UNESCO CONSULTATION
The public consultation for the Hill of Tara World Heritage Site has reopened. The new deadline is 23 December 2009, for submissions.
INSTRUCTIONS ON MAKING A SUBMISSION
Welcome to the information website for the Hill of Tara complex UNESCO World Heritage Site public consultation process. The Department of the Environment is currently holding a public consultation on a review of Ireland’s Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while the Department of Transport is building the M3 motorway through the middle of the cultural landscape containing the Hill of Tara. This site is hosted by Tarawatch, who are campaigning for full preservation of the Hill of Tara, Ireland’s ancient capital and the re-routing of the M3 motorway. The purpose of this site is to ensure that all stakeholders get an opportunity to participate in the public consultation. The Minister for the Environment has appointed an Expert Advisory Panel, to conduct the review of the Tentative List, and it is Chaired by Lord Hankey, President of ICOMOS, UK. Email the Panel: worldheritagetentativelist@environ.ie
TARAWATCH NOMINATION OF THE HILL OF TARA
TaraWatch successfully nominated the Hill of Tara to the World Monuments Fund (WMF), List of 100 Most Endangered Sites 2008-9 and Tara was also featured in the March 2009 issue of Smithsonian Magazine, as one of 10 must-see endangered cultural sites before they disappear. An nomination has also been made to the 2010 WMF list.
TaraWatch submitted a UNESCO nomination form to the Expert Advisory Panel for the Hill of Tara to be a World Heritage Site, but only on condition that the M3 motorway is re-routed away from the site. There is no doubt that Tara has always been a site of outstanding universal value, and little doubt it will be placed on the Tentative List. The only question is whether UNESCO approves the site, with the M3 passing through the cultural landscape and archaeological complex, which is approximately 5 km wide.
‘ROYAL IRISH SITES’ NOMINATION
The Department of the Environment is proposing to submit a ’serial nomination’ to UNESCO entitled ‘Royal irish Sites’, which includes:
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The Tara complex, (seat of the Kings of Meath and High Kings)
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Cashel (seat of the Munster Kings)
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Dun Ailinne and the Hill of Uisneach, (seats of the Leinster Kings)
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Rathcroghan Complex (seat of the Kings of Connaught)
TaraWatch is urging the Department of the Environment to partner with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and submit a Transboundary Nomination for all ‘Royal Irish Sites’, rather than just those sites in the South, currently being proposed. It appears that Eamhain Macha (Navan Fort), seat of the Ulster Kings, may be left out of the proposed ‘Royal Irish Sites’ grouping, because it is outside the jurisdiction. Eamhain Mach is an integral part of the provincial royal landscape. It is established UNESCO policy that Transboundary nominations are preferred by the World Heritage Committee.
