Legal Protections for Archaeological Monuments
- Published on: 1 December 2023
- Last updated on: 1 December 2023
Ireland is exceptionally rich in archaeological monuments, with over 145,000 known archaeological sites and monuments recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record. The majority of these archaeological sites are in private ownership, spread across almost every townland in the country.
Please note that it is an offence under the National Monuments Acts to dig, excavate or carry out metal detection anywhere for the purpose of uncovering archaeological features or objects without or otherwise than in accordance with a licence or consent issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Archaeological monuments are protected in a number of ways under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.
National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004
National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994
National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987
National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1954
EIA of Proposed Demolition of National Monuments Regulations 2012
S.I. 229/2005 - National Monuments Act 1930 (Section 14B) Regulations 2005