Resource Centre

Heritage Designation Advice

Archaeological Heritage

Our archaeological heritage is currently listed as the “Record of Monuments and Places”, as compiled by the archaeological survey (currently part of the National Monuments Service). It consists of two parts: a (reduced) book of six inch maps with all known ‘recorded monuments’ marked on it and an A4-sized book listing (very sparse) details of each monument. This document in put on public display at various prescribed venues on certain dates each year. There is no direct notification to landowners, who are expected to find out that their site is listed. This is obviously a less than ideal situation. There are around 1,500 monuments on the RMP for Louth. Louth County Council employs a Field Monuments Advisor, with funding assistance from the Heritage Council, to visit owners of recorded monuments, to provide them with some information about their monument and the best ways to manage it.

A few dozen of these ‘recorded monuments’ are ‘National Monuments’ ie sites important enough to have been taken into direct State-ownership or guardianship. The current interpretation of the National Monuments Act 2004 makes all recorded monuments in the ownership of a statutory body, such as a council, at national monument. It is on this basis that Louth County Council and Drogheda Borough Council are planning the conservation of the town walls of Carlingford and Drogheda, respectively.