Convention on Cultural Property The purpose of the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Act 2015 is to make necessary provision in law for obligations the State will assume under the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict and its 1999 Protocol. Specifically, the Act creates offences prohibiting the destruction, damage […]
National Gallery The National Gallery of Ireland was established under act of Parliament in 1854. It opened to the public in 1864 and now houses 13,000 items. This includes over 2500 oil paintings and 10,000 other works in different media. The administration of the institution is divested in the Board of Governors and Guardians. The Board consists of seven up to 17 members. The Gallery […]
Background & Ardmore The making of films in Ireland proved difficult and challenging in the early years of the State. There was insufficient capital and return for Irish-themed films, so the indigenous film industry never reached fruition. The State established National Films Studios at Ardmore in Bray in the late 1950s. They were designed to attract bigger-budget films. Through the 1950s, ’60s, and early 1970s, […]
Arts Council The Arts Council is the development agency for the arts in Ireland. It supports individual creative and interpretive artists. The Council is an independent state body. The Act provides for an Arts Council comprising a Chairperson, and 12 ordinary members. There is provision for rotating membership. The first membership is appointed and comprises six members who serve for 30 months and six for […]
Background The first heritage bill was proposed in 1982 and a non-statutory national Heritage Council was established in 1988. Working on the draft bill was commenced. A statutory heritage Council was established by the Heritage Act 1995. The legislation defines the responsibility of the heritage Council. The national heritage is defined in a wide term. It includes monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, […]
National Monuments The National Monuments Legislation is designed to protect and preserve national monuments and archaeological objects. A monument is any artificial building or partly artificial building or structure. Any stone or other natural product that has been artificially carved, sculptured or worked upon Any prehistoric tomb, grave or burial deposit or ritual, industrial or habitation site Any place comprising remains or traces of any of […]
Background The compilation of statistics commenced in the first half of the 19th century. The first comprehensive population census was undertaken in 1841. Marriage, births and death statistics were maintained after commencement of the relevant legislation. The statistics branch was established within the Department of Industry and Commerce in 1922 and was ultimately given statutory effect in the Statistics Act, 1926. The CSO was established […]
Background The Dublin Society was founded in 1731 as the Dublin Society for Improving Husbandry, Manufactures and other Useful Arts and Sciences. It received a Royal Charter in 1750, becoming the Royal Dublin Society. Although it was a private society, government recognised its usefulness by providing an annual grant. A Select Committee was established in 1836, to inquiry into the administration of the Royal Dublin […]
Institutions Archives in Ireland are managed by a number of institutions. The most important is the National Archives. A number of local authorities maintain archives as do educational and cultural bodies. The Manuscripts Department of the National Library and the Military Archives are also of importance in this context. The National Archives was created under the National Archives Act 1986, commencing in 1988 when the […]