4.1 NATIONAL MARTIME MUSEUM

Description: The on-going uncertainty as to the future of the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire is fraught with difficulty for those wishing to both plan and preserve the County’s heritage infrastructure. This uncertainty is likely to continue, irrespective of statements by the National Maritime Institute, unless and until a security of tenure and a security of funding is available to the Museum.

Therefore, the County Council must encourage the National Maritime Institute and the Government to embrace the mutually beneficial protection for the artefacts and the Museum afforded by its acquisition by the State by amending the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997.

However, failure to achieve movement on securing the National Maritime Museum for Dún Laoghaire must preclude this facility from receiving any funding from the proposed County Heritage Fund.

Therefore, the County Council should concentrate on the other aspects of this proposal, especially, the establishment of a Municipal Museum & Art Gallery.

The following strategy was proposed nearly two years ago and remains a possibility to be explored by the parties concerned.

a) ACQUISITION (Church & Heritage Objects)

Formulation of Action Group of businesspersons & the County Council to acquire the Mariners Church for the Nation. Noting that the State is precluded from funding the restoration of the building in its present ownership under Article 44.2.2. of the Constitution.

Enter negotiations with the Representative Church Body to acquire the Mariners Church by purchase from the Church of Ireland.

Confirm with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands the intention to avail of provisions of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 in respect of the acquisition of the Mariners Church - as a maritime related "Heritage Object".

Investigate provisions of the Finance Acts in respect to Tax Relief for the acquisition and donation of heritage objects to the Nation and explore the possibility of raising of funds by such to restore the Mariners’ Church through the "sale" and "donation to the Nation" of the Heritage Objects in the custody of the National Maritime Institute.

Seek the inclusion of this acquisition under the terms of the Government's Action Plan for the Millennium, including the heritage tax relief benefits.

Present a pre-budget proposal to the Minister for Finance on the acquisition of the Mariners’ Church and the heritage objects in the custody of the National Maritime Institute of Ireland and the deliverance of same into the ownership of the People of Ireland.

b) UPGRADING (To a National Cultural Institution)

Upgrade the facility from a "local private museum" to the status befitting the Museum, its artefacts and its library, to the status of a "National Cultural Institution".

Confirm with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands the intention to seek the facility's designation as a National Cultural Institution under The National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 or by amending the Act to include the facility.

Confirm with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands and the Minister for the Marine the intention to seek the designation of the Harbour at Dún Laoghaire as a place of exhibit for the National Maritime Museum and, if required, the Ministers should provide legislative effect to such designation.

Confirm transfer of building to the State under 1. iii above.

c) GOVERNANCE (As a National Cultural Institution)

Confirm with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands the establishment, under legislation, of a Board of the National Maritime Museum of Ireland to maintain, manage, control, protect, record, research and enlarge the collection of heritage objects relating to the Maritime History and Heritage of Ireland, her people and that of the Irish Diaspora for the benefit of the public.

Confirm with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands the composition of the Board to consist of a Chairperson and not less than 9 or more than 11 ordinary members and to include not less than two nominees of the National Maritime Institute of Ireland and one nominee from each of the following: Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board, National University of Ireland and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The remaining members to be appointed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands from a panel submitted to the Minister by the Director of the National Museum of Ireland.

The Board of the National Maritime Museum of Ireland would appoint a Director of the National Maritime Museum to manage the facility and to employ staff etc.

The National Maritime Institute of Ireland shall provide an Advisory Committee of the National Maritime Museum with functions similar to Section 23 of The National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997.

Pending the amending of the Act, the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, shall be governed as a Sub-Committee of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland under Section 24 of the National Cultural Institutions Act.

4.2 JAMES JOYCE MUSEUM

This facility is a gem in the County’s heritage portfolio and every effort should be made to include both the Museum and its management in the formulation of policies aimed at promoting the various aspects of the County Heritage.

4.3 COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ ÉIREANN

Like the James Joyce Museum, the County is very fortunate to have this facility within the "Coastal Zone", however, little effort has been made to capitalise on the resource provided by this facility. A feasibility study by Comhaltas and the County Council should look at a greater integration of its activities into the cultural life of the County, possibly, through an annual Music Festival for Dún Laoghaire sponsored by the County Council.

