UNESCO have added three iconic Irish sites to the Tentative List for World Heritage status. Sites must remain on the Tentative List for one year before receiving full World Heritage Site status.
Ireland is home to a wide range of fantastic historical sites and attractions. From medieval castles to ancient tombs, the Emerald Isle attracts thousands of tourists every year looking to discover its rich history.
Now, three Irish sites are one step closer to achieving World Heritage status after being added to the World Heritage Tentative List.
Find out below which three Irish locations could be given World Heritage Status if they meet all the conditions now that they’ve been added to the Tentative List.
What is the Tentative List? – what does it mean?
UNESCO designates World Heritage status to “a natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognised as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as deserving special protection.”
Famous World Heritage Sites include the Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China, and the Acropolis of Athens. Within Ireland, there are currently three World Heritage Sites. These include The Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Brú na Bóinne in County Meath, and Skellig Michael in County Kerry.
So, it is great news that three Irish sites are now one step closer to achieving World Heritage status. By giving these sites a place on the Tentative List, UNESCO recognises their potential for having Outstanding Universal Value.
However, it is a pre-condition to being granted full UNESCO World Heritage Site status that each site must remain on the Tentative List for at least one year.
Three Irish sites one step closer to World Heritage status – a long process
In January 2019, the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage applied to UNESCO for a new Tentative List for Ireland to replace the previous one made in 2010.
Upon the approval of this, the Department forwarded six applications ahead of the June 2021 deadline. Now, over a year later, UNESCO have approved three sites have for inclusion on the Tentative List for Ireland.
The sites included on the Tentative List for Ireland ‒ three incredible landmarks
After a long process, it is great news that three Irish sites are now one step closer to achieving World Heritage status.
The first is The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo. Made up of approximately major passage tombs, the landscape here is an important Neolithic site for Irish history.
The second inclusion is the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia-Heart’s Content in County Kerry. This received a serial transnational nomination with Canada. First used in 1866, the cable connected Valentia Island in Ireland with Heart’s Content in Newfoundland.
Third and finally, UNESCO also added the Royal Sites of Ireland to the Tentative List. This is a joint nomination of Dún Ailinne in County Kildare and the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath.
UNESCO also included Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, Rathcroghan in County Roscommon, and Tara in County Meath. They alsos suggested the potential for a serial transboundary nomination to include Navan Fort in County Armagh.
