Mayo town hosts international cultural meeting with guests from Italy and Greece

Earlier this month, the HeritACT Consortium convened for its highly anticipated Annual Consortium Meeting, bringing together delegates from its three pilot locations: Ballina (Ireland), Milan (Italy), and Eleusis (Greece). The event, held under the banner of “HeritACT BALLINA,” was dedicated to advancing cultural heritage as a catalyst for sustainable development and community well-being through the practice of inclusive placemaking.

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The two-day meeting commenced on May 14 at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, where Ferghas O’Béara and Senator Mark Duffy warmly welcomed attendees. Their opening remarks highlighted the significance of European policy in fostering collective and local community action, setting a thoughtful tone for the discussions ahead.

The agenda featured a rich series of presentations and interactive sessions. The day began with an exploration of Ecosystem Mapping, showcasing the development of innovative tools such as the HeritACT and New European Bauhaus Compendium. These resources are designed to integrate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that heritage initiatives contribute meaningfully to global sustainability targets.

A focal point of the meeting was the in-depth review of the HeritACT Digital Toolkit. Consortium members examined the design, development, and practical application of the toolkit, with a particular emphasis on its role in supporting pilot projects. Special attention was paid to Ballina’s ongoing efforts to establish co-participatory mechanisms, enabling local communities to play an active role in shaping their heritage.

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On May 15, the meeting moved to the picturesque setting of Belleek Castle in Belleek Woods, Ballina, hosted by HeritACT Ballina and Mayo County Council. The sunlit venue provided an inspiring backdrop for sessions dedicated to core areas such as co-recognition, co-envisioning, co-design, and co-action processes.

Attendees gained valuable insights into how each tool was collaboratively assessed, implemented, and integrated within diverse communities. The presentations underscored the importance of participatory approaches in ensuring that heritage projects are both relevant and impactful.

The afternoon sessions focused on updates regarding impact assessment, the creation of guidelines and recommendations, and the development of participatory community monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Discussions also covered upcoming communication, dissemination, and exploitation initiatives, ensuring that the lessons learned and tools developed will reach a broad audience.

A series of dedicated workshops allowed participants to delve into the planning and development of Ballina’s activation events and to outline the next phases of the project. These sessions fostered lively exchange and collaboration, reinforcing the consortium’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable heritage management.

The HeritACT Annual Consortium Meeting 2025 demonstrated the power of collective action and innovative thinking in promoting cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development. With its focus on inclusive placemaking and community engagement, the consortium is poised to make a lasting impact in Ballina and beyond, setting a benchmark for heritage initiatives across Europe.