The ILI was formed in 1992 from an amalgamation of the Irish Chapter of the Institute of Landscape Architects and the Institute of Landscape Horticulture of Ireland. This, in effect, joined private practice and public sector members, enabling them to further develop the landscape profession in Ireland.
Since 1992, the Institute has expanded to its current membership of over 250 full members, graduates, affiliate and student members, mirroring the rise in profile and strength of the landscape architecture profession in Ireland.
Conferences have been held regularly since the early 1990’s which stimulated debate about the profession’s position and facilitated the ongoing growth of member’s expertise. The Biennial awards ceremony highlights and rewards the achievements of the Institute’s members. The Institute has also made submissions on a number of national policy documents, facilitated the Continuing Professional Development of its members and hosted regular social events.
1992 - 2022 | The Irish Landscape Institute celebrates 30 years
1966 - 1992 | Establishment of the Irish Landscape Institute
Up until 1992 landscape architecture as a profession was an All-Ireland professional body. Started in 1966 in Craigavon New Town-see below.
1966 - Society of Landscape Architects in Ireland LAI Jim Fehily, Philip Shipman, Bill Cairns, Robert Carson
1975 - The All-Ireland LAI becomes a branch of the UK Institute of Landscape Architects (ILA)
1982 - ILA becomes the Landscape Institute LI UK when it changed name and incorporated: landscape scientists, and landscape managers with landscape designers[architects]
1983 – A new professional body – the Institute of Landscape Horticulture of Ireland (ILHI) is formed with membership largely drawn from the public sector in the Republic of Ireland (local authorities, states agencies, state bodies e.g. OPW)
1986/87 – Republic of Ireland landscape architects break from UK LI to form the Irish Institute of Landscape Architects (IILA)
1992 – IILA and ILHI joined forces and merge to form a new professional body – the Irish Landscape Institute (ILI), registered as a limited company, with Articles and Memorandum of Association, signed by 7 members [Terry Murray, Philip Shipman, Gerard Barry, Anthony O'Neill, William J. Kearney, Conor Skehan, John McCullen]. 4 Trustees were also appointed to oversee and manage the governance of the new institute.
1992 - Initially, ILI had a modest number of members which comprised of 5 categories - Student, Graduate, Corporate, Fellows and Honorary members.
1992 - Founding the ILI paved the way for the creation of the first ever undergraduate degree course in Landscape Architecture on the island. A masters course in Landscape Architecture had been in existence within the Faculty of Agriculture at University College Dublin (UCD) since the late 1980's. With the ILI in place, this enabled UCD to apply for accreditation of the new course.
1996, supported by the ILI - the European Foundation for Landscape Architecture (EFLA) visits UCD to recommend re-structuring of Landscape Horticulture course into an accredited Landscape Architecture programme.
2005 - the Landscape Architecture programmes move from the Faculty of Agriculture to the School of Architecture Landscape and Civil Engineering (ALCE) led by Head of Subject Karen Foley.
