regard to national identity / nation building and their impact on heritage, as follows: (i)
A reaction against oppression resulted in the destruction of important buildings (e.g. symbols of British monarchy);
(ii)
Ireland was historically a poor nation and therefore heritage preservation was low on the public’s priority.
Today, heritage protection in an affluent, confident Ireland does engender national
and
local
pride.
The
importance
of
preserving
tradition/culture/heritage for future generations was emphasised. There was some recognition and concern (principally among the expert group) that it is important to protect our heritage from property developers. In particular, the property of religious orders has been influential in terms of maintaining historical buildings. Concern was expressed that, as vocations decrease, religious orders are moving out and buildings are passing into the hands of developers, as the state is not buying them. There was unanimous agreement that heritage should be protected but resigned acceptance that not everything can be preserved. In terms of priority, respondents considered the protection of that which sets us apart and makes us unique as a nation, to be essential.
4.1.6 Key
Issue:
Heritage
Preservation
-
Setting
and
Reviewing the Balance It was unanimously accepted that progress and therefore some change, is inevitable. The quest for heritage preservation should not significantly impede the nation’s necessary progress. Equally, the pursuit of this “progress” must respect the nation’s heritage (see figure 3). Most of those interviewed are resigned to the fact that shopping areas are dominated by global high street brands but feel it is important that high street
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