How to take forward your Rural Heritage Project? - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

How to take forward your Rural Heritage Project?

Conor mcgale

Rural community NetworkSlide2

Key strategic aims

Empowering the voice of Rural Communities

Promoting, supporting and celebrating community development practice in rural communities

Actively working towards an equitable and peaceful society

Supporting rural communities to realise their potential and ambitions.Slide3

Heritage in Northern Ireland

Natural Heritage

Illustrations of our Past

Cultural & Shared Heritage

Building and MonumentsSlide4

Heritage and Rural Community Development

“Local history has a value in itself, because it is concerned so closely with our

local roots

. In rural development it has the added value that it gives a community greater sense of

pride and cohesion

through a greater knowledge of their

shared history

. Knowledge, and the research of local history in all its aspects, adds an important dimension to

rural tourism because of the interest outsides have in the history and heritage of the localities they visit.”The interest in and knowledge of local history strengthens the sense of place and identity that is so important to rural people, and that is part of community building.Slide5

Heritage and Rural Community Development

Older people have a very positive role to play in local history because of their memories of times gone by when life was still relatively simple and stable. So instead of being treated as recipients of services and people in need, they are seen as one of the greatest assets by a local heritage group

. Rural community development is about helping people change in order to take advantage of current and future opportunities and to enable them to renew their own communities from within

. Constructive change needs to be undertaken from a sense of security and clear identity. Being aware of and taking pride in, our own local history contributes to this sense of security and identity.

The essence of

rural tourism

is communities sharing with visitors their own

special hospitality, culture, sense of place, and history.

Rural tourism offers people a chance to rediscover their past and present riches and to have a greater appreciation of these because of the value that outsiders place on them. A sense of local history is, therefore, essential for a rounded provision of rural tourism.Slide6

Rural Heritage Initiatives Include…

Identify local buildings of heritage value

Initiate a local heritage trail, including signing and leaflets in collaboration with local businesses and schools;

Promote local history and community heritage;

Promoting, co-ordinating and sourcing funding for local restoration projects;

Identify disused and derelict buildings in the area, highlighting their potential for restoration as homes or holiday cottages;

Acquire and restore a disused building of heritage value as a community centre/project offices etc;

Facilitate and provide training and workshops in traditional skills and crafts;Slide7

Rural Heritage Initiatives Include…

Promote markets for local crafts and materials;

Provide a pool of shared tools and equipment for local small scale restoration projects;

Initiate and maintain a register of local trades people who can be approached to undertake work or advise on projects;

Promote interest in and protection of local archaeological sites

Conduct interviews with older, community members and publish a history of the area as seen through their eyes

Research the background to local heritage sites and produce a publication for visitorSlide8

Key tips for your project….

Why start a local heritage group or project? Community Need

Open meeting in local venue

Roles and Responsibilities within the groups/Membership

Marketing and Advertising/Communication

GovernanceSlide9

Key tips….

Best Practice

Finance & Budget

Fundraising

Activities and Projects

Types of Projects (Research, Oral History, Exhibitions, Lectures, Guest Speakers, Restoration & Capital builds)

Ongoing development Slide10

Ballycarry Community Association

Formed in 1991 with the aim of encouraging community pride and preserving local heritage

Group activities included the establishment of a community facility that is available for hire, the creation of a village photographic archive with photos dating back to the 19

th

Century and the staging of an annual Ulster-Scots Heritage Festival

The group has also established the Templecorran Centenary project which highlights historic graves dating back to early Christian Times.

Association also produces the Broadisland journal with articles of local interestSlide11

Carntogher Community Association

Formed in 1992 to promote the regeneration of the

Sleacht Néill/ Carn Tóchair area just outside Maghera County Derry.

Promotes a range of Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Projects aimed at developing a prosperous and environmentally sustainable rural community. The restoration of the Irish Language within the area is central to the ethos of the Community Association and all projects are promoted bilingually.

Area contains a wealth of sites of archaeological & environmental importance which have been linked together under a “Heritage Trail” facilitating a greater understanding of the past and impact on the local environment from the Neolithic period until the present day.

Association has collaborated with the Woodland Trust to jointly managed the Drumnaph Community Nature Reserve which contains 7km of walkways throughout an interlinked ecological habitat with a rich and varied biodiversity.Slide12

Benburb Priory

Benburb Priory is open as a Pastoral, Retreat and Conference Centre with bedrooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms and catering facilities

Established in 1949, it has a long established open door policy and a firm commitment to facilitating and enabling community development, good relations and peace-building, and the regeneration and revitalisation of the local and wider rural area.

The project is currently constructing an interactive Library and Museum in a restored Victorian Stables building at the Servite Priory in Benburb. It will conserve and make accessible a uniquely valuable collection of books, archives and artefacts telling:

The stories of the heritage of monasticism, including the Servite Order; its book collections encompassing the rare and valuable Servite and Marian collections and their journeys to Benburb,

The history of the Servites in England and Ireland through archives covering over 150 years, and

The ‘O’Neill History’ including annals and genealogies relating to their dynasty, and the local history from pre-Plantation to the present time.

The ‘open library and museum’ will promote this heritage locally, nationally and internationally.Slide13

Lessons Learned…..

Empowerment comes from within. Get people and the local community involved.

Speak to the “Unusual Suspects”

Network & Collaborate

Have a Project Plan and make sure it is fluid and flexible to deal with unexpected bumps in the road.

Know Your Budget!Slide14

Lessons Learned…..

Avail of help if offered, especially if its free or low cost!

If applicable, embrace technology to help the user experience-Social Media, GPS, Augmented

Reality,Apps

. If your project has commercial opportunities or potential….use it!

Never underestimate the importance of local volunteers and their evolving role in your group/project.

Walk before you can run.Slide15

One last thing…….

“

Go Slow to Go Fast”Slide16

Thank you

Conor Mc Gale

CDO-Membership and Training

Rural Community Network

Tel: 028 8676 6670

Email:conor@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Twitter: @RuralCommNet

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RuralCommunityNetworkNI