11.2 - Achievements

The Council continually strives to protect, enhance and preserve our heritage assets. The Record of Protected Structures (RPS) comprises in excess of 8,400 structures. Since October 2016, there have been 57 additions, 10 amendments/clarifications and 129 deletions from the RPS. Work in this area is constantly in progress with ongoing assessments of structures for addition to the Record.

There are presently 24 Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) in the city. In the period since the 2016-2022 Dublin City Development Plan was adopted, three additional ACAs have been designated at Haddon Road/Victoria Road, Hollybrook Road and North Great George’s Street.

Between 2016 and 2020, Dublin City Council administered 192 projects under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and 15 projects under the Historic Structures Fund (previously called Structures at Risk fund) with a combined funding of over €2.2 million.

The Conservation Section promotes awareness of Architectural Conservation and Heritage by presenting a number of conservation lectures as part of the annual ‘Conserving Your Dublin Townhouse’ conservation course offered by the Georgian Society (in association with the Heritage Section of Dublin City Council).

The Dublin City Heritage Plan has been implemented since 2002 in association with the Heritage Council. Under the plan, new projects are developed in the areas of heritage research, improving heritage management and raising awareness amongst a broad audience. A number of pioneering Heritage Plan projects have been undertaken since 2016, all supported by the Heritage Council. These projects include:

  • 14 Henrietta Street conservation/adaptive reuse and museum development project, winning awards from the RIAI in 2018 for ‘Best Conservation Project’ and more recently the ‘Silletto’ Prize at the European Museum of the Year 2020 awards.
  • Original social and architectural history research into the processes of modernisation in Dublin during the 20th Century including ‘More than Concrete Blocks, Vol II 1940-1972’ and ‘Dublin Through the Ages: The City Walls.’

Notable achievements in the protection and promotion of our archaeological resource in the city include:

  • Raising awareness of Viking Dublin through international engagement with the Viking urban network and diaspora including the establishment of the Annual ‘Festival of History International Viking’ Seminar with National University of Ireland.
  • Preservation and presentation in situ of medieval and later structures in commercial developments at Aungier Street, Ship Street, Little Green Street and Thomas Street.

Implementation of the Dublin City Walls and Defences Conservation Plan, including the installation of a permanent exhibit about the City Wall in the Wood Quay Venue; monitoring and conservation repair works to the City Wall at the Wood Quay Venue.