The National Monuments Service has published ‘A Guide to World Heritage Nomination’ to assist local authorities that are working to progress the nomination of sites on Ireland’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, which includes the Passage Tomb Landscape of Sligo, the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble in Kerry and the Royal Sites of Ireland.

The publication is the first in a new World Heritage Advice Series to assist members of the public and key stakeholders in understanding the various World Heritage processes and requirements within an Irish context.

The guide has been developed with international best practice in mind, with the assistance of world heritage experts and the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Future guidance will be prepared on the Tentative List process and on effective management of world heritage properties.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said that the publication of this new guide on the World Heritage nomination process is great news for those working in the heritage sector.

“To be recognised by UNESCO is a huge honour. It is an intricate process to earn a place on this prestigious list and this new guide will offer an invaluable resource for those progressing the nomination of the three Irish sites currently on the Tentative List and for those with future aspirations for World Heritage status.”

The National Monuments Service, based in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will host a series of workshops throughout 2024 that will focus on the nomination process and the importance of capacity building at local level regarding world heritage. It is anticipated that ten-year ‘Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland’ will also be published in 2024.

For further information visit www.worldheritageireland.ie/