New strategy for Westmeath heritage work is published
Image 1 of 3
Melanie McQuade, Heritage Officer, Ambrose Clarke, Acting Director of Services, Virginia Teehan, Heritage Council CEO, Mayor Athlone and Moate Municipal District Cllr Louise Heavin, Cllr Aengus O’ Rourke and Christina Sweeney, Local Authority Biodiversity Officer, at the launch of the Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024-2030 in Athlone Castle last Thursday. Photo Paul Molloy.Image 2 of 3
Carmel Duffy, Athlone Arts and Tourism Manager, Una Doris Tourism Officer, Westmeath Co. Co., Karen Nugent, Manager Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, Dr Aengus Finnegan Westmeath Field Names Recording Project, Cailín Gallagher, Chief Librarian Westmeath, and Melanie McQuade, Heritage Officer, at the launch of the Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024-2030 in Athlone Castle last Thursday.Image 3 of 3
At the launch of the Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024-2030 were members of the Heritage Forum.F-r. Seamus O’ Brien, Paddy Donnelly, Christina Sweeney Local Authority Biodiversity Officer, Cathal Flood, Seamus McDermott.B-r. T J O’ Meara, Melanie McQuade Heritage Officer, Virginia Teehan Heritage Council CEO, Councillor Louise Heavin Mayor Athlone and Moate Municipal District and Ambrose Clarke acting Director of Services in Athlone Castle last Thursday. Photo Paul Molloy.The Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024-2030 was launched recently in Athlone Castle by the Chief Executive of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan in the presence of Leas Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council and Mayor of Athlone Cllr Louise Heavin. The event was attended by members of the Heritage Forum, representatives of heritage groups across the county and the executive of Westmeath County Council.
“The Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024-2030 will guide the work of Westmeath County Council in partnership with the Heritage Council, heritage organisations and local communities in raising awareness and appreciation of our heritage and ensuring that it is managed with care,” said Heritage Officer Melanie McQuade.
Emphasising the relevance of heritage across all sections of the Council Executive and all communities around the county, Chair of the Westmeath Heritage Forum Cllr Louise Heavin explained: “The new Strategic Heritage Plan will allow for a dynamic response to opportunities that may arise over the next few years. The progress of the plan will be measured by performance indicators that have been assigned to each of the actions set out in the plan”.
The Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council was represented at the launch by Ambrose Clarke, Acting Director of Service for Planning, Transport, Athlone Moate Municipal District. Mr Clarke spoke of Westmeath’s rich and diverse heritage reminding us that we are the custodians our heritage for future generations. “I thank all the organisations and individuals who generously gave of their time in helping to prepare this plan,” said Mr Clarke. He also acknowledged the support of the Heritage Council, which makes funding available annually for the implementation of the plan as well as supporting the role of the Heritage Officer and the recently-appointed Biodiversity Officer.
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, spoke of a recent visit she paid to Westmeath along with members of the board of the Heritage Council. “This visit brought us to several key heritage sites in the County including Athlone Castle, Athlone Town Wall, the Hill of Uisneach and Belvedere House. It gave us an understanding of these places and of heritage issues on the ground,” said Ms Teehan. She spoke of the Heritage Council’s role in establishing teams of heritage staff in local authorities across the country and paid tribute to the vital role that local communities play as custodians of our heritage.
All speakers thanked the Westmeath Heritage Forum for their work in preparing this plan along with Heritage Officer Melanie McQuade.
The Westmeath Strategic Heritage Plan 2024 -2030 is available on Westmeath County Council website, where both English and Irish language versions of the plan may be accessed here
Hard copies of the plan are available from the Heritage Office, Westmeath County Council and in branches of Westmeath Libraries.