Clare farmhouse celebrated in Heritage Council anniversary booklet

A special Heritage Council publication featuring stories from heritage officers in every county is being launched to mark 25 years since the Heritage Officer Network was founded.

The booklet, ‘Opening the door to Ireland’s heritage’ details one key heritage project from each local authority from the last three years which collectively, highlight the enormous contribution the Network has made to the preservation of our heritage over the last quarter of a century.

Featured is the story of how Clare’s historical ‘Hasting’s Farmhouse’ was conserved through the work of the local heritage officer and Dúchas na Sionna, a local heritage group.

The farmhouse is a testament to the traditional Irish rural life of the 19th century and played a major role in the War of Independence, serving as a safe house for General Lucas, the highest ranking British officer captured during the conflict. The Hastings family, who resided in the house until the early 1970s, lived through many years without the modern conveniences of electricity or running water, relying on kerosene lamps, candles, and well water.

The farmhouse’s legacy extends beyond the family, touching the cultural and historical fabric of the area. It was a hub for community and historical narratives, with the Hastings family and visitors partaking in traditional activities like butter-making and sharing stories that kept the local heritage alive.

In collaboration with the Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society, Dúchas na Sionna have worked to further protect this local landmark by securing its status as a ‘Protected Structure’ with Clare County Council.

Speaking on the launch of the booklet, Heritage Officer for Clare County Council John Treacy said it was "deeply satisfying to see documented in this publication the influence of the Heritage Officer Network in shaping our approach to heritage conservation and protection."

"Although we work as individuals at local authority level, what is clear from these pages is that the real strength of the Network is in the collective. These stories cover only a snapshot of recently completed projects from current heritage officers, so when we factor in the hundreds of past projects completed since 1999, it brings into the focus the enormous impact that the Local Authority Heritage Officer Programme has had."

In a partnership between the Heritage Council and local authorities, the first heritage officers were appointed in 1999 in Kerry, Sligo and Galway with the aim of raising awareness of heritage issues within the local authority and among local communities.

Since then, the heritage officer network has become synonymous with the protection and promotion of Ireland’s heritage and for the first time in 2021, every local authority in the country had appointed somebody to the role.