- Heritage Voices Plus records untold stories from Fota House, Johnstown Castle and Strokestown Park
- Irish Heritage Trust invested over €23,500 in developing the national oral history framework
- Tomás Mac Conmara and his team have been conducting interviews with former staff and community members
- Volunteer training programmes build long-term capacity for community heritage recording
- Interviews will be archived in Cork, Wexford and Roscommon for future generations
The Irish Heritage Trust has launched Heritage Voices Plus, a major national oral history initiative that calls on communities across Ireland to help preserve the untold stories behind the country’s most treasured heritage sites. Funded through the Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme and delivered in partnership with Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting, the project has been recording the memories, experiences and traditions of the people who have shaped Fota House and Gardens in Cork, Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens in Wexford, and Strokestown Park House in Roscommon. The initiative recognises that while Ireland’s historic houses, gardens and estates have been carefully conserved, many of the personal stories of the people who lived, worked and cared for them have never been formally documented.
The launch followed a significant investment by the Irish Heritage Trust in 2025, when the organisation committed more than €23,500 of its own resources to develop a national oral history framework across its properties. This work established a consistent methodology for collecting oral histories, secured long-term archival partnerships in Cork, Wexford and Roscommon, and created a network of trained volunteers to support the project. Now in 2026, the initiative has moved into its next phase with the support of the Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme and the expertise of oral historian Tomás Mac Conmara and his team, who have been carrying out interviews with former staff, estate workers, gardeners, researchers, volunteers, local historians and members of the wider community connected with the three heritage sites.
Alongside recording new interviews, the project has been examining existing oral history collections to uncover and preserve previously recorded stories relating to the three heritage sites. The initiative also provides practical training for a new cohort of volunteers, equipping them with the skills to collect oral histories and helping to build long-term capacity for community heritage recording across Ireland. The project captures stories of estate life, horticultural traditions, farming, biodiversity, scientific research, community life and the everyday experiences that have shaped these remarkable places over generations. The interviews will be professionally archived in repositories in Cork, Wexford and Roscommon, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations while contributing to a richer understanding of Ireland’s cultural, agricultural and social heritage.Grace Dignam, Programme Development & Outreach Manager at the Irish Heritage Trust, shared: Every one of our heritage sites is filled with personal stories – stories of people who worked the land, cared for gardens, welcomed visitors, carried out research, volunteered their time or simply grew up with these places as part of their community.
