‘Let’s get involved’, heritage chair encourages public

The chair of the Westmeath Heritage Forum, Green Party councillor Louise Heavin has called on members of the public to get involved in heritage groups and projects in their areas.

Cllr Heavin has said she is concerned that too few new volunteers are coming into the sector. “So I want to make an appeal for people who might have an interest in history and heritage and nature protection to maybe reach out to their local history groups, their local archaeological societies, their local community groups and get involved in heritage projects and heritage protection,” she said.

Cllr Heavin made her comments at the December meeting of Westmeath County Council, where county heritage officer Melanie McQuade was speaking on the new Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan, which is to run from 2024 to 2030.

“In this plan, we aim to safeguard our heritage, both tangible and intangible, and make heritage more accessible and inclusive for all,” Cllr Heavin said, going on to remark that many of the people who were involved in the plan and particularly in the heritage forum, put a lot of voluntary hours into protection of our heritage, as do many others in voluntary groups all over the county.

“[These] should be really applauded and I think this is the opportunity to do so,” she said.

However, she continued, a risk identified as the plan was being drawn up, was the fact that there are not many new volunteers coming into the sector.

Presenting the plan to the meeting, Ms McQuade revealed that the main themes that arose during the public consultation on the strategy related to protection of and access and signage to heritage locations, and the desire for more engaging events and better promotion of those events.

Ms McQuade also revealed that there are three new members on the county’s heritage forum: Christina Sweeney, the newly-appointed biodiversity officer with Westmeath County Council, and two representatives from Westmeath PPN (Public Participation Network), Seamus McDermott, representing Athlone Moate Municipal District, and Mary Fallon, representing Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

Concerns

Welcoming the plan, Cllr Frankie Keena spoke of the importance of safeguarding heritage sites, mentioning in particular the old Abbey Graveyard in Athlone, which has been attracting some anti-social behaviour recently. He said there has been graffiti daubed on the walls of the old church at that location, which was “shameful”.

Cllr Keena went on to suggest that as a heritage project, the chimney stacks of Westmeath were worthy of study, and he also asked if there is a budget associated with the Strategic Heritage Plan.

Cllr Frank McDermott welcomed the mention of potential funding for the Wayside Crosses route, a 17km walk along the bank of a river from Castlepollard to Castletown Finea; he supported too, the view, that attention needed to be given to signposting, and wondered if something could be done to create “a story” out of the network of castles in North Westmeath – Killua, Delvin, Knockdrin and Tullynally – “all part of our heritage”.

A reminder that Westmeath has a strong rail heritage was issued by Cllr Denis Leonard, who felt it too should be promoted. Cllr Leonard also asked was material being collected in preparation for the day Mullingar would have a museum.

Responding, Ms McQuade said specialist stone conservators were engaged to attempt to remove the graffiti from the old church in Athlone: “I think probably what the site needs is a conservation management plan that will take into account all aspects of the site,” she said.