4.4 DANCE THEATRE OF IRELAND

The establishment of the Dance Theatre in Bloomfields, Dún Laoghaire is a milestone in the development of the performing arts in the County. The County Arts Officer has striven to bring this aspect of the arts to a greater awareness amongst the citizens of the County. However, the opportunities afforded by the development of the public spaces, as envisaged by this proposal, would permit public displays and performances by the Dance Theatre of Ireland. Fully integrating the Dance Theatre into the heritage portfolio of the County is essential.

4.5 THE ORATORY

The existence of this little gem in the County’s heritage portfolio is possibly the best kept secret in the County. Situated on Library Road, Sister Concepta Lynch’s work is outstanding and would most certainly be of interest to visitors to our County’s "Coastal Zone", however, restricted opening times means that few people will ever be able to get to know and enjoy the wonders of this unique Oratory with its intricate Celtic artwork.

Proposal: That, should the "Blue Cap" service be established as envisaged by this proposal, that more appropriate opening times would be facilitated by the "Blue Caps" acting as Official Guides at the Oratory.

4.6 GENEALOGICAL ARCHIVE

As described in 3.1.4.(a) above, this facility will greatly enhance the heritage portfolio of the County and provide an unique Archive which could be integrated into the Public Library Service through the establishment of a "Heritage Partnership" between the County Council and the Genealogical Society of Ireland. The following information has been supplied by the Society.

4.6.1 History of the Project.

In outlining the project, it may be helpful to provide a brief history of the Society and to detail its aims and activities to date.

The organisation was founded in 1990 and re-named the Genealogical Society of Ireland in 1999 to reflect its truly national position in Irish Genealogy. The Society aims to promote the study of genealogy, collect and preserve genealogical material and to establish a repository for same in Dún Laoghaire. To date over 8,000 people have attended the Society's two monthly open meetings, where lectures, workshops and exhibitions are organised to promote an awareness and appreciation of genealogy as an open access educational leisure activity available to all in the community irrespective of their socio-economic position or previous education.

4.6.2 A Premises
Following much campaigning for a premises, the Society accepted the offer by Liam Byrne, Assistant Manager, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council of a building in the Council's ownership for use by the Society as a permanent home for its Archive and Research Centre. This offer was endorsed in March 1997 by a subsequent vote by the County Councillors of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in favour of the project

The Society plans to restore and refurbish the Seapoint Tower to house its expanding Archive and to provide a research centre. An DAONCHARTLANN, as it will be called, is the first such facility in the Republic. It should not be confused with the commercial research facilities provided by the various county based genealogical projects. This Society is a registered charity in Ireland and no commercial research is undertaken. The Society depends on its members for support and has no paid officials – they’re all volunteers !!

The term "Daonchartlann" is a new one, roughly translated as "peoples' archive", yet the concept is not, many such facilities exist around the world, especially in New Zealand, Australia and North America. However, the best example of this type of facility is the Library of the Society of Genealogists' in London founded in 1911 and which, receives over 25,000 items of genealogical interest each year from all quarters of the world, including Ireland.

The facility in Seapoint will contain records from a number of sources and, in particular, it will function as an unique repository for family history research undertaken by genealogists from Ireland and from the Irish Diaspora. Already, the Society has collected over 4,000 publications, 3,500 manuscripts and an extensive microform collection. New items are received on a weekly basis, these are presently housed in a member's home. The Daonchartlann will permit greater access by researchers to this information and ensure that such records, many compiled by dedicated individuals over a life time of research, to remain in Ireland for future generations to appreciate their genealogical heritage.

The Society progressed with its plans to convert the Martello Tower at Seapoint, Co. Dublin for use as the Society's "DAONCHARTLANN". The plans have been drawn up by the Society’s architect, Seán Gaynor, DipArch., MRIAI., for the restoration and refurbishment of this historic tower, definitely a "heritage building" under the Act. Dúchas – the Heritage Service and the County Council’s Conservation Officer are liaising on the project and all works.

