AROUND THE BLOCK:TEN YEARS ago, the Irish Georgian Society held an optimistic conference in the wake of new legislation that gave statutory protection to historic buildings.

Now it’s marking that anniversary with a more reflective conference called “Picking Up the Pieces”.

According to the society: “Such an overview is of particular interest as the decade encompasses the years of the Celtic Tiger, which have had such immense repercussions across every aspect of life in Ireland, not least in the built heritage sector. The title of the conference says it all.”

It will explore the current situation, how planning legislation and the current economic climate are affecting the heritage sector, which has been badly hit by budget cuts, and aims to pinpoint not only problems but also the possibilities of turning things around.

The conference, which will also examine the role of Nama, is being held on Thursday, November 15th, at the National Gallery of Ireland in Merrion Square, much of which is currently closed to the public for renovations.

Further information is available from igs.ie.