MIDA - Marine Irish Digital Atlas

Built Heritage

Overview

It is believed that people have lived in Ireland for up to 9,000
years. Each civilisation has left its mark on the landscape through
landuse. Some of the buildings and structures left behind are very simple
and it is sometimes difficult to interpret what they are and why they were
constructed. Many monuments have been identified but have not been
excavated, while others only come to light when land is being dug for
development or dredging is carried out for ports, estuaries and navigation
channels. A report by the Heritage Council in 2001 estimates that
archaeological monuments are currently being destroyed at a rate of 10%
per decade. Conflict between conserving our built heritage and new
infrastructural projects has often arisen in recent years, as the growing
economy has seen increased investment in construction work. Finding the
balance between conserving our past and building necessary infrastructure
is a major challenge for the immediate future.

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Dwellings
Some archaeological remains of dwelling places from the Mesolithic (c. 7000 BC– 2000 BC) exist (e.g Lough Gur, Co. Limerick) including coastal settlements such as Ferriter’s Cove, Co Kerry where evidence of tents, exploitation of shellfish, fish, seals, whales and birds, and stone tools have been found. However, some of the oldest visible structure, such as coastal promontories and hill forts (e.g. Dún Aonghusa on the Aran Islands) date from from the Bronze age period (c. 2000 BC – 600 BC). These were often of a defensive nature with combinations of banks, ditches and stone walls protecting the enclosures and the communities inside. Forts continued to be built into the Iron age (c. 600 BC – 500 AD) and parts of the royal sites or forts at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath and Navan (Eamain Macha) Co. Armagh are believed to have been constructed in this period.

The Grianán of Aileach, on the Inishowen peninsula in Co. Donegal has a commanding view over Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle and the surrounding countryside. Although reconstructed in the 19th century, the original stone fort probably dates to the Christian era, and there is evidence of an older Iron Age structure.

Crannógs, which are generally small timber buildings inside a fenced enclosure on islands in lakes or marshy areas, were constructed from the Bronze age period onward. A number of these have been reconstructed based on the archaeological remains found (e.g. Craggaunowen, Co. Clare).

Bunratty castle, Co. Clare.

Dwellings such as stone castles and tower houses, of a mainly defensive nature, were built between the 12th and 15th centuries. King John’s castle in Limerick is a fine example of a fortified Norman castle whose oldest parts date back to around 1210. The tower houses of the 15th century, which are thick walled structures, square in plan and rising to four or more storeys, were fortified residences, which are testimony to the dangers of the day. Over one thousand such tower houses, in various states of repair, survive. Two well known ones are Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare and Blarney castle, Co. Cork. Other examples along the coast include Ballyhack, Co Wexford and Baltimore, Co Cork

Little remains of the dwellings of poorer people from all these periods because the buildings were constructed with simple materials which have not withstood the rigours of the elements and time.

Significant dwellings from the 17th to the 19th century include the so called “big houses” which were usually constructed by wealthy landowners who managed thousands of acres of farmland (e.g. Castletown House, Co. Kildare). Now, many of these have disappeared or fallen into disrepair, however some have been converted into exclusive hotels, while others remain in the ownership of the descendents of the original families.

Poorer people would have lived throughout this period in simple one storey constructions, usually know as cottages. The roofs would often have been covered in thatch, although slate and stone were used in areas where these were plentiful e.g Co. Clare, Co. Tipperary.

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Landscape

Some of the oldest constructions to be found on the island date back over 5,000 years. An area known as the Céide Fields, overlooking the sea in northwest Mayo, consists of rock built field enclosures which were discovered under a few meters of turf as the bog was being dug for fuel over many years. Subsequent excavations have revealed an area of enclosures stretching over 10km², including some structures which may have been dwellings.

Stone wall, Burren, Co. Clare

Enclosed fields are probably the most evident feature in the Irish landscape. In coastal areas, the enclosures are often small. The raised boundaries of the enclosures are called ditches in Ireland. The materials used in ditch construction vary from region to region, stone being common in many western coastal regions. Dense concentrations of stone walls are found on the Aran Islands. In other areas, raised clay banks which may be planted with shrubs and trees are used. These ditches provide shelter for farm animals, protect soil against wind erosion and runoff and form biodiversity corridors. With increased farm mechanisation in the late 20th century many ditches have been removed, although now landowners are being encouraged to retain them because of the multiple environmental services they offer.

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Coastal Infrastructure and Lighthouses

Loop Head lighthouse, Co. Clare.

Slipways, piers and artificial harbours are necessary to provide access to and from the sea. Traditional boats, such as currachs, can be easily launched from the shore or a beach; larger vessels require launching from slipways and are often accessed via piers. An inventory of marine access points was created for the Marine Institute in 1998.

Some of the piers and sea walls of larger harbours, such as Dun Laoghaire date from the early 19th century. The harbours of Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire), Howth, Ardglass, Dunmore and Donaghadee were known as royal harbours and are all situated along the east coast of Ireland, which facilitated travel and trade with Great Britain.

Probably some of the most dramatic examples of coastal built heritage are lighthouses, which dot the coast and offshore islands. Hook head light house in Co. Wexford dates back to 1172. Many of these buildings are still functional and important for marine safety. They were generally constructed in prominent positions, from where they could be seen from many miles out to sea in order to warn mariners of treacherous waters or dangerous stretches of coastline. Lighthouses, such as that on the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Co. Cork are remarkable feats of engineering whilst also being aesthetically pleasing structures.

Click here to view a map of lighthouses around the coast.

