Three groups of sites have been included in the new World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland announced today by ministers for heritage.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State with Responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform have announced a new World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland. This new list comprises three sets of sites: the passage tombs of Co. Sligo, the royal sites of Ireland and Valentia Island’s transatlantic cable project.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The tentative list is an inventory of natural and/or cultural heritage sites that have the potential to demonstrate “Outstanding Universal Value” (OUV) for all humanity and would therefore be considered suitable for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Only sites that have been on the tentative list for over a year can make a bid for full inscription.
Ireland is underrepresented on the World Heritage list. There are currently only two properties in Ireland boasting World Heritage status: Sceilg Mhichíl, Co. Kerry, which was inscribed in 1996 and Brú na Bóinne, which was inscribed in 1993 and includes the passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, in Co. Meath.
Valentia–Heart’s Content transatlantic cable ensemble
In the mid-19th century, Valentia Island in Co. Kerry played a key role in revolutionizing global communications. In 1866 Valentia’s cable station became the eastern terminus of the world’s first permanent trans-oceanic submarine electric telegraph, while Heart’s Content cable station on the island of Newfoundland, off the east coast of Canada, operated as the western terminus. For a century, these cable stations connected Europe and North America via a 3,492km transatlantic submarine cable.
When the time comes to apply for full World Heritage status, it is envisaged that the cable station on Valentia will be part of a transnational nomination with the cable station in Canada, which is currently being added to their tentative list.
The royal sites of Ireland
The royal sites included in this grouping are Tara (Meath), Hill of Uisneach (Westmeath), Rathcroghan (Roscommon), Dún Ailinne (Kildare) and Rock of Cashel (Tipperary). It is envisaged that Navan Fort (Armagh) will also be included as part of a transboundary nomination for World Heritage inscription. These six prehistoric and early medieval sites represent the principal places of royal inauguration in ancient Ireland.
Sligo’s passage tombs
The Sligo entry represents two dense concentrations of passage tombs, one in the north of the county centred around the Carrowmore complex and the other to the south concentrated around the Carrowkeel complex.
The tentative list process
UNESCO advises that the World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed at least every decade. Ireland’s last tentative list was drawn up in 2010. In 2019, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage requested applications from local authorities to create a new tentative list for Ireland to replace the 2010 list. Six valid applications were received by the June 2021 deadline.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
As well as the three successful applications mentioned above, Wicklow County Council put forward Glendalough monastic complex, while Clare County Council submitted two applications: one for the monastic complex on Iniscealtra on Lough Derg and the other for the cultural landscape of the Burren Uplands.
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For the past year, all six applicants have been engaged in an exhaustive evaluation process with a World Heritage expert advisory group (EAG), along with representatives from ICOMOS Ireland, the National Monuments Service and the Department of Heritage. Feedback and technical advice were issued by the EAG and other experts, and some of the applicants undertook further work to iron out issues.
The Burren, one of the currently unsuccessful applications, is internationally important for its ecology, botany, geology, speleology, archaeology and agriculture. Methods for land management in the area remain unchanged for millennia. While the Burren was not successful this time around, the department’s press statement explains that it is committed to supporting this application in the future and looks forward to receiving a revised application in 2024.
Both Glendalough and Iniscealtra were on the 2010 tentative list as part of a serial nomination for early medieval monastic sites, which also included Kells (Meath), Clonmacnoise and Durrow (both in Offaly). Wicklow County Council has currently paused its tentative list application until work on the Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains National Park masterplan is completed.
In relation to Iniscealtra, the department concluded that “notwithstanding its significant heritage value … Iniscealtra (Holy Island), Co. Clare has not sufficiently demonstrated potential OUV [Outstanding Universal Value]”. This pristine island has been uninhabited for centuries and is an unparalleled, authentic example of the uniquely Irish expression of medieval monasticism. Unfortunately, the department has not provided further details on why this application was rejected. The loss of Iniscealtra from the tentative list is a major blow to east Clare.
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What happens next?
The details of the three successful applications have now been sent to UNESCO headquarters in Paris where they will replace the existing 2010 tentative list. Once the sites have been on the tentative list for a year, work can commence on the application process for full World Heritage status.
To the three successful applicants, Minister O’Brien said:
“we will support you as best we can to match the local drive for full World Heritage nomination in the years ahead. It will be a challenging road, but one you have shown you are willing to travel and we will journey it with you.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The department has also committed to revising the tentative list more frequently to increase Ireland’s opportunities for World Heritage inscription.
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