Minister Unveils Plans To Preserve And Manage Walled Town

(SANEPR.com) June 2, 2009 -- Dr. Martin Mansergh, T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), launched the Kilmallock Town Walls Conservation & Management Plan and Kilmallock Walled Town Public Realm Plan at a ceremony held in the Deebert House Hotel, Kilmallock today.

Initiated by Limerick County Council, under the Irish Walled Towns Network Action Plan 2006-08, the strategies are geared towards developing a greater appreciation of and access to the historic Town Walls, and boosting local tourism. Among the potential projects and initiatives earmarked for the town is the reopening of the local railway station and the development of interpretative facilities and looped heritage walkways.

Kilmallock was once regarded as one of the most strategically important towns in Ireland due to its medieval wall defences, castles, gatehouses and magnificent churches. The town walls, 70% of which remain standing today, have contributed greatly to Kilmallock’s direct involvement in almost every Irish conflict since medieval times. The fortress town was burned during the Desmond Rebellion and the local Dominican Priory was attacked and destroyed during the Irish Confederate Wars.

Commenting at today’s official launch of the plans, Sarah McCutcheon, Executive Archaeologist, Limerick County Council said, “Kilmallock was a town of considerable importance in the late medieval period, ranking as one of the main urban areas in Ireland at the time. Today it is unique in County Limerick for its range of standing medieval monuments and it is foremost among an exclusive group of Irish towns and cities, which retain their medieval defences. The Town Walls are of national significance, but their potential as a major heritage asset for the town has not been fully exploited up until now.”

She noted that the Town Walls were a finite resource requiring conservation and management so as to enhance the public’s appreciation of and access to them.

“The plans seek to provide Kilmallock with a greater sense of identity through the preservation of the Town Walls and the improvement of the local infrastructure. Once you achieve this you have a viable tourism product that will reap benefits for the people who live and work in Kilmallock, as well as the thousands of people who visit the Walled Town each year”, added Ms. McCutcheon.

The primary objective of the Public Realm Plan is to identify specific initiatives, schemes and projects that improve the town’s infrastructure with particular emphasis on its Walled Town status. The initiatives include the possible reopening of Kilmallock Railway Station, the establishment of walking loops and interpretation facilities, improvements to the existing streetscape and open spaces, and the erection of signage and visitor orientation (including artwork) at strategic locations within and on the approaches to the Town”.

The Kilmallock Town Walls Conservation and Management Plan, meanwhile, provides an understanding of the Town Walls and their setting, an assessment of why they are significant and how they are vulnerable or sensitive to change now and in the future. The plan also defines policies to protect and manage the Town Walls.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government funded the newly launched plans through the Irish Walled Town Network and The Heritage Council. Engineering consultancy firm Gifford Ltd. carried out the Conservation & Management Plan, in conjunction with PLB, while Nicholas De Jong Associates compiled the Public Realm Plan. Both plans were prepared under the direction of, and following several meetings with, a dedicated Steering Group comprising representatives of the local community, Limerick County Council, the Office of Public Works and the National Monuments Service.

The Kilmallock Town Walls Conservation & Management Plan and Kilmallock Walled Town Public Realm Plan may be viewed on Limerick County Council’s website, www.lcc.ie.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITOR:
- Sarah McCutcheon, Executive Archaeologist, Limerick County Council is available for interview and further comment.
- High-resolution images of Kilmallock’s Town Walls are available on request. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- Kilmallock is a founder member of the Irish Walled Towns Network, which comprises 20 members, and a member of the Walled Town Friendship Circle.
- The Heritage Council established the Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) in April 2005. Its aim is to unite and co-ordinate the strategic efforts of Local Authorities involved in the management, conservation and enhancement of historic walled towns in Ireland, both North and South. The Irish Walled Towns Network is formally linked to the International Walled Towns Friendship Circle (WTFC), the international association for the sustainable development of walled towns, walled cities and fortified historic towns. The Irish Walled Towns Network seeks to ensure that Ireland’s unique cultural and archaeological heritage, in relation to its walled and fortified towns and cities, is protected and managed in a sustainable and appropriate manner in the long term.