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Tombs and Religious Constructions

Ireland has one of the highest surviving densities of Megalithic tombs in Western Europe. These consist of Stone Age passage graves, such as the World Heritage site at Brú na Bóinne Co. Meath, court cairns, portal dolmens and wedge shaped galleries.

By the beginning of the Bronze Age, the construction of elaborate tombs was dying out and burials were becoming simpler. Both cremation and inhumation were practiced, but burials took place in either a small box-like arrangement of stone slabs called a cist or in simpler circular or oval pits. Excavations of some burials have revealed that objects such as food vessels, battleaxes and jewellery were buried as well.

Gallarus Oratory, Co. Kerry.

Christianity came to Ireland during the 5th century AD. The influences of this new belief system began to be seen in both architecture and crafts. The oldest surviving monastic or sites of worship are simple beehive cells or clochans and small stone built oratories, such as the Gallarus oratory on the Dingle peninsula in Co. Kerry. The beehive huts on Skellig Michael, off the coast of Co. Kerry, also formed part of a remote monastic site, believed to have been constructed in the 6th century. As building techniques improved through the 7th and 8th centuries, buildings became more elaborate and monastic settlements flourished. Churches at Glendalough Co. Wicklow, Clonmacnoise Co. Offaly and Kilmalkedar, Co. Kerry show this development.

Round towers are found only in Ireland, with a few isolated examples in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Over ninety remain in Ireland. Most of them were built between the 10th and 13th centuries and were used as belfries but also as places of refuge in times of peril.

High Crosses are another expression of the artistry from this period of Irish history. These crosses, which were constructed between the 8th and 12th century, show intricate geometric designs in some early examples, while those from a later period illustrate vividly Bible stories. It is believed that some may also have been painted.

The influence of European movements in architecture and in particular the coming of religious orders to Ireland from Europe after the Norman invasions of the 12th century brought further change to native ecclesiastical building, with developments from the Romanesque to the Gothic styles, the 'Rock' of Cashel being one example which includes splendid examples of both. Most monastic settlements in Ireland are now in ruins as the dissolution of the monasteries under the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century brought their period of glory to an end.

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Defensive Constructions

Coastal areas of the island were some of the first parts to be inhabited and most major settlements grew up in sheltered coastal areas. Defending these settlements from seaward attack became critical as their importance grew. The most significant remaining defensive structures include military promontory forts and Martello towers.

Coastal defensive forts were initially simple walled enclosures but developed into more elaborate structures during times of danger from local attack or invasion. Charles fort near Kinsale in Co. Cork, where construction began in 1677, is an excellent example of a star shaped fort surrounded by a moat.

Charles Fort in Kinsale, Co. Cork was built in 1677 as a star shaped defensive structure with five bastions. It remained in use until 1922, when much of it was burned by the anti-treaty IRA forces during the Civil war.

During the Napoleonic wars in the early 1800s a large number of defensive structures, known as Martello towers, were constructed around the coast of Britain and Ireland. These circular, stone built structures, of which over thirty remain in Ireland, were gun-batteries with cannons mounted on the top and were meant to help repel a French invasion. The Martello Tower in Sandycove, Co. Dublin features in the first chapter of James Joyce’s masterpiece “Ulysses”.

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Industrial Heritage

Although Ireland never experienced the same level of industrialisation as Britain or continental Europe, certain significant vestiges of industrial heritage in the coastal zone remain. Northeast Ireland was probably the most industrialised part of the island and the shipbuilding yards of Harland and Wolff in Belfast were world renowned. Shipbuilding was also important in Cork Harbour and to a lesser extent in Dublin.

An extensive rail network traversed Ireland in the early part of the 20th Century. Remains of some track and routes still remind us of this once important means of transport. A number of canals were also constructed in the 18th century for transport purposes while ports and smaller jetties facilitating access to and from the sea are found all around the coast. After a period of neglect, many of these including the canals are being restored for tourism and leisure purposes.

Other remains, such as limekilns, mills, and mines can also be found dotted around the country. Industrial remains relating specifically to the coast include kelp kilns, fish traps, whaling stations and 19th century aquacultural structures like oyster ponds.

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Legislation and Maintenance

St. Declan's round tower, Ardmore, Co. Waterford.

A National Monument is defined in the National Monuments Act 1930 as "a monument or the remains of a monument the preservation of which is a matter of national importance by reason of the historical, architectural, traditional, artistic, or archaeological interest attaching thereto".

This act and subsequent acts and amendments, most notably in 1954, 1987and 1994 protect and legislate for the maintenance of such monuments, including historic wrecks found within Ireland's designated waters.

The National Monuments and Architectural Protection Division (NMAPD) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, is charged with maintaining the over 700 National Monuments in State care in the Republic of Ireland. This Service is part of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Over 120,000 monuments and objects, many of which are in private ownership, have been recorded and are afforded protection by legislation.

Click here to view a map of national monuments in State care.

Codes of good practice exist for the protection of other elements of built heritage, such as hedgerows and ditches with individual county development plans taking their preservation and maintenance into account.

In Northern Ireland National Monuments are protected under The Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (NI) Order 1995. A total of 181 monuments are in State care. Over 1500 are protected but held in private ownership, while some 15,000 archeological sites are documented. The Environment and Heritage Service is charged with protection of the monuments.

In both jurisdictions, certain buildings of architectural or historic significance are listed. This means that while a building may continue to be used for its original function, any significant modification to the structure or certain of its fittings have to be agreed with the relevant authorities.

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Spatial Data Sources

The following are suggested sources for geospatial data related to the topic:

MIDA: to download lighthouses and national monuments in state care.

NPWS: A table of national monuments in state care can be dowloaded from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

CIL: A table of aids to navigation can be downloaded from the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

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