4.7 MUNICIPAL MUSEUM ART GALLERY

The County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown is possibly unique in Ireland as it has no Civic Museum or Art Gallery. This is simply a disgrace given the population of the County and its location just south of the nation’s Capital. Over the years, the Dún Laoghaire Borough Historical Society has campaigned vigorously for the establishment of a museum and indeed, the Dún Laoghaire Arts Centre, likewise for an Art Gallery.

The County Council has never been in the position to establish such a facility due in part to the former economic conditions and its reluctance to engage in the provision of such facilities in a pro-active and imaginative way. However, it is possible that now the will to engage fully in the formulation of plans for the establishment of a Municipal Museum and Art Gallery through the operation of a Heritage Fund, established through the profitable disposal and/or management of existing assets.

The provision of this facility is central to the independent identity of the County and its prestige amongst communities of a similar size in the European Union and elsewhere.

A location has been identified by this proposal and, given its historic significance to the development of local government in this area, no other similar site can be readily available for development and refurbishment. Please see 3.1.5. above.

4.8 HERITAGE OFFICER PROGRAMME

Proposal: As per an earlier proposal by An Foram Oidhreachta in its publication "Towards a County Heritage Policy" (1997) it is proposed that the County appoint a County Heritage Officer to oversee the implementation of a County Heritage Policy and to develop the heritage aspects of the single resort plan in conjunction with all stakeholders and the County Council’s management team for the Coastal Zone.

The Heritage Officer Programme operated by the Heritage Council is as follows:-

The Heritage Officer Programme was initiated in April 1999 through the appointment of Heritage Officers in Sligo, Kerry and Galway Corporation. Further appointments have been made in Counties Leitrim, North Tipperary, Wicklow, Galway, Clare, Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Dublin Corporation. There is currently a competition for the post in Limerick County Council.

The Heritage Council recognises both the pre-eminent role of local government in local democracy and the reality that heritage belongs to all the people. It is most appropriate that local authorities would play a pivotal role in heritage matters.

The Heritage Council is prepared to provide support to some local authorities towards the provision of a Heritage Officer. Financial assistance for Local Authorities towards the cost of employing Heritage Officers is provided on the following basis:

Year 1 – 75% : Year 2 – 50% : Year 3 - 25%

Costs which will be subsidised include salary, P.R.S.I. and travelling expenses. A grant will also be provided towards the cost of providing specified IT equipment.

Heritage forms the core of our sense of national identity and has a major influence on our quality of life through the enhancement of our everyday existence. Ireland enjoys tremendous resources of economic, social, educational, recreational and aesthetic value. Unfortunately the prerequisites of modern living place these resources under constant threat and heritage cannot be replaced once it has been destroyed. The Heritage Officer Programme emphasises the need for sustainable development which takes heritage considerations into account.

Heritage Officers have wide-ranging functions that promote the objectives of the Heritage Council while simultaneously addressing the requirements of their local authority. The actual duties of a Heritage Officer are variable in order to facilitate the different needs and priorities in each local authority area.

The Heritage Council has a statutory duty to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage.
The ‘national heritage’ is defined in the Heritage Act, 1995, as including:

The Heritage Council works to:

Promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in the national heritage

Facilitate the appreciation and enjoyment of the national heritage

Co-operate with other bodies in the promotion of it’s functions

Promote the co-ordination of all activities relating to it’s functions

Obviously Heritage Officers have an extremely broad focus and address a comprehensive range of subjects. Heritage is approached in an integrated and inclusive manner which requires work on a multi-disciplinary basis. Heritage Officers must address the above thirteen areas of heritage as they relate to their administrative area. In order to facilitate this process a Heritage Officers network has been established where expertise from each different discipline is shared. Thus a Heritage Officer professional resource is created for the benefit of all participating local authorities and the Heritage Council.

