Organisation Background.
Tipperary Town Heritage Group is a small organisation with a big vision. We have tasked ourselves with facilitating an investment in Culture and Heritage in Tipperary town and its environs, while promoting a healthier, more fulfilled, prosperous and successful town.
Consisting wholly of volunteers we provide advice and information for visitors through the promotion and hosting of activities and events designed to enhance and highlight the culture and heritage of the area.
We also facilitate community participation in the culture and heritage of Tipperary Town and its natural environs, while supporting organisations whose activities involve the promotion, preservation and protection of the culture and heritage of the region.
Current activities facilitated by the group including:
- The operation of the Dalton’s Heritage centre including keeping the museum open 50 hours per week.
- The assistance with family research
- The printing and mounting of family surname
- Liaising with 3rd level universities and institutes on the promotion of New
- Organising Clan Rallies on a yearly
- The facilitation of meeting space for community involving events including music session, lectures and items of local
While the operation of the museum at Dalton and the activities outlined above have served the group well over past 30 years, we now see merit in promoting the town of Tipperary and not just the New Tipperary portion of it. With that vision in mind we are adopting a holistic approach to showcasing the hidden treasures available to visit locally. Our plan is to put structures in place to enable Tipperary Town to compete with and draw some of the visitor base from those visiting the nearby attractions of the Rock of Cashel (20km) and Cahir Castle (23km).
The key enabler to that vision is a transparent sustainable fit for purpose organisational structure. Until recently the best way to describe us would be a group of committed volunteers who have an emotional connection to the area and a passion for its history, culture and heritage. Recognising the impact that recent scandals have had on the community and voluntary sector was the catalyst for us to put the required governance structures in place to not only realise our future vision but to protect the groups who have invested so much time and effort into making it the organisation it is today.
Our Governance Initiative
The Governance issue we addressed is that we had no formally recognised structure in place and hence our ability to secure future funding to enable our vision was severely limited.
Actions Taken
From having no formal structure other than a nominated Chair, Secretary and Treasurer we are now in the final stages of establishing ourselves as a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. All relevant documentation has been supplied to the Charities Regulator and the CRO requirements will be completed by end of October.
Our new board has completed governance training with Tipperary Public Participation Network and partnered with Tipperary Volunteer Centre who assisted us with the development of a bank of policies, a strategic plan and a business plan.
We now not only have a structure but will have statutory obligations under Charity and Company Law that will drive good governance within our group.
The Impact of Our Governance Initiative
Recognising the efforts we have taken on our Governance journey Failte Ireland have put faith in us by granting official Failte Ireland Visitor Information Point status to our Museum at Daltons House. The impact of this is that Dalton House will be included on the Discover Ireland and Fáilte Ireland websites as one of their approved information points. It also means that the premises will be provided with official literature and staff training, as well as access to Community Employment schemes.
Being recognised as a CLG and being granted charitable status will also provide weight to future funding applications as inherent in those two structures are legal requirements and associated governance structures. Commitment on the provision to the group of a 99-year lease for a disused heritage building in the town had also been given pending CLG and Charitable status being confirmed.
The future is looking bright for Tipperary Town Heritage Group all as a result of implementing the governance structures outlined above.
