Publications & Reports

The Heritage Council was established as a
statutory body under the Heritage Act, 1995. The Heritage Act provides a
definition of ‘heritage’ which is truly comprehensive and includes:
monuments; archaeological objects; heritage objects such as art and
industrial works; documents and genealogical records; architectural
heritage; flora and fauna; wildlife habitats; landscapes and seascapes;
wrecks; geology; heritage gardens; parks and inland waterways.

The introduction to the Act reads as follows:

"An act to promote public interest in and knowledge, appreciation and protection of the national heritage, to establish a body to be known as an Chomhairle Oidhreachta, to define its functions, to provide for the exercise by the Minister for Arts, Culture and The Gaeltacht of functions in relation to the national heritage and to provide for other matters connected with the matters aforesaid." [10th April, 1995]