Statement. Department of the Environment,
Heritage & Local Government,
30th. June 2008..

Gormley addresses 6th. World Archaeological Congress

Minister John Gormley welcomes delegates to 6th. World Archaeological Congress at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham Monday 30th. June 2008.

Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government tonight (30th. June 2008) addressed the delegates to the 6th World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6) at a State Reception he hosted in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham to mark the event.

Mr. Gormley said that Ireland was honoured to host this prestigious event. Over 1,300 of the world*s most distinguished archaeologists are attending the Congress which is taking place, on the campus of University College Dublin, from the 29th. of June to the 4th. of July next. He congratulated the organisers, Professor Gabriel Cooney and his team at UCD.

The Congress will cover a wide range of themes many of which will be of particular interest to archaeologists in Ireland including: Archaeology in the Digital Age; Archaeology, Development and Quality Assurance; Archaeological Landscapes and Communicating Archaeology.

The Minister said that the World Archaeological Congress was particularly welcome to Ireland at a time when he has initiated a comprehensive review of archaeological policy and practice.

Minister Gormley also announced tonight that funding had been approved for 14 projects to be grant aided under his Department's new Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) Programme 2008. The INSTAR Programme is being funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at an initial level of €1m in 2008 with the intention of continuing to roll it out in future years.

The Minister said that the INSTAR Programme would contribute to a better understanding of Ireland*s archaeological heritage by tackling key questions about our past. This approach is under-pinned by the wider need to place archaeological research into the context of wider public access and life-long learning.

He paid warm tribute to the Heritage Council's role in establishing and administering the new fund stating "I am delighted that the Council agreed to administer the INSTAR Programme and wish to thank the Council and its staff for the trojan work done in making this programme a reality so quickly after its initial announcement".

ENDS

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