The Hill of Tara moves closer to UNESCO World Heritage status

Six ancient Irish sites including The Hill of Tara have been included on Ireland’s 'Tentative List' for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

The six sites on the list have been collectively named The Royal Sites of Ireland.

The Royal Sites of Ireland feature the Hill of Tara in Meath, Dún Ailinne in Kildare, Hill of Uisneach, in Westmeath, the Rock of Cashel, in Tipperary and Rathcroghan in Roscommon.

There's also potential for a trans-boundary nomination to include Navan Fort in County Armagh.

Ireland has just two inscribed Unesco World Heritage sites, Skellig Michael off the coast of Co Kerry and Brú na Bóinne in Meath.

Nominees must be on the Tentative List for at least a year before being considered by UNESCO officials in Paris.

On the composition of the new Tentative List, The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD said:

“I pay tribute to all applicants and to our own National Monuments Service and the experts who have assisted us over the last year. This has been an exhaustive process over many months of evaluation that UNESCO ambition demands. I commend all applicants for that ambition. To the three applicants, which have met the necessary criteria, know 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.”

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD said:

“We are very grateful to the panels who have guided us so expertly and thoroughly through this exhaustive process. The result of that painstaking evaluation is a credible and history-making series of sites with World Heritage ambition."

On the composition of the new Tentative List, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan TD said:

“Ireland’s two existing World Heritage Properties managed by the OPW, Brú na Bóinne and Sceilg Mhichíl hold pride of place in Ireland’s heritage estate. I congratulate those who today are starting on the challenging journey to World Heritage nomination. We in OPW who care for many of the component elements of these applications, will work alongside you and the Department throughout, to bring our expertise to the nomination process and the future management of what we hope will be additional World Heritage Properties in the years to come.”