The Irish Historic Towns Atlas Team at the Royal Irish Academy visited Ballyshannon recently as they finalise their research for the publication of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon in 2025.
During their two-day visit, the team visited Ballyshannon and met with representatives from Donegal County Council, the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group and local historians.
The Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) was established with the aim to record the topographical development of a selection of Irish towns.
“Our team from the Irish Historic Towns Atlas were delighted to visit Ballyshannon as part of our on-going work on the town for publication by the Royal Irish Academy next year” said Sarah Gearty, Cartographic & Managing Editor, Irish Historic Towns Atlas, Royal Irish Academy.
She added “The rich built heritage was brought to life for us by walking the streets with author Angela Byrne along with Barry Sweeny, Joseph Gallagher and Anthony Begley and it was heartening to hear of the many initiatives underway by the local community in engaging with and exploring their town’s history and heritage. The wider Irish and European Historic Towns Atlas schemes look forward to Ballyshannon joining the other 600 towns that have been published nationally and internationally.”
The International Commission for the History of Towns established the European project of historic towns atlases in 1955 in the spirit of reconciliation in the aftermath of the devastating destruction of European towns during the Second World War.
The aim is the publication of a series of national historic towns atlases in order to encourage a better understanding of common European roots by facilitating comparative studies of the topography of pre-modern towns in Europe. Since then atlases of some 500 towns and cities in eighteen European countries have been published.
“As part of the implementation of the new County Donegal Heritage Plan, the Culture Division of Donegal County Council is pleased to support the publication of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon in 2025” said Barry Sweeny, Ballyshannon Regeneration Group and interim Chairperson of the County Donegal Heritage Forum. “Ballyshannon occupies a unique standing in the county as regards the Historic Towns Atlas initiative in that it is the only town in the county where the prerequisite historic maps exist. There are historic maps of Ballyshannon dating back to 1591. Once complete, the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon will represent over ten years’ research – much of it on a voluntary basis and directed by the Royal Irish Academy. It will prove to be a valuable resource for teachers, researchers and decision-makers, and will help to tell the story of the development of the town.”
“Ballyshannon has a rich built, archaeological and cultural heritage” said Joseph Gallagher, Heritage Officer, Donegal County Council. “The Irish Historic Towns Atlas will be a valuable resource to document and interpret aspects of Ballyshannon and its development, to highlight the cartographic and archival sources of information that exist, and to raise awareness and encourage the conservation of the town’s heritage.
“The publication of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon will include a 10,000-word descriptive essay; 700 site histories; maps, views and images as large-format facsimiles; comparative and thematic maps; and an extensive bibliography of sources.”
The Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Ballyshannon will be launched in the town in 2025.
Pictured above in the historic Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel during their visit to Ballyshannon are members of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas Team and representatives from Donegal County Council and the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group. From left to right are: Jennifer Moore (Editorial Assistant, IHTA, Royal Irish Academy), Judith McCarthy (Curator, Donegal County Museum), Sarah Gearty (Cartographic & Managing Editor, IHTA, Royal Irish Academy), Barry Sweeny (Ballyshannon Regeneration Group), Alison Roche (SPUR Student, Maynooth University), Dr. Angela Byrne (Author, IHTA Ballyshannon, Royal Irish Academy), Prof. Howard Clarke (IHTA Editorial Board), Dr. Joseph Gallagher (Heritage Officer, Donegal County Council), Dr. Michael Potterton (Chair, IHTA Editorial Board, Maynooth University), Dr. Ruth McManus (IHTA Editorial Board, Dublin City University) & Prof. Anngret Simms (IHTA Consultant Editor).
