The Irish tradition of dry stone construction has been recognized by UNESCO, acknowledging its cultural importance, prehistoric roots and role in shaping the landscape, as well as the ongoing community efforts to preserve this environmentally sustainable practice.
The practice of dry stone construction in Ireland has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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Dry stone wall construction involves the skilful stacking of stones without the use of binding materials such as mortar or cement. Typically, the stones are gathered from the fields, helping to clear the land for cultivation. Minimal cutting is required, as the stones are carefully wedged together to form walls that are not only durable but also flexible and resilient, all while remaining in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape. This technique demands a deep understanding of geometry and gravity. The process generates little waste, as the stones can be reused repeatedly, making it a model of sustainability.
Dry stone walls are an enduring feature of the Irish landscape, particularly in the west and in coastal areas. In Ireland, the practice of dry stone construction dates back to the Neolithic period, but it reached its peak in the late 18th and 19th centuries when land was being enclosed on a vast scale. These walls served primarily to delineate property boundaries and to keep animals in or out.
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The many dry stone field enclosures on the Aran Islands also play a crucial role in protecting the land from wind erosion. The visible gaps between the stones in these walls allow wind to pass through while reducing its speed.
Along with field and property enclosures, other dry stone structures found in Ireland include beehive huts, tombs, forts, holy wells, penitential stations and various other buildings and monuments. In fact, Ireland’s two UNESCO world heritage sites – the Brú na Bóinne prehistoric complex in Co. Meath and the early monastic site of Sceilg Mhichíl in Co. Kerry – both feature monuments of dry stone construction.
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The practice of dry stone construction has survived mainly in rural Ireland, among farming communities. An inherently social tradition, relatives and neighbours still come together to build, restore and maintain dry stone walls. The custodians of this technique also pass it on to future generations through more formally organized community events, workshops and apprenticeships. The UNESCO inscription of this practice in Ireland is sure to generate renewed interest in learning this skill.
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On 5 December, at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asunción, Paraguay, the addition of Ireland, along with Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, to the existing UNESCO listing for the “Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques” was officially announced. They now join eight other countries – Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland – where UNESCO has already recognized dry stone wall construction practices.
Ken Curran of the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland welcomed the designation:
“Inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is wonderful news for all of the communities involved in the safeguarding of the practice here. The communities in Ireland join an ever-increasing international community of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Resultant connections are being formed, knowledge-sharing is taking place, the safeguarding of the practice is being strengthened and the wonderful culture of dry stone construction is being celebrated more and more.”
According to UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage can be defined as
“the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.”
UNESCO established its Representative Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008 when the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect. Dry stone construction is Ireland’s fifth intangible cultural practice to be added to this list, joining uilleann piping (inscribed 2017), hurling (inscribed 2018), Irish harping (inscribed 2019) and falconry (inscribed 2021).
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