Conservation and management plans for Athenry, Co Galway, and Carlingford, Co Louth, are to be drawn up within weeks as part of a plan to raise awareness of Irish historic walled towns.
The Heritage Council-supported cross-Border Irish Walled Towns Network is seeking to promote conservation and sympathetic development of historic walled towns, some 19 of which have already signed up to the scheme.
The network has developed a draft three-year action plan for 2006 to 2008, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Fáilte Ireland. This sets out key projects and recommendations for the protection and development of Ireland's walled towns and cities.
Last week, local authority representatives from the 19 towns met in Derry with representatives from Dubrovnik in Croatia, Valetta in Malta, and Chester in England. They discussed development management policy, archaeological legislation and local, regional and national education campaigns to raise awareness of walled towns.
Individual plans to conserve, restore and manage a number of Ireland's historic walled towns and cities have already been formulated, including the Dublin City Defences Conservation Plan, which won an Irish Planning Institute award last year.
Comprehensive restoration and management programmes have also begun in Athlone, Derry, Dublin and Kilkenny. Athlone is also developing a riverside amenity conservation plan while a conservation and management plan for Drogheda is being jointly developed by Meath and Louth County Councils.
"We are delighted with the progress that has been made since the Irish Walled Towns Network was established last year," said Alison Harvey, planning and development officer with the Heritage Council.
Ms Harvey said the choice of Derry for the meeting was particularly appropriate as "the historic walls are still wonderfully visible for the benefit of locals and visitors alike." As part of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's designated Walled City of Derry Signature Tourism Project, Derry City Council commissioned a conservation and restoration study for the siege cannons located in and around the city walls.
The full list of walled towns in the network is: Athenry; Athlone; Carlingford; Cork; Clonmel; Cashel; Dublin; Drogheda; Fethard, Co Tipperary; Kilmallock, Co Limerick; Galway; Youghal; Wexford; Kilkenny; Derry; Carrickfergus; Trim; Waterford and Limerick.