The appointment of 16 members of the Heritage Council has been announced by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.
The members will serve until July 2005. The council has "a vital role to play in the protection and enhancement of Ireland's heritage", Ms de Valera said yesterday.
The appointees are:
Dr Simon Berrow, marine ecologist and director of the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation; Ms Mary Bryan, conservation architect and executive of the Irish Georgian Society.
Lieut Col Con Costello, author and chairman of Kildare Historic Monuments Advisory Committee; Ms Ruth Delany, chairwoman of the outgoing council and the Council Statutory Committee on Architectural Heritage, and founder member of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.
Dr Pat Donlon, member of the outgoing council and former director of the National Library of Ireland; Ms Nessa Dunlea, businesswoman and local community/heritage activist.
Mr Maurice Hurley, Cork City Archaeologist and chairman of the Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists; Mr Michael McMahon, author, local historian and member of Clare Archaeology and Historical Society.
Mr Michael McNamara, farmer, member of the outgoing council and chairman of the Council Statutory Committee on Inland Waterways; Mr Tomas O Caoimh, member of the outgoing council and the Kerry Archaeology and Historical Society; Mr Nioclas O Conchuir, former Fianna Fail senator who has been involved in work on Gaeltacht heritage.
Ms Clare O'Grady Walshe, former director of Greenpeace Ireland; Ms Bride Rosney, public relations executive and former member of the council of An Taisce; Prof William Smyth of UCC department of geography and member of the Royal Irish Academy.
Ms Virginia Teehan, UCC archivist and director of UCC heritage office; Ms Primrose Wilson, chairwoman of the Historic Buildings Council of Northern Ireland and former chairwoman of Ulster Architectural Heritage Society.
