Location of World Heritage Sites within Ireland
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.[2] Ireland ratified the convention on 16 September 1991.[3]
As of 2021[update], Ireland has two sites on the list, and a further seven on the tentative list.[3] The first site listed was Brú na Bóinne – Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne, in 1993. The second site, Skellig Michael, was listed in 1996. Both are cultural sites, as determined by the organisation's selection criteria. All tentative sites have been nominated in 2010.[3]
World Heritage Sites
UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.[4]
Tentative list
In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.[7] As of 2021[update], Ireland recorded seven sites on its tentative list. The sites, along with the year they were included on the tentative list are:[3]
References
- ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Ireland". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 September 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "Sceilg Mhichíl". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 24 September 2005. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ "The Burren". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "The Historic City of Dublin". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "The Céide Fields and North West Mayo Boglands". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Western Stone Forts". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "The Monastic City of Clonmacnoise and its Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Early Medieval Monastic Sites". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "The Royal Sites of Ireland: Cashel, Dún Ailinne, Hill of Uisneach, Rathcroghan Complex, and Tara Complex". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
