High five
SURVEY SUCCESS FOR GLENDALOUGH
Wednesday September 01 2010
GLENDALOUGH IS ONE of the nation's top five favourite heritage sites according to a national survey. A national heritage survey commissioned to mark Heritage Week puts Glendalough as one of the country's best loved heritage sites. Seven per cent of people surveyed said Glendalough was their favourite heritage site in Ireland putting it in fourth position behind The Burren (12 per cent), Newgrange (11 per cent) and the Cliffs of Moher (8 per cent).
The final site to make the top five was the Hill of Tara with five per cent.
The survey found that while people see heritage as critically important to tourism, very few could express an opinion on their level of satisfaction at the work being done to preserve heritage with 45 per cent of respondents answering 'don't know'. The survey found that people are not satisfied with current levels of heritage experienced by children and that greater promotion of heritage to the public is required.
Ecclesiastical Insurance Managing Director Ronan Foley who had conducted the survey said 'some of the findings are quite surprising, it is clear that people see heritage as
extremely important. However, they admit to not knowing much about the work being done in this area. The results suggest that while the public do have an interest in their heritage, they are less aware of their own local heritage sites and more likely to visit a high profile location.
'The results clearly suggest that greater promotion to the public is needed. In terms of passing on our love and appreciation of our heritage, the survey finds that greater exposure to heritage for school children is sorely need
ed. 'We as a country seem to have a love affair with castles but yet do not identify these as significant symbols of our heritage, ranking only fourth behind the top listed Round Towers and Monastic sites as most iconic of Ireland's historical past. Among the leading sites on our list of favourites there was no real surprises although the omission of the Giant's Causeway on our favourite lists was unusual, although its appearance as close second on the 'most embarrassed not to have visited' list suggests people do see it as significant Irish heritage site but many have not taken the journey north.
- ESTHER HAYDEN
