Record of Monuments and Places
Back To Archaeological Heritage
The Record of Monuments & Places, formerly the Sites & Monuments Record (SMR), is a statutory audit of archaeological monuments established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994.
Structures, sites, features and objects are listed in the Record of Monuments & Places. The paper Record of Monuments & Places consists of marked-up Ordnance Survey six-inch maps and a manual listing basic information in relation to each monument or area included in the Record of Monuments & Places. In County Donegal, there are over 3,000 sites on the Record of Monuments & Places and most of them are in private ownership.
Sites in the Record of Monuments & Places are protected under the National Monuments Acts (1930-2004) and are indicated on the paper maps by being circled or boxed in as appropriate by a black line. While the circles or boxes indicate their location, they do not define their exact extent. The Record of Monuments & Places is updated periodically and can be consulted in the Central Library and Donegal County Museum, Letterkenny.
To find out what archaeological monuments are in your area and to consult the electronic version of the Record of Monuments & Places, consult the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website at: www.archaeology.ie
In some instances, archaeological structures may be considered as architectural heritage and may be included on both the Record of Monuments & Places (RMP) and the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). This means that these structures are protected by both the National Monuments Acts (1930-2004) and the Planning and Development Act (2000).
Where works are to be carried out on or close to a Recorded Monument or a Zone of Archaeological Potential (irrespective of whether planning permission is required or not) then the person proposing the works must give two months notice in writing to the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage prior to starting.