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Professionals from Ireland and across Europe will gather at the National Gallery of Ireland for the Heritage and Climate Symposium and celebrate OPW’s acceptance of the prestigious Europa Nostra awards for its training programme to improve energy efficiency in Heritage properties.

Jointly organised by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and ICOMOS Ireland, the symposium highlights Ireland’s role in advancing practical responses to climate change while protecting cultural heritage.

Minister of State with Responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran T.D. said,

“The Heritage and Climate Symposium is an important opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration and promote practical solutions that support both conservation and sustainability. The innovation and work of the OPW team shows how we can protect our historic buildings while also improving their energy performance for the future. I am delighted to recognise the OPW’s award-winning training initiative, which demonstrates real leadership and innovation in helping us meet these challenges. The OPW’s work in this area is setting an important standard for the sustainable care of historic buildings, both nationally and across Europe.”

The symposium explores the role heritage can play in climate action with the morning session focusing on climate policy, risk management, adaptation planning and the role of communities in protecting cultural heritage under changing climate conditions. Speakers include Andrew Potts, Jacqui Donnelly, Pauline Gleeson, Gareth John, Dr Hannah Fluck, and Martha Farrell.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said: “Ireland has taken a global leadership role in climate action and heritage. Through our second sectoral adaptation plan for built and archaeological heritage, and tremendous stakeholder partnerships we have nurtured, including with OPW and ICOMOS Ireland, we are working to address the immense shared challenges we face. Framed against our current Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we look to COP 31 where these global challenges will be discussed. With that, it is so important through events such as today, that we continue to share knowledge and strengthen collaboration to ensure heritage and its value to society are protected”.

The second part of the symposium will focus on climate mitigation in heritage buildings. Dr Riin Alatalu, will present on implementing the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EEPD), while Dr Rosanne Walker, UCD, will discuss considerations of traditional Irish building materials. Audrey Farrell, Senior Architect with the OPW, will showcase the award-winning OPW initiative “Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care,” which has upskilled over 400 public sector heritage professionals and managers, alongside highlights of the Initiatives case studies by Grainne Shaffrey, Shaffrey Architects, and Andrew Lundberg, Passivate Consultants.

This training initiative marks a major achievement for Irish heritage conservation and climate action. At the award ceremony, OPW will be officially presented with the prestigious 2026 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards in the Education, Training & Skills category.

Launched by the OPW in 2021, the initiative developed practical guidance and a technical training programme to help public authorities improve the energy performance of historic buildings without compromising their heritage value.

The project has trained more than 400 public-sector professionals and has been presented as a model that could be used more widely across Europe. It has been recognised for offering a practical way to balance climate action with conservation.

Together, the symposium and award ceremony highlight Ireland’s role in advancing practical responses to climate change while protecting cultural heritage.

ICOMOS Ireland President, Angela Rolfe said: “It is critical that we share conservation-led, evidence-based research and case studies as widely as possible, so that by listening to and learning from experts and our colleagues we can effectively engage communities by demonstrating that heritage can be part of the solution. We must value and invest in the re-use and upgrading of ALL of our existing built heritage and landscapes, making demolition the exception rather than the norm”.

The symposium forms part of an Associated Presidency Event under Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It reflects the Presidency theme, “Ni neart go cur le cheile – Strength with unity,” which emphasises shared European action on climate change.The symposium will be livestreamed to an international audience with attendees currently registered from across the EU member states and internationally including Canada, Australia, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. For further information please seelink.

OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request. Please [email protected] more information and to arrange an interview.Follow us on Twitter@opwirelandFollow us on Facebook@opwirelandFollow us on Instagram@opwirelandFollow us on LinkedIn@Office of Public Works

European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are regarded as Europe’s most prestigious awards in the field of cultural heritage. Each year, these awards recognise exemplary achievements in conservation, research, education and awareness, with winners selected by an international jury of heritage experts.In 2026, the OPW’s initiative was chosen by the Awards’ Jury from among 261 eligible applications submitted by organisations and individuals from 40 European countries, highlighting its significance and impact within the sector.This initiative was delivered by bringing together the expertise within the OPW and specialists in the private sector with the following contributors; Trinomics; Shaffrey Architects; Passivate Building Energy Consulting; ARUP Engineering; Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).It was co-funded by the European Union via the EU Structural Reform Support Technical Support Instrument (TSI).The initiative was first launched in 2021 when the OPW developed practical steps around how to address the complex challenge of enhancing energy efficiency in these unique properties without losing any of the heritage value.A guidance document called ’OPW Approaches to Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care’ was developed along with six case studies covering a range of heritage building types.In 2025, the initiative which was co-funded by the European Union culminated in a three-day training programme, attended by over 400 stakeholders from across the public sector.This training, was delivered by 35 leading Irish and international experts, and was designed to upskill and empower public sector professionals to commission and design sensitive, effective and innovative energy improvement works for heritage properties. These resources and training are now also available to the general public online on the OPW website by using thislink.Further information is available at Europa Nostrawebpage.

ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)

ICOMOS is a Non-Governmental Organisation that was established by UNESCO in 1965. It is made up of a network of experts, who work for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage across the world on a voluntary basis. ICOMOS has more than 11,000 members in 132 countries and 31 International Scientific Committees.ICOMOS is an Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee working to implement the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, reviewing nominations for cultural and mixed World Heritage Sites and monitoring and advising on the conservation status of inscribed properties. This work is informed by ICOMOS Charters, which are constantly being reviewed and updated. ICOMOS Ireland is one of more than 110 global National Committees.