Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to echo the words of my colleagues regarding our built heritage, historical sites and historical venues and the history attached to them. This is based on their educational value for future generations. We do not sufficiently value the extent to which future generations can learn from these historical sites and become part of pursuing the legend in this regard, or the legacy in any event.

My colleagues, including Deputy Farrell, mentioned that all of our heritage is ours now, whatever the circumstances were. For good or bad reasons, we remember it. In some cases, we remember it for oppressive reasons. These things are part of our heritage and we should not pass it by lightly without recording where it came from and where we came from in the intervening period.

When we drive along we can look at various sites, almost all of which are kept very well and are in the custody of the OPW, and we can see that a number require attention. In my constituency the Taghadoe round tower has been in existence for a long time. It has been there for thousands of years and is of huge historical significance. It needs improvement and to be made waterproof, in particular. Due to the passage of time it will deteriorate unless that work is done. There is not sufficient area around it for parking, etc. That needs to be addressed. I compliment the OPW on the work it has done there already. Work remains to be done.

There are several great houses around Kildare, as we all know, such as Castletown House and Carton House. They have a history attached to them. That history needs to be known by all who live in the area and might come to visit it, whether that is tourists, educationalists or those seeking to expand their knowledge of our heritage and history. There are opinions as to whether we have achieved the ultimate in success in doing so.

In the west of the country there is Gráinne Mhaol and the various castles and towers to commemorate her. She was a well-known lady. I would not like to cross her, let me put it that way. She had a tremendous heritage to pass onto the next generation as did Queen Maeve and Fionn Mac Cumhaill in County Kildare, who is buried in the Hill of Allen. We were not there at the time to prove it, but that is what we are told. That is part of our history. It may be part of folklore, but we are entitled to expand that folklore, enjoy and indulge in it and pass it on in such a way that when future generations come along, they will be able to say it is part of our heritage and it has been kept so well so far that they can enjoy it, and it is now their duty to pass it on intact and improved if they can do so.

There is merit in evaluation of the various sites, heritage houses and locations in every county and which cover every age. We tend to think they are there for now. However, if we do not protect things from here on in they will not be there for future generations. I ask that there be an audit of historic sites and houses that are not protected in any particular way, with a view to having some kind of national appraisal that would allow the State to improve and enhance them and put them on the map in terms of their importance. They are in every county. Some have been forgotten.

I recently drove across the country and saw Highbury Castle in County Kildare, which the Ceann Comhairle knows quite well. It lay stark against the setting sun. It was an extraordinary photograph. It is in private ownership. A local man, the late Frank Tyrrell, was very deeply involved in trying to protect and preserve it for the public. It is history. The history of this country has to take into account the historic houses and the role they played.

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