THE IRISH government is set to put forward up to eight sites around the country for UNESCO World Heritage Status.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places that are listed as having special cultural or physical significance, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Currently, Ireland has two sites listed under the UNESCO umbrella. These are Bru Na Boinne in County Meath and Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry.
Bru na Boinne, County Meath. (Picture: Getty)Bru Na Boinne, located on a bend on the River Boyne is Europe's largest and most important concentration of prehistoric megalithic art, while Skellig Michael is a monastic complex, perched since about the 7th century on the steep sides of the rocky island of Sceilg Mhichíl, some 12 km off the coast of south-west Ireland. The island illustrates the very spartan existence of the first Irish Christians. Since the extreme remoteness of Sceilg Mhichíl has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved.
Skellig Michael, Kerry. (Picture: Getty)Ireland's most recent bid for UNESCO World Heritage Status centres around the small island of Valentia in Co. Kerry.
Valentia played an important part in connecting Canada to Europe in the 19th century when in 1866 a transatlantic cable link was laid - after multiple failed attempts - between the Heart’s Content in Newfoundland and Valentia Island.
At the time this was a technological revolution: where once it had taken two weeks (weather depending) for a message to be sent from North America to Europe, now it would only take two minutes.
More recently, the Canadian government backed the Valentia bid, which if successful would be Ireland’s first and only transnational site, and the first and only industrial heritage site for Ireland to be granted UNESCO World Heritage Status.
Among the others proposed for the next committee on World Heritage sites in 2020 are the following:
- The Burren
The Burren, Co. Clare. (Picture: Getty)- The Historic City of Dublin
O' Connell's Bridge, Dublin. (Picture: Getty)- The Céide Fields and North West Mayo Boglands
Freshly cut bog, Ceide Fields, Co. Mayo. (Picture: Getty)- Western Stone Forts
Dunbeg stone fort, Co. Kerry. (Picture: Getty)- The Monastic City of Clonmacnoise and its Cultural Landscape
Clonmacnoise, County Offaly. (Picture: Getty)- Early Medieval Monastic Sites
Timoleague Friary, County Cork. (Picture: Getty)- The Royal Sites of Ireland: Cashel, Dún Ailinne, Hill of Uisneach, Rathcroghan Complex, and Tara Complex
Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary. (Picture: Getty)