Hayes launches 'Friends of Irish Heritage' initiative
Minister of State Brian Hayes today launched an initiative called ‘Friends of Irish Heritage’ run by his office, the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW manages approximately 780 National Monuments that are in State Care, including important historic properties such as Dublin Castle, Kilkenny Castle and the Phoenix Park. The minister was meeting today with Paul O’Brien, who has successfully worked with OPW to maximise the public’s engagement with various 1916-related sites with his ‘Dublin Battlefields Tours’ enterprise. The genesis of this venture is a similar initiative that was run last year and the OPW are hoping to build on that scheme’s success in 2013.
The minister said: “The OPW is inviting submissions from local and community groups and local authorities that have an interest in our built heritage and in its increased use to enhance and develop local tourist initiatives to become a ‘Friend of Irish Heritage’, volunteering to take part in initiatives to showcase our outstanding heritage. This is an ongoing development from the similar scheme we began last year and we are again asking people to come forward with their ideas about how to present your local site in this, the year of the Gathering.”
Submissions will shortly be invited via advertisements in the national press and applicants will be requested to outline how their communities and groups would propose to work with OPW at a local level to raise awareness of heritage sites, generate more visitors, organise suitable events and assist OPW to expand its presentation of heritage sites.
“Remember, even if you applied last year and were unsuccessful, we would still like to hear from you,' Minister Hayes stated. If you have spent time in recasting your proposals or if you have a different idea you would like to suggest, please let us know. The OPW wants to work in partnership with local communities to help them become true ‘Friends of Irish Heritage’. Working together we can help each other to showcase the outstanding historical and cultural heritage that this country has to offer.”