Clare County Council has announced it is to compile an inventory of industrial heritage structures within the County.

The local authority's Conservation Office, with the assistance of the Heritage Council, is presently conducting a scoping and desktop survey with a view to commencing the field survey over the coming weeks.

Structures to be surveyed will principally be those that have an industrial function or provided employment in the past for the people of Clare.

The list of structures includes mills, mines, lime kilns, waterwheels, hydraulic rams, generators, bridges, brick pits, slate quarries and railways.

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Commenting on the survey for Clare County Council, Risteárd Ua Crónín, Architectural Conservation Officer, stated: "There is no doubt that County Clare has an impressive industrial landscape that it has largely been untouched by development.

"This is likely to change, however, due to the pressure of development and deterioration of buildings. That is why it is imperative that we make records of as many structures of heritage importance as possible."

He continued: "It is hoped that the project will culminate in the compilation of a comprehensive published survey of all coastal structures, industrial heritage structures and stone roofed structures in County Clare. This work will pull together all previous work carried out in these areas and provide baseline information about these otherwise little-known aspects of the county’s Architectural Heritage."

It is estimated the survey will be completed by November 2008.

(JM)