The new ‘Guide to the Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland in State Care’ contains everything you need to know about the monuments from a brief summary of the archaeological remains at each site to how people can access them.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Director of Built Heritage Michael Coulter, who launched the book alongside Professor Gabriel Cooney, chairman of the Historic Monuments Council, said: “This is an excellent guide to the historic monuments of Northern Ireland that are in the care of Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
“These monuments are a key part of our historic environment and are places that everyone can enjoy and where everyone should feel welcome.
“Northern Ireland’s historic monuments are key destinations for tourists, whether from overseas or local. They are unique sites, and we hope readers will use this guide as an introduction to Northern Ireland’s rich archaeological heritage.
“The guide was last updated in 1983 and since then there has been significant growth in our knowledge and understanding about our archaeology. New sites have also come into state care and this guide helps make information on those sites available to the public.”
Most of these sites featured in the guide are open to the public all year round and access to the majority of these is free of charge.
NIEA also hosts events at many state care monuments throughout the year and this weekend, 20 and 21 June 2009 there are many Archaeology Days events that can be accessed free of charge.
For further details of these, please contact the DOE website
Guides to the historic monuments of Northern Ireland have been published since the 1920s, and this newly published guide is part of a long tradition of making information about the historic environment available to the public in a form that is convenient and easy to use.
Notes to Editors:
1. The guide contains information on the location of the sites, how to get to them, and a brief summary of the archaeological remains that survive at each site.
2. The new Guide to the Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland in State Care (ISBN 9780337091896) can be purchased via TSO and good booksellers for a recommended retail price of £7.
3 For media inquiries contact the DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003 or out of hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.
