Sir, – Your Editorial (February 20th) recognises the richness and diversity of Ireland’s archaeological heritage, which is outstanding at a European level. It is an important asset and resource contributing to our knowledge and understanding of the past. It is also the unique selling point at the heart of our tourist product. The Editorial recognises key problems to be addressed in realising the rich potential of this resource. It is worth remembering that with the contraction of employment opportunities there is a human resource of well-qualified and experienced archaeologists who could provide the human capital to address the information and presentation deficits that you discuss.
The Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research Programme (INSTAR) is a collaborative research programme promoted by the Heritage Council which aims to bring about a transformative change in the quality of archaeological research (and provide employment) by partnerships between the consultancy, higher education and the state sectors.
As an active researcher and a member of the board of the Heritage Council, I have been impressed by the very effective way this scheme has been run and the outstanding results that have come from it, although it operates with a very small budget.
More broadly the Heritage Council is a small agency which has been successfully building decentralised networks and infrastructure at community level in recent years. It has demonstrated just what can be achieved at a local level with strategic support. By reaching out to communities throughout Ireland it has led the way in changing perceptions and improving understanding of the under-realised potential of the national heritage. It is the only State organisation that brings together the natural and cultural heritage sectors in a fully integrated way. The council is about to launch its Strategic Plan 2012-2016 with 16 key objectives focused on supporting jobs, education and tourism.
But the Heritage Council is currently under critical review. Consideration is being given to whether its functions should be merged into the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. How ironic given that the council has shown the efficiency and effectiveness of a small, administration-light, professional team working with a wide range of partners.
As your Editorial and recent contributions to the pages of The Irish Times and other media have pointed out, the real problem is a lack of an overarching political vision for the heritage sector. Such a vision is required if we are to realise the full value of our heritage and sustain it to support the future. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Rónán Swan’s letter (February 22nd) is typical of the National Roads Authority’s scandalous attitude to our archaeological heritage, which pays scant regard to its value as a tourist resource and its cultural value to the Irish people. This at a time when excavation is considered a old and destructive method of archaeology.
In future, we may simply read about the vast richness of our heritage in a NRA manual. I assume we’ll be handing these out at Dublin airport, so tourists can see what they cannot visit? These manuals should greatly impress the future generations. I think the term “read and weep” seems appropriate. – Yours, etc,