Irish Heritage Trust

Conservation and cultural organisation in Ireland

Irish Heritage TrustFormation| 2006

|

Legal status| Charity
Purpose| To look after buildings and places of historic interest for the benefit of the nation
Headquarters| 11 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Location|

* Dublin

Region served

| Republic of Ireland

Key people

* Anne O'Donoghue
(CEO)
* Clare McGrath
(Chairperson)

Main organ

| Board of trustees

Revenue

| €7.48m (2021)

Staff

| 51 (2021)
Website| irishheritagetrust.ie

The Irish Heritage Trust (IHT) is an architectural and cultural organisation which aims to preserve, maintain and understand notable Irish buildings for the purposes of education, research and recreation. Founded by the Irish state in 2006 as a national heritage property organisation, it was partly modelled on the National Trust in the U.K.[1][2]

## Operation and financing[edit]

While the foundation of the trust was driven by State authorities, and initiated by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche with Cabinet approval,[3] it is independent in its operation. The trust was launched with a government grant of 5 million euro, and the majority of its funds come from state and semi-state sources but the organisation, a registered charity, raises funds from other sources also. Provision was made for property donations to the IHT to be tax-efficient[3] but this measure did not support operations at the level expected.[4] The IHT offers a membership scheme, which entitles members to free access to its three public-access properties.

## History[edit]

The trust took over its first property, Fota House and Gardens just outside Cork city, in 2007. The house had been managed for the previous 14 years by a trust established by the city and county councils of Cork as well as University College Cork, and the arboretum and gardens were managed by the Office of Public Works; the house was transferred by the end of 2007, while the surrounds were to come under IHT management after five years.[5] The IHT also acquired an art collection from AIB. Further acquisitions were expected, but none occurred for around eight years, due to State funding limitations, and a lack of expected private donations. By its fifth anniversary, in 2011, the IHT, with just five full-time staff, was the subject of a review by its sponsoring government department, which commented "apart from the donation of the Wood collection “no significant private funding has emerged to support the work of the Trust over its first five years”." The trust rationalised staffing at the one property, and cut opening times, although it was noted that since it took Fota over, visitor numbers had doubled.[6]

The trust added Strokestown House and Park, and the National Famine Museum there, to its collection in 2015, as well as assuming management, on behalf of Teagasc, of Johnstown Castle and the Agricultural Museum just outside Wexford town.

In March 2023, it was announced that the trust would start on a €5.2m conservation-lead refurbishment and restoration of its headquarters at 11 Parnell Square.[7] July of the same year, the trust announced it would partner with the ESB Group to create a museum at 12 Lower Fitzwilliam Street on the Georgian mile.[8]

## Trust properties[edit]

As of 2024, the trust has three heritage properties regularly open to the public:

* Fota House and Gardens[9]
* Johnstown Castle[10]
* Strokestown Park[11]

In addition, its headquarters building is a heritage property, at number 11 Parnell Square, and it will be working to develop a museum in a Georgian house in Dublin's south inner city.

## Reaction[edit]

On the launch of the IHT, the Irish Times editorial commended the volunteer members of the board of the trust but questioned its status, describing its launch as having "a whiff of a political 'con job'" and saying that "the remit of the fine-sounding Irish Heritage Trust is so limited that the institution does not deserve the title". It also commented that An Taisce had cause for complaint about its exclusion from the IHT board.[12]

## See also[edit]

* An Taisce
* Dublin Civic Trust
* Irish Georgian Society
* Irish Landmark Trust
* Limerick Civic Trust

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Our Story". Irish Heritage Trust. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
2. ^ "Irish Heritage Trust". www.gov.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
3. ^ a b McDonald, Frank (3 July 2006). "New heritage trust to protect at-risk properties". The Irish Times. "A heritage trust with the power to acquire at-risk properties it feels have significant heritage value has been set up by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche."
4. ^ "The Irish Heritage Trust CLG - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (2021)". www.vision-net.ie. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
5. ^ Kelleher, Olivia (5 December 2007). "Fota House to be managed by Irish Heritage Trust". The Irish Times. p. 2.
6. ^ Leland, Mary (27 September 2011). "Art of protecting our built and natural heritage". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
7. ^ "Minister Launches Irish Heritage Trust's 10-Year Strategy". Hospitality Ireland. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
8. ^ "ESB and Irish Heritage Trust unveil plans for museum of Georgian-era Dublin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
9. ^ deLongchamps, Kya (3 June 2023). "Five great houses and gardens of Ireland to visit this summer". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
10. ^ Kane, Conor (4 April 2023). "Rare section of Johnstown Castle opens to public". Retrieved 12 June 2023.
11. ^ "Behind the News: Kevin Baird, heritage trustee". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
12. ^ (Editorial) (4 July 2006). "Valuing our heritage". The Irish Times. p. 15. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

* v
* t
* e

National trust organisations in Ireland

Republic of Ireland

* Cork Civic Trust
* Dublin Civic Trust
* Drogheda Civic Trust
* Galway Civic Trust
* Irish Heritage Trust
* Irish Landmark Trust
* Kilkenny Civic Trust
* Limerick Civic Trust
* Waterford Civic Trust
* Westport Civic Trust

Northern Ireland

* Belfast Buildings Trust
* Belfast Civic Trust
* National Trust (Trust properties in Northern Ireland)
* The Foyle Civic Trust
* Ulster Architectural Heritage Society

Island of Ireland

* An Taisce
* Dictionary of Irish Architects
* The Follies Trust
* Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland
* Inland Waterways Association of Ireland
* Irish Architectural Archive
* Irish Georgian Society
* Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland (defunct)
* Waterways Ireland

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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