The Director of Services, Ms. Majella Hunt presented a proposal to the elected members to support the inclusion of The Royal Sites of Ireland on the World Heritage Tentative List:

World Heritage Sites are:

·         Places of outstanding universal value to all humanity

·         Concept established in 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention and convention overseen by World Heritage Committee

·         Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government acts on behalf of Ireland

·         World Heritage properties- natural, cultural (incl. cultural landscapes) or mixed

·         Sites are nominated by National Government

·         Sites are chosen by UNESCO World Heritage Committee

·         Responsibility for management and protection is with the individual state party

·         The State has general responsibility for Heritage as well as specifically for world heritage under the convention

A world heritage site is defined by Outstanding Universal Value and a detailed case for a nominated site must be prepared for the Committee which shows:

‘has cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity and the permanent protection of its heritage is of the highest importance to the international community as a whole’.

World Heritage Sites Ireland – Bru na Boinne, Skellig Michael, Giants Causeway,

Sites have to be on the Tentative List to be nominated as WHS

The process is as follows:

·         The list is reviewed every 10 years

·         The Royal Sites of Ireland are on the current list which is up for review

·         Application to new list is closing in June

The Royal Sites of Ireland is a group of six unique collectives of largely prehistoric monuments and sites associated in early medieval and medieval texts as the principal ancient sites of royal inauguration in Ireland:

·         Spread throughout the island, four of the sites represent the ancient Kingdoms of Ireland and its current provinces of North (Emain Macha), South (Cashel), East (Dún Ailline) and West (Rathcroghan), while Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and Uisneach the centre or omphalos where the five kingdoms meet.

·         Each site is situated in a prominent or hilltop location with a commanding view of the surrounding area. The sites collectively illustrate significant stages in Irish pre history and medieval history stretching from the Neolithic period and Iron age into the early Christian period though history and archaeology but are also linked through a strong body of myth and legend in both written and oral traditions.

·         While each has an individual topography and its own sense of place and identity, they all contain similar types of earthwork monuments and elements which reflect their ritual/ceremonial use and association with kingship.

Next Steps:

·         Compile and submit application to Department by June 2021 deadline. As a serial site the application reflects the sites as a collective. Navan Fort is included but will be the subject of an application to the UK government.

·         To facilitate the submission of a serial site a website has been set up as a tool to engage and inform all stakeholders and communities throughout the process.

·         Preliminary consultation is underway for the month of May through the website with a survey: https://www.royalsites.ie

The Director recommended that Roscommon County Council support moving to the first stage of the process – to reapply to be included on the tentative list.

The Members welcomed the presentation:

·         Thanks to the landowners who promote, protect and facilitate access to Rathcroghan site

·         The standing stones in Rathcroghan are of great significance and the site has to be developed

·         Getting on the tentative list will put County Roscommon on the map for heritage

·         Well done to the volunteers and staff who have maintained Rathcroghan

·         There should be a strong case for inclusion of the Royal sites on the list.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Callaghan

SECONDED by Cllr Byrne

It was AGREED to proceed to the next stage of the process to have the Royal Sites of Ireland including Rathcroghan, included on the tentative list for UNESCO status as a World Heritage Site.