Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Heritage Council: Chairperson Designate

1:30 pm

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of questions. Obviously, the country has a wonderful heritage which is to be found in nearly every field and area. I come from County Meath which we nearly consider to be the heritage capital of the country. The River Boyne flows through the county and its banks are littered with internationally recognised heritage locations such as Tara, Newgrange, the site of the Battle of the Boyne, Slane Castle and the Hill of Slane. There are also hundreds of smaller, really interesting heritage items such as crosses, raths, forts, old houses and so on, most of which are hidden from the people. Most are on the banks of the river which is not accessible by public roads. One of the ways to open them up to Irish people and potential tourists is the creation of a heritage greenway from the source of the River Boyne to the estuary, which would take in three counties and a number of large towns along the way. Is there any way the Heritage Council could work with community groups in seeking to open up these heritage spaces which are invisible?

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