The Irish Landmark Trust Ltd. was founded in 1992 with a remit
to save interesting and unusual 'landmark' properties throughout
the whole of Ireland and to re-use them, once restored, as good
quality self catering holiday accommodation. At its heart is
the principle that the structure iself is of prime importance and
any interventions must respect this.
Irish Landmark is recognised as a charity, and is incorporated as
a not-for-profit company in the Republic of Ireland and,
separately, in Northern Ireland.
Our buildings are varied, from lighthouses, to gatelodges, to
tower houses, to school houses, to mews, which - because of their
individuality, even eccentricity - are unsuitable as permanent
residences. But often in remote and delightful parts of the
country, they are ideal retreats for those seeking a short stay in
fascinating and sensitively restored buildings.
The work of Irish Landmark can be summarised as 'SAVE, SHARE and
SUSTAIN.
The benefits of our work are enjoyed by more than our visitors.
The morale of a village can be lifted by the rehabilitation of its
most interesting landmark building. Visitors introduce tourist
revenue. Craftsmen and craftswomen are given scope to revive
traditional skills. And wasteful decay or demolition gives way to
the sensible recycling of Ireland's valuable architectural
stock.
Further, we see ourselves as problem solvers. Owners, private and
public, with responsibility for important buildings are faced with
the dual task of restoring and finding sustainable uses for them.
By taking a building on lease we are enabled to restore it, and can
sustain it on short-term lettings until the expiry of the lease
(typically, 50 years) when the fully restored building reverts to
the owner.
To date Irish Landmark has restored 25 interesting and
architecturally important buildings across Ireland, north and
south. Funding for this work came from the ERDF, The Heritage
Council, the National Millennium Committee, Udaras na Gaeltachta,
the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government;
and from the Environment and Heritage Services section of the
Department of the Environment of Northern Ireland, the UK Heritage
Lottery Fund for Northern Ireland, The Architectural Heritage Fund,
and from local authorities in the regions where our properties are
located. In addition, significant private funds assist both capital
and administrative costs.
The key element of the project is sustainable development.