Thursday, January 4, 2018
On welcoming the EU designation of 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage, Ireland South MEP, Deirdre Clune said that from archaeological sites to contemporary architecture, from medieval castles to folklore traditions and arts, Europe’s cultural heritage is at the very heart of the collective identity of European citizens, with more than 220,000 people in Ireland employed in the cultural heritage and tourism sector.
She said in her statement how particularly delighted she is to recognise the connected European cultural heritage and welcome the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018. “This year of celebrations across Europe will be a wonderful opportunity to encourage us all to explore Europe’s rich cultural diversity and to reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in all our lives,” she said.
With the aim to raise awareness of the social and economic importance of cultural heritage, 2018’s European Year of Cultural Heritage initiative is hoped to be successful. Initiatives and events across Ireland and other countries in Europe will engage citizens from all backgrounds reaching out to the widest possible audience to promote a common sense of cultural ownership.
8 out of 10 Europeans think cultural heritage is not only important to them personally, but also to their community, region, country and the European Union as a whole as shows a recent Eurobarometer survey. Approximately seven out of ten Europeans agree that cultural heritage can have a positive impact in their quality of life. The Heritage Council (Ireland) has launched a programme of grant support to enable community groups throughout Ireland to develop heritage initiatives that will have a long-lasting impact on the preservation and sustainability of our cultural heritage.”
