwater archaeological heritage.
Natural heritage includes culturally significant landscapes, biodiversity (flora & fauna), and geodiversity (mineralogical, geomorphological & paleontological materials)
What is 'The Record of Protected Structures'?
The Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023 sets out a strategy to protect and enhance the architectural and built heritage of the city. This includes the designation of structures as protected structures and their inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).
The purpose of the RPS is to record and maintain details of all protected structures within the city.
A protected structure is a structure, which the city council considers, is of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. Examples of protected structures within the city include: St. Nicholas' Church, the lighthouse at Mutton Island, the timber sculpture at the Salmon Weir Bridge and the King George V post box at Courthouse Square.
The Record of Protected Structures is available for inspection at City Hall or on the City Councils website. An inventory and external photograph of each protected structure is available on the City Councils Online Planning Enquiry System.
These details may be viewed by using the select arrow and then 'double-clicking' on a protected structure icon on the map.
View the Record of Protected Structures
View the Online Planning Enquiry System
What are the Implications for Owners and Occupiers of Protected Structures?
It should be noted that normal planning exemptions do not apply to protected structures.
Any person who without lawful authority causes damage to a protected structure shall be guilty of an offence. Where a structure is protected, the protection includes the interior and exterior of the structure, its curtilage and other structures within that curtilage.
Even certain works on protected structures that are normally considered exempted development may still require planning permission if those works affect the character of the structure. Most protected structures in Galway City are also recorded monuments because they have pre 1700 fabric in them. Many buildings might also have an architectural protection under National Monuments Legislation, and it is owner’s responsibility to check whether this is the case. Any works within a recorded monument require a ministerial consent from the National Monuments Service. That means that such work would require planning permission.
No work should commence without confirmation from local Authority of what works can be exempt or permissible.
For normal planning applications, when the question arises whether a development requires a planning permission, an owner or occupier can seek a Section 5 Declaration from Galway City Council, which confirms the kind of works that could be carried out, without materially affecting the character of the structure and therefore would not require planning permission.
For development involving a protected structure, under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act as amended, the Local Authority can issue a Declaration which sets out the extent of works that can be exempt.
To apply for the declaration, a Request for Section 57 Declaration Form must be submitted to the Planning Department.
Request for Section 57 Declaration Form
The Council is normally obliged to issue this declaration within 12 weeks of the request being made. The applicant will be contacted within that period to arrange an appointment for a suitably qualified person to carry out a detailed survey of the internal and external features of the structure.
Measures to Assist Owners and Occupiers to Preserve a Protected Structure
Grants are available for protected structures and sites within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Some heritage funding might also be available under the Heritage Council Community Grant Scheme for those applicants who have a Conservation and Management Plan put in place.
Grant Schemes
Galway is rich in built and archaeological heritage with little over 4050 protected structures. Within Galway City alone, 620 protected structures have been listed.
Heritage Schemes currently available to owners and custodians of protected structures and archaeological monuments:
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)
APPLICATIONS CLOSED FOR 2025
More info about the Built Heritage Investment Scheme:
https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2024/built-heritage-investment-scheme-bhis-2025-applications-now-open
Historic Thatched Buildings (HTB-BHIS)
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2025
Deadline: 17th of January 2025
For more information contact the Architectural Conservation Officer (conservsation@galwaycity.ie) or got to:
English: https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2024/historic-thatched-buildings-grants-2025-applications-now-open
Historic Structures Fund (HSF)
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2025
Deadline: 17th of January 2025
For more information contact the Architectural Conservation Officer (conservsation@galwaycity.ie) or got to:
English: https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2024/historic-structures-fund-2025-applications-now-open
Gaeilge: https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2024/ciste-na-ndeanmhas-stairiuil-2025-glacadh-le-hiarratais-anois
Community Monuments Fund (CMF)
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2025
Deadline: 31st January 2025
For more information contact the Heritage Officer (heritage@galwaycity.ie) or got to:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/05ff4-community-monuments-fund-2025-call-for-projects/
Other Grants
The Heritage Council supports a wide range of heritage projects throughout the country through their annual grants programme.
To view the available funding schemes, please visit Projects offered funding by the Heritage Council | The Heritage Council
What is an Architectural Conservation Area and what can I do within it?
An Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) is a place, area, group of structures or townscapes, taking account of building lines and heights, that is either of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest in its own right or which contributes to the appreciation of protected structures.
Galway City Council has a duty, under planning law, to protect and enhance the built heritage of the city. A measure to achieve this is through the designation of Architectural Conservation Areas. To date eleven areas have been designated as ACAs in the City Development Plan 2017-2023. Each of these areas represents different periods and functions in the development of the city.
The eleven areas designated as ACAs are as follows:
The City Core ACA
Lower Dominick Street ACA
The Crescent/Sea Road ACA
The Long Walk ACA
St. Nicholas Street ACA
St. Mary's Terrace ACA
1-6 Dock Street ACA
Eyre Square ACA
11-18 University Road ACA
7-14 Presentation Road ACA
34-48 St. Marys Road ACA
Further Information
Policies on protected structures and ACAs are contained in Chapter 8 of the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029.
Further information regarding protected structures and architectural conservation areas may also be obtained from the 'Architectural Heritage Protection - Guidelines for Planning Authorities', DoEHLG 2005, www.housing.gov.ie or through the Heritage Council, www.heritagecouncil.ie.
Galway City Council can also advise on good conservation practice and development proposals. For further information and advice please contact: The Planning Department, Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway. Tel: 091 - 536599 Email: conservation@galwaycity.ie
Heritage Plan
In 2003, the Heritage Council prepared guidelines for the production of Local Heritage Plans. Galway City Heritage Plan 2016-2021 follows these guidelines, while being tailored to the particular heritage requirements for Galway City.
Galway City Heritage Plan 2016-2021
The aim of the heritage plan is to identify, raise awareness of and promote the conservation of built, natural and cultural heritage of the city.
The plan sets the overall framework for this work, which is to be carried out over the next 5 years. The plan outlines the heritage objectives expressed in themes and the associated actions, which is intended to pursue and develop.
Themes
Actions have been specified under the following five themes:
Promotion of Heritage Awareness and Appreciation.
Promotion of best practice in Heritage Conservation and Management.
Collection and Dissemination of Heritage Information.
Communicating Heritage to a wide audience and promotion of partnership.
Caring for our Heritage while acknowledging the economic and tourism value to Galway City.
Useful links
The Heritage Council https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/
An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland https://www.antaisce.org/
Galway City Biodiversity http://galwaybiodiversity.com/
Biodiversity Ireland National Biodiversity Data Centre
Galway Rural Development https://www.grd.ie/biodiversity
Waterways Ireland https://www.waterwaysireland.org/
The Barna Woods Project http://galwaybarnawoods.com/
Irish Wildlife Trust https://iwt.ie/
BirdWatch Galway http://www.birdwatchgalway.org/
Invasive Species Northern Ireland https://invasivespeciesni.co.uk/
An Bruach Thoir https://www.bruachthoir.com/
An Coimisinéir Teanga https://www.coimisineir.ie/
Heritage Forum
The Galway City Council Heritage Forum 2023 has been established for the purpose of reviewing the old Heritage Plan, and finalising and overseeing the implementation of the 2024 – 2029 Heritage Plan.
Heritage Forum Membership 2023
Chairperson: Dr Jim Higgins, Heritage Officer, Galway City Council
Mary Clancy: History Department, National University of Galway
Derrick Hambleton: An Taisce Galway Association
Meave Williams: Community Heritage Interest
Paula Kearney: Biodiversity Officer, Recreation & Amenity, Galway City Council
John Olney: Archaeologist, National Monuments Service
Micheál Mac Aoidh: The Bruach Thoir Language Planning Committee
Christy Kelly: Former Chief Technician of Galway City Council
Cllr John Connolly: Galway City West
Cllr Frank Fahy: Galway City Central
Brendan Mulligan: Chartered Engineer
James Reynolds: Conservator, Galway City Museum
Brendan Smith: Galway National Park City, Tuatha of Terryland Forest Park
Galway City Heritage Plan 2016-2021
Contact Details
Heritage Officer
City Hall
College Road
Galway
Tel: 091 536599
Email: heritage@galwaycity.ie
Architectural Conservation Officer
City Hall
College Road
Galway
Tel: 091 536599
Email: conservation@galwaycity.ie