Second Clare Heritage Plan unveiled

THE new Clare Heritage Plan (2011-2017), which has three overall aims, will be implemented at a cost of €500,000 excluding staff costs, it was revealed at the launch in Kilrush this week.

However, the 64-page plan clearly states, “The heritage plan can only proceed when the required Heritage Council and Clare County Council budgets are confirmed”.
The overall aims of the plan are to raise awareness of Clare heritage, acquire knowledge through research and promote best practice in heritage conservation.
Another of the plan’s objectives is to seek resources to employ a county archaeologist and a field monument adviser, while the plan also declares an aspiration to hold workshops “on the impact of lighting on wildlife and foster an appreciation of natural light from starlight and the phases of the moon”.
The plan will also seek to promote the Clare Invasive Species Strategy and to establish a graveyard database, including children’s burial grounds.
Bats also feature in the plan, with the council keen to “support awareness raising, research and survey work on bats and to continue to highlight areas of importance to bats”.
Other areas of interest include expanding upon the county’s oral heritage, folklore and local heritage collection, including knowledge of local sites and traditional practices.
The second Clare Heritage Forum was established in May 2010 to oversee the preparation and implementation of the new plan. The Heritage Forum has 20 members representing local government, local development, State agencies, landowners, community, voluntary and heritage organisations. An annual work programme will be prepared, which will detail the projects proposed for the duration of the plan.
There are 666 protected structures in the Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017. In addition, there are 188 protected structures in the Ennis and Kilrush town plans.
Full details of the Clare Heritage Plan can be downloaded on www.clarecoco.ie.