Government needs to invest in heritage as we approach 2016

Judging by the recent interest in the media in Ireland’s heritage, singer Joni Mitchell had it right all those years ago: ‘We don’t know what we’ve got ‘til it’s gone, or almost’.

And those Russborough paintings have certainly started to go, which is nothing short of disastrous.

Once they have gone, they are gone. Their potential to enrich all our lives, to afford us another reason to visit Wicklow, to sustain employment, to provide opportunities for education and study, is all gone, too.

And why? Because we forgot how valuable our heritage is and stopped investing in it for the future. We forgot its value and risk losing its contribution to where we live and to our well-being.

So now that our awareness of the significance of such losses is heightened, we should be minimising the risks of it happening again, and again. Two simple solutions:

Firstly, re-introduce meaningful grants for our historic houses and our disappearing vernacular architecture.

We must recognise the public good that derives to us all from maintaining them in a healthy state. It is no coincidence that seven years after the State withdrew such support, owners are selling off their assets to maintain even the most modest of properties.

Their loss is our loss.

Secondly, the Government has at its disposal a specific piece of legislation, the forward-looking Heritage Fund Act, which was established at the turn of the century to provide funds for the State to acquire significant heritage objects and art.

The tragedy is that the Heritage Fund has had no additional funds for almost a decade.

Surely, for 2016, we have the financial wherewithal for the Government to start again and build up such a fund?

Now, those are two actions that would be worthy of celebration, for our culture and our heritage, as the State approaches its 100th year.

A sign of maturity and commitment that is strategic and long-term and which would be widely welcomed in every corner of Ireland, and, dare I say it, applauded beyond.

Michael Starrett

Chief Executive

The Heritage Council

Church Lane

Kilkenny