Included in the multiplicity of duties with which Heritage Officers have carried out to date are projects relating to planning issues, village renewal, architectural conservation, public lectures, graveyard renovation, exhibitions, publications, data collection, educational programmes, co-ordination of community groups and liaison with funding agencies. The benefits of involvement in such diverse projects is recognised but three areas have been identified as being particularly effective:

Heritage Appraisal

Local Heritage Plans

Advice and Information for Local Authority Staff.

Heritage Appraisal:

The Heritage Council has developed a methodology for Heritage Appraisal of plans, policies and programmes. Heritage Appraisal is a process used to systematically, comprehensively and impartially access the effects on the heritage of plans, programmes or policies. A Heritage Appraisal helps to ensure that the full scope of heritage considerations is dealt with comprehensively and consistently throughout the preparation of any plan or programme. It is an iterative process, intended to help to modify a plan or programme as it is developed, in order to avoid or reduce harmful effects on the heritage and to maximise potential benefits for the heritage.

The appraisal is simple and cost effective, and the methodology is flexible enough to allow easy integration into whatever form of plan preparation is adopted by the planning authority. The information generated by carrying out the heritage appraisal will contribute to better-informed decision-making in the formulation of land-use planning policies.

A requirement for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), of which Heritage Appraisal is a part, has been enshrined in the Planning and Development Bill, 1999. Heritage Officers will be trained to facilitate planners in the conduct of these appraisals.

The statutory planning system has a major contribution to make to the conservation of our national heritage and to a more sustainable environment. Decisions made through the planning process which incorporate Heritage Appraisal will be an ever increasing determining factor in the future of that heritage.

Local Heritage Plans

The National Heritage Plan (NHP) was due to be published in November 2000 by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The NHP aims to establish a clear and coherent strategy for the protection and enhancement of our heritage while promoting it as a resource to be enjoyed by all. All actions in the NHP promote the principle of sustainable development which aims to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Minister's original proposal placed great emphasis on Local Heritage Plans (LHP), firstly, proposed by the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Heritage Forum (An Foram Oidhreachta) and published in "Towards a County Heritage Policy", Dublin 1997. Obviously the NHP will recognise the importance of local government in heritage matters and will place great emphasis on enhancing its role. Local authorities have exercised powers for the protection of heritage through the planning system. Their role will become increasingly important as they are best placed to promote heritage conservation through local plans and programmes. The preparation of LHP's supported by enhanced levels of heritage expertise within local authorities will be vital in this process. Heritage Officers can facilitate the preparation of LHP's through co-ordinating Local Heritage Fora involving local communities and local authorities. The Heritage Council is providing training for Heritage Officers in this regard.

Heritage belongs to everyone but such ownership also implies a responsibility to protect. will identify the steps necessary to making the protection and enjoyment of heritage far more broadly based and inclusive than heretofore. Community participation in the protection of heritage will increase significantly.

Funding reflecting the commitment to deal with heritage at a local level will have to be provided in order to allow the implementation of the LHP's. All such funding would be channelled through local authorities and provided only in the context of approved LHP's.

Advice and Information for Local Authority Staff.

Experience has demonstrated that local authority staffs have a genuine regard for our heritage and make every effort to pursue the correct course of action. However it is not realistic for planners and engineers to have an in-depth knowledge of all the diverse issues involved in heritage. Hence they have been very appreciative of being able to avail of in-house expertise offered by heritage officers.

The Heritage Officers Network has been established under the auspices of the Heritage Council. It has proved most productive in furthering the professionalism of Heritage Officers and also creating a valuable heritage resource. The Network has utilised the expertise of Heritage Officers, Heritage Council Professional Officers and other experts in the heritage sector. It provides a forum for the exchange of expertise and knowledge with an emphasis being placed on current developments. The many different professional disciplines represented by the backgrounds of the Heritage Officers have been particularly advantageous. Heritage Officers are also able to utilise their contacts in the heritage sector in order to establish a comprehensive heritage resource in each local authority.

The Heritage Officer Programme has been beneficial in furthering the objectives of both the local authority and the Heritage Council and a productive partnership has been established with participating counties.

Any inquiries may be directed to Liam Scott, Human Resources Manager, The Heritage Council, Kilkenny.