Government accused over
heritage list
By - Ed Carty
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has been criticised by
conservationists for a shortlist of seven renowned sites
put forward for world heritage status.
Campaigners from Save Newgrange and TaraWatch accused the
Green leader of failing to protect Newgrange, which
already has the Unesco title, and one of the latest
nominees, Tara, the seat of the High Kings of
Ireland.
The controversial M3 is passing within a mile of the
hill, while other plans have been drawn up for the N2
Slane bypass only 500m from the Newgrange-Brú na
Bóinne complex.
Vincent Salafia said the groups would protest at a Unesco
meeting in Brazil this summer over Ireland's treatment of
heritage sites.
"We support the nomination of the Hill of Tara as a world
heritage site, but only on condition that measures are
taken to mitigate the damage caused by the M3", he said.
Mr. Salafia berated the plans for the Slane bypass, which
is "in direct contravention of Unesco's
instructions".
The campaigners will demand an amendment to the National
Monuments Act, since it does not give adequate
protection, he added.
The "tentative list" includes Georgian Dublin; Stone Age
settlements on the Céide Fields in Mayo; the
Burren, Co. Clare; the monastic city of Clonmacnoise:
stone forts including Dún Aonghusa in Aran;
monastic sites Durrow, Kells, Glendalough, and
Monasterboice: and royal sites such as Tara and
Cashel.
Ireland already has three Unesco sites - the Giant's
Causeway in Co. Antrim; the Brú na
Bóinne-Newgrange complex, and Skellig Michael off
the coast of Co. Kerry.
© Metro-Herald, 15th. April 2010.
Related Articles:
Magnificent seven battle for world heritage
honour.
Minister Gormley announces Ireland's new World Heritage
Tentative List.
Minister Gormley publishes Ireland's draft World Heritage
Tentative List.
Draft Tentative List 2009 - Short
Description of Properties (pdf, 3,301kb).
Outgoing
MEP questions delay of proposed sites - for Ireland's
UNESCO Tentative List.
Tara Landscape for UNESCO Tentative list.
Ireland's
World Heritage - Review of Tentative List.
