Phoenix Park Historic Landscape

ICOMOS Ireland and ICOMOS-UK successfully organised the first of a series of annual meetings between Ireland and the UK. The main theme this year was “Cultural Landscapes”. The presentations explored new landscape initiatives in line with the aims of the ELC and the meeting was a great chance for members to network and share their views through workshops and social events.

It was also be an opportunity to hear about, and build on, the outcomes of the preceding “Heritage Council 2009 Irish Landscape Conference” that took place on 14th-16th October 2009 in Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland. This major conference looked at how effective current strategic and legislative provisions are in securing sustainable development of landscapes and in providing effective landscape planning, management, and conservation within the framework of the ELC.

Programme Details:

FRIDAY 16TH OCTOBER
6.30-8pm: Drinks reception at the Irish Architectural Archive, Dublin

SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER –  10am-5pm, Dublin Castle
10.00-10.10:  Introduction
10.10-10.30: Prof. Gabriel Cooney, Head of Archaeology, UCD [ICOMOS Ireland]
Overview/summary of the “Heritage Council 2009 Irish Landscape Conference” issues: strategic initiatives for identifying and sustaining landscapes and recommendations for the way forward.

10.30-11.00: Willy Cumming, National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, & Louise Harrington, ICOMOS Ireland Cultural Landscape Subcommittee [ICOMOS Ireland]
Summary of new and recent initiatives to link culture, nature and people in landscapes in Ireland.

11.00-11.20: Paul Walshe, Chair ICOMOS-UK Cultural Landscapes & Historic Gardens Committee [ICOMOS-UK]
Summary of new and recent initiatives to link culture, nature and people in landscapes in the UK.

 11.00-11.20 Tea/Coffee

11.20 -11.40: Mike Clarke, Lake District World Heritage Project [ICOMOS-UK]
Lake District World Heritage Project: Social and Economic Impact Research

11.40 -12.00: [ICOMOS-UK] Speaker tbc
Historic Urban landscapes

 12.00-12.20: Cathy Daly, Dublin Institute of Technology [ICOMOS Ireland]
Measuring Climate Change Impacts in Cultural Landscapes

12.20-12.50: Discussion

12.50-14.00: Lunch

14.20-16.00: Workshops in three groups on identified themes, such as:
 - Defining historic urban landscapes
-  How do we develop an evidence base for cultural attributes of landscapes?
-  Promoting landscape and sense of place

16.00-16.20: Tea/Coffee

16.20-17.00: General discussion:
-  Feedback from discussion groups
-  Management issues
-  How ICOMOS Ireland and ICOMOS-UK might work together in the area of cultural landscapes

SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER -  9.30am-5pm, Site Visits:

- Phoenix Park historic landscape, Dublin. Led by John McCullen, Superintendent of Phoenix Park

- Brú na Bóinne World Heritage site. Led by Claire Tuffy,  Visitor Centre Manager

For more information and bookings please contact: 

Camilla Massara
Events Co-ordinator
ICOMOS-UK

Tel: 0207 566 0031

E-mail: camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

This tour will explore four towns in the Republic sharing information and good practice on what makes a high quality place.

From contemporary lighting schemes and public realm design in Cork to the colourful shop fronts in Youghal, embedded in the towns history, and Waterford’s vision “ to create a framework of public and civic spaces of character and visual quality” in a medieval city known for its ancient City Walls and craftsmanship, and finally an international conference in Kilkenny Castle – “Serving people while preserving heritage” – which will bring together practitioners and representatives from policy making bodies.

Programme Details and Online Booking

Places are limited and bookings must be received by 12 June.

Ditch and mound, Tara Hill, photo: Holly Hayes

“Tara has significance far beyond Ireland itself,” said Professor Claire Smith, President of the World Archaeological Congress. “Its iconic significance derives from its unique cultural character, as situated in a broader landscape. The World Archaeological Congress strongly encourages the Irish Government to instigate formal protection measures for this area, and to consider nominating Tara for inscription as a World Heritage site.”

The Congress facilitated a Tara stakeholders’ panel. During this forum a number of competing and often contradictory claims were made and the World Archaeological Congress has now commissioned a report on the Tara discussions.

The World Archaeological Congress stressed that its report would not interfere with the legal and consultative planning process already completed in Ireland. “We do not question the validity of the planning process undertaken in Ireland. Our purpose is to learn lessons for the future and for other countries with issues surrounding development archaeology,” said Professor Smith.

“There are many strong opinions about Tara and it is important that valid claims receive due attention, and that misinformation be sifted out. This can only be done through a considered study,” Professor Smith said.

Recognising that the reburial of ancient remains in Ireland is subject to the provisions of the National Monuments Act and the agreement of the National Museum of Ireland, the World Archaeological Congress also draws attention to the Vermillion Accord on human remains and suggests that any human remains excavated from the cultural landscape of Tara should be re-interred with due respect as close as possible to their original locations, as this is where these people would have wished to be buried.

The World Archaeological Congress notes the significant adverse impact that motorways and other forms of development can have on valuable cultural landscapes. It will consider explicit inclusion of these concerns in its Codes of Ethics.

“Throughout the world, developments such as motorways can have significant adverse impact on cultural landscapes,” said Professor Smith. “Cultural heritage needs to be factored into the planning process from the beginning.”

“In order to address these issues from a global perspective the World Archaeological Congress will be holding an Inter-Congress with the theme “Rethinking relations of Archaeology and Development.”

The Inter-Congress on archaeology and development is likely to be held in Lund, Sweden, in 2009.

Read full media release

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Professor Claire Smith
Email: claire.smith@flinders.edu.au