A LIST OF seven new sites has been put together by the government for potential world heritage status.

Currently, Ireland has two other UNESCO World Heritage sites, Brú na Bóinne, the Megalithic site in Co Meath, and Sceilig Mhichíli, an island located off of the coast of Kerry.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, today announced that she would be providing a fund of €13,000 to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) for archaeological research.

This would take place on Ireland’s existing World Heritage sites and also on Ireland’s tentative entries for the World Heritage list.

“Special cultural significance” 

Speaking today, Minister Humphreys said, “UNESCO World Heritage Sites are deemed to have special cultural significance, and of course the UNESCO accreditation can greatly help to boost tourism.”

The new research grant will help in the management of the archaeology within the core areas of these internationally important sites and to maintain and, where possible, enhance their Outstanding Universal Value.

When the surveying work has been finished, a catalogue will be provided to the National Monuments Service in the Minister’s Department.

Sites that have made it onto the tentative list are:

• The Early Medieval monastic settlements, 
• The Burren in Co Clare, 
• The Céide Fields and North West Mayo Boglands, 
• The Historic City of Dublin,
• The Monastic City of Clonmacnoise and its Cultural Landscape, 
• The Royal Sites of Ireland which include: Cashel, Dún Ailinne, Hill of Uisneach, Rathcroghan Complex, and Tara Complex, and,
• Western Stone Forts.

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