The Irish Times

Carlingford

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.