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CULTURAL SITES IN seven counties around Ireland intend to seek Unesco World Heritage status, a major accolade to recognise outstanding global value.
Ireland’s ‘tentative list’ of sites that could apply for nomination has been updated for the first time since 2010, adding several new hopefuls.
The prospective applicants are:
The passage tomb landscape of Co Sligo features stone monuments like upland cairns and megalithic tombs.
The Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia-Heart’s Content, paired with a site in Canada, comprises two cable stations of the world’s first permanent trans-oceanic submarine electric telegraph.
And the Royal Sites of Ireland includes sites like forts and hills across several counties: Dún Ailinne, Co Kildare; Hill of Uisneach, Co Westmeath; Rock of Cashel, Co Tipperary; Rathcroghan, Co Roscommon; and Tara, Co Meath.
However, three other sites that applied were not admitted to the list: Glendalough Valley in Co Wicklow and the Burren Uplands and Iniscealtra, both in Co Clare.
The tentative list includes natural and cultural heritage locations that could potentially be nominated as a World Heritage site.
A site must be on the list for at least one year before it can begin the nomination process, which does not necessarily result in World Heritage status.
The World Heritage Committee must determine that the spot is of ‘outstanding universal value’ for humanity.
The Department of Heritage invited local authorities to apply for the list for sites in their jurisdiction.
Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan described the list as a “credible and history-making series of sites with World Heritage ambition”.
“We will work with the applicants in years ahead in building the necessary nomination documentation and establishing the management structures to ensure they can take their place in the pantheon of globally important World Heritage Properties,” Noonan said.
Currently, two famous Irish spots managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) hold World Heritage status – Sceilg Mhichíl in Co Kerry and Brú na Bóinne in Co Meath.
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Genuine comment, ireland should have UNESCO staus as in the island, wether its arts, music, leaders, humanatrain,, landscape, etc etc ireland is above and beyond any country. The irish effect on humanity is in meausreable…
@David Dineen: this smacks of us enjoying the smell of our own farts too much. Every country has all of these things. We’re not better culturally than anywhere else.
@David Dineen: and sure you wouldn’t be biased at all there, Daithí
@David Dineen: Sure aren’t we a great bunch a lads.
@Maximus_Demonus: sure aren’t we a great bunch of lasses.
So the Burren and Glendalough didnt fit the bill yet somewhere nobody ever heard of in Sligo does.. Makes sense
@Gerard Corr: I take it you live in the east of the country. Carrowkeel has 14 megalithic tombs dating between 5-6,000 years old, similar to the age of the Newgrange site etc. Another similarity is that one of the main passage tombs is illuminated by the rising sun on Samhain (Halloween) as Newgrange is on the winter solstice. Its a really impressive place, you should take a trip there to get a feel for why it’s regarded as such an important site.
@Gerard Corr: You mean somewhere you never heard of.
@Gerard Corr: cringe
@Derek Lyster: Not a bit , its on no ones bucket list
The Rock of Cashel will probably be first choice. The Carrokeel collection of megalithic tombs in County Sligo has amazed archaeologists internationally and might come second. After that it’s “Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán fein” and Ballyslattery will compete for more attention than Drumslobbery.
The Hill of Uisneach and the cable station are not worthy of “global heritage” consideration. Too banal.
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