Kilkenny’s new Heritage Strategy, which runs until 2030, was formally launched by County Council Leas Cathaoirleach Councillor Deirdre Cullen (FF) at Butler House this morning.
“The Strategy confronts (contemporary) realities,” said Cllr Cullen. “It recognises that protecting heritage and protecting nature are deeply interconnected ambitions. Equally important is this strategy’s commitment to inclusion.
“Heritage should be accessible to everyone. The stories of all communities who call Kilkenny home deserve to be recognised and valued. This strategy raises this principle and seeks to ensure that everyone can participate in, contribute to and benefit from our shared heritage.”
Cllr Fidelis Doherty (FG), who co-chairs the County Kilkenny Heritage Forum with Cllr Maria Dollard (GP), said the strategy was the end product of “many months of discussion, of consultation, of reflection and of collaboration”. She said the document had been shaped by people “from every corner of Kilkenny, by citizens who care deeply about the city and county…it’s about belonging”.
The strategy, which benefited from a public consultation process which attracted 250 members of the public, generated 52 written submissions and almost 1,000 individual comments, ideas and suggestions.
It contains six objectives: Recording what is at risk of being forgotten; conserving what matters deeply to people, maintaining the threads of memory in everyday landscapes, providing access to heritage as a shared right, embedding heritage in decision making throughout Kilkenny County Council services and in community life – and enhancing awareness of the value, importance and relevance of heritage in our everyday lives.
In her foreword to the strategy, Heritage Council CEO Virginia Teehan described it as a “thoughtful and forward-looking strategy which provides a strong foundation for the care of Kilkenny’s heritage for the years ahead”. Both Ms Teehan and Senator Malcolm Noonan (GP) also spoke at this morning’s launch, with both championing the collaborative spirit which has delivered the final document.
Following the launch, KCLR News spoke to Kilkenny County Council Heritage Officer Regina Fitzpatrick about what will be required to make this strategy’s ambitions a reality over the next four and a half years.
You can also access the Strategy here: County Kilkenny Heritage Strategy 2026-2030 – Kilkenny Heritage
Funded by the News Reporting Scheme, thanks to Coimisiún na Meán.
