Talk:An Taisce

National Trust Committee (all-island)
Can there be a few lines on this body, not heard of it before but it sounds a great cross-border idea.51.171.243.62 (talk) 01:01, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

To do
A modest-scale (esp. compared to the massive NT for E/W/NI) but significant and sometimes influential body, with some notable people having been involved, and also some occasional (if often "manufactured") controversy, this needs a better article, including:
 * images of a range of the properties in its care
 * an actual history section, with details of some key projects beyond the Blue Flags and Green Schools (and a little more on those)
 * a notable people section
 * more on policies and positions, and achievements based on these
 * discussion of attacks on its work
 * more on the local associations, some of which have done substantial work
 * a little more on the organisation and finances

An Taisce succeeded the old all-Ireland National Trust Committee, which might warrant an article too, and no doubt other spin-off potentials also exist.

SeoR (talk) 14:02, 13 June 2023 (UTC)


 * What you really need is a Controversies section but do it carefully and with balance, please, as many of the so-called controversies were based on lies or self-interest. People have come to see that this outfit were right on most issues, and many of the attacks on it are from opportunistic politicians or greedy developers. There have been internal splits - it's an Irish organisation - but they've been more about radical -v- polite action, or in the latter years, whether it remains volunteer-led -v- creeping "charity-professionalisation", a disease affecting many Irish associations (the Irish Georgian Society was taken over by a few key people some years ago, and the members no longer have any say about anything, for example). 2001:BB6:4A07:C400:918C:736C:5A5:A2C7 (talk) 09:54, 19 June 2023 (UTC)


 * Thanks, will keep that in mind. One attack, that by Kevin Boland, is already noted. I would not go as far as to say "People have come to see that this outfit were right on most issues" too broadly, and we are encyclopedists and can only work from sources, but the point about the need for nuance and context is noted. SeoR (talk) 23:50, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

When founded?
Was it 1946, as I learnerned in school, or 1948, with this year being 75th anniversary? Good work those people do, true idealists, maybe you could list more of the buildings and beauty spots they’ve saved? 94.119.3.48 (talk) 09:48, 15 June 2023 (UTC)
 * A good question - it was both. As I see another editor has already added into the article, a launch meeting and provisional structure date back to 1946, and from then to 1948 it was an unincorporated association (as are most clubs and societies other than professional and learned ones in Ireland still today). Why incorporation took so long I do not know, no one I met when I was a member back around 2000 seemed to remember. Anyway, the main work began after the company limited by guarantee was authorised in 1948. An Taisce wanted legislation for a true national trust setup, but it never happened, and although the Heritage Trust was eventually formed, much later, that is not a full NT setup either (but it should be cross-referenced in this article). SeoR (talk) 21:38, 17 June 2023 (UTC)

Project organisation with a conservation charity and planning tail?
An Taisce has changed, and now >70% of its staffing and funding is about programmes on behalf of various other bodies. It's all good work, for schools, cycling, beaches and more, but the planning and advocacy is now a minority aspect, and you should at least give this some airing.51.171.243.62 (talk) 20:08, 20 June 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the comment. This can be addressed in some way; the purposes of the charity are what they are, but it is true that the project focus has changed, and the balance of paid staffing (not allowing for part-time vs full-time) seems to be 90% projects, 5% advocacy and planning (+ much work by members / volunteers) and 5% management and admin. (incl. 3 out of 4 seniors) - but the paid point is material, as much of advocacy, and almost all work with heritage properties, is "delivered" by members and volunteers, as is the vast majority of effort in big national programmes such as the Spring Clean. I will study what sources say and see how this can be taken into account. SeoR (talk) 22:19, 20 June 2023 (UTC)