08/09/2003

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Official Launch of European Heritage Days

'Great strides have been made over the past two decades in the recognition and acceptance of our heritage as a common European inheritance' said Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (6 September) in Glendalough.

He was speaking at the official launch of European Heritage Days (EHD).

'This implies shared responsibility for its preservation and enhancement, whatever the present-day political or frontier context' he continued. Many vestiges of our past civilisations transcend such frontiers and their influences have shaped today's societies'.

EHD commenced in 1991 and each year has shown a major expansion. Ireland, a country of 4 million, is playing host to an event which is being celebrated simultaneously by 48 European countries, with a combined population of 800 million.

Madame Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe was in attendance.

Minister of State Gallagher concluded by expressing his confidence that Ireland would keep environmental and conservation issues prominent on its agenda during its Presidency of the European Union next year.