Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:369. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Ireland's engagement with the Year of the Normans; and the activities planned. [16084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 February 2026
Ceisteanna (369)
Freagraí scríofa
Next year is The Year of the Normans, a pan-European initiative originating in the Normandy Region and involving various nations and regions across Europe where historically the Normans had a presence and where the legacy of that influence remains. Since government last year affirmed Ireland’s participation in the initiative, engagement has been steadily strengthening, coordinated by the National Monuments Service of my Department. A diverse cohort of stakeholders is now actively involved in devising a large number of projects. Our National Cultural Institutions are leading with exhibitions of our most important Norman collections planned by the National Library and National Museum. Various academic institutes and Local Authorities across the country are developing events, including conferences, publications, educational outreach, festivals and re-enactments, as well as research on this period.
Our much-loved and well-visited Norman monuments across the country- castles, abbeys, mottes, monasteries and cathedrals - will all play their part and I am grateful to the OPW and Local Authorities for their strong engagement with us, along with others from all over the country. Regular coordination meetings are being held, with Irish stakeholders along with Normandy colleagues to make connections between partners here and in Normandy and across and to support event development.
There will be a coordinated announcement this July in Normandy when the combined European programme of events will be unveiled, including that for Ireland. Ahead of that announcement, led by my Department, work will continue on encouraging further stakeholder participation and I am very confident there will be a strong programme of Irish events through 2027.
We have, through our National Monuments Service, recently joined the relevant structures of the Council of Europe to allow us, working closely with partners here and across mainland Europe, and in Northern Ireland and Britain, to develop a Norman Cultural Route. This Route will be a lasting legacy of the 2027 initiative that will become a key heritage tourism attraction in years to come, that will demonstrate - as all such Cultural Routes aim to - how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared and living cultural heritage.