Dr. Joseph Gallagher:

I shall not comment specifically on the Donegal aspect but I shall reiterate some of the points made by Ms Clerkin. One of the constant challenges of heritage is raising awareness. In terms of all of our roles, that is a constant challenge among communities as well. We have successfully raised awareness. As Ms Clerkin has indicated, there is now a demand for heritage services at a local level. Very often it is about supporting local initiatives. Communities want to engage with all of the different aspects of heritage be it natural, built or cultural heritage. Locals know their heritage best and often, one only needs to give them a bit of direction, advice and support to support their initiatives rather than encouraging them to do anything. They have the capacity to deliver on the heritage agenda but they need direction early on, which is important. Those heritage initiatives contribute to and are at the heart of their sense of identity and pride in their place.