Descriptions of Received Tentative List Applications 2021

1. The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands, County Clare

The Burren Uplands is a karst landscape bordered by Galway Bay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Low Burren to the east and south. It is a vibrant living landscape, which displays outstanding cultural and natural heritage characteristics. The area is internationally important for ecology, botany, geology, speleology, archaeology and agriculture.

Land use traditions, unchanged in millennia, are still practiced today. The Burren is evidence of an ancient agricultural and a pastoral farming economy. Early field systems and habitation sites among other field monuments, are uncommonly well preserved as a palimpsest on the landscape’s surface. The distinctive karst terrain is host to a mosaic of significant habitats which have been formed and sustained through human interaction and farming practices.

2. Iniscealtra (Inis Cealtra / Inishcaltra / Holy Island), County Clare

Iniscealtra is strategically located on an island in Lough Derg in the River Shannon. Founded c.500 AD, historical records and excavation indicate a monastic community flourished here. From c.1000–c.1200 AD Iniscealtra assumed its distinctive architectural character, when its patrons, Brian Boru’s dynasty, funded the building of a civitas or heavenly Jerusalem, producing four churches, a round tower, two high crosses, and c.110 grave-slabs, many still in their original positions in the Saints’ Graveyard.

The island was distinctive in sustaining a large, diverse population at a time when Ireland lacked urban centres. The various enclosures with their churches not only supported a single-sex monastic element, but also other clergy, and sub-communities of all ages and genders such as labourers and craftworkers. Iniscealtra remained venerated and an important pilgrimage in the later/post-medieval period.

3. Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia, County Kerry-Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia-Heart’s Content comprises the shore-end termini of the world’s first permanent trans-oceanic submarine electric telegraph: Eastern Terminus, Valentia Island, County Kerry (Ireland, one component part) and Western Terminus, Heart’s Content, Newfoundland (Canada, two component parts)*. Both ends of this pioneer cable route are represented by corresponding well-preserved historic Cable Stations together with supporting sites.

Valentia and Heart’s Content represent the cradle of our global telecommunications era. For one hundred years, the cable stations at two remote locations connected Europe and North America via the first commercially viable 3,492-kilometre transatlantic submarine cable of 1865-66. The first transatlantic telegraphic message of 1858 sent from Valentia represents a turning point in world history while the permanent Valentia-Heart’s Content connection from July 1866 revolutionised global communications. Prior to 1870 the fastest transatlantic communication by steamship took 9 days (one way).

*the Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble application envisages the inclusion of the Western Terminus, Heart’s Content, Newfoundland as part of a transnational nomination.

4. Royal Sites of Ireland, Counties Kildare, Westmeath, Tipperary, Roscommon and Meath

The six Royal Sites comprise 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 Ulster (Navan Fort/ Eamhain Macha)*, Munster (Rock of Cashel/Caiseal), Leinster (Knockaulin/ Dún Ailinne) and Connaught (Rathcroghan/ Ráth Cruachan), while Tara (Teamhair) was the seat of the High Kings of lreland and the Hill of Uisneach the centre or omphalos where the five kingdoms met.

All were sited on the top of hills or plateaux so that they could be seen from far away and had panoramic views of the surrounding areas. All are part of larger cultural landscapes which were focused on them. Surviving archaeology and excavated evidence of buildings and other structures show that the sites were used extensively for ceremonial, religious and funerary purposes. At some of them, such activity started in the Neolithic and all, except Cashel, were very active in the Iron Age, with massive ceremonial complexes. Uniquely Cashel continued into the medieval period.

*the Royal Sites of Ireland application envisages the inclusion of Navan Fort (Eamhain Macha), County Armagh as part of a transnational nomination of the Royal Sites of Ireland.

 

5. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo

County Sligo possesses one hundred intensely interconnected megalithic passage tomb sites and undisturbed cairns in often dramatic topographical environments. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo consists of two dense concentrations of monuments, some 23km apart.

The northern concentration – anchored by the Carrowmore complex – is in the coastal region of the Cúil Iorra peninsula; the southern concentration is centred on the Carrowkeel complex in the Bricklieve Mountains. These two concentrations are geographically connected by the Unshin River but also by an intimate and dynamic interaction between landscape, ritual, and ancestral connections. The passage tomb tradition of County Sligo is characterised by an intense dialogue between monuments and landscape, but also by construction, distribution patterns and longevity of use.

 

 

6. Glendalough Valley, County Wicklow

The Glendalough site consists of a complex of Early Christian ecclesiastical sites associated with St. Kevin spread out over the valley of Glendalough. They can be grouped into three main complexes, namely the Upper Lake, the monastery and the satellite churches.

The main features near the Upper Lake include St Kevin’s Cave, Templenaskellig, Reefert Church, a stone fort and a series of stone crosses. The main monastery is situated near the entrance to the lower valley of Glendalough. Here can be found the gate house to the monastery, the Cathedral, St Kevin’s Church, St Ciaran’s Church, the Priest’s House, the round tower and St Kevin’s Cross, as well as the Deer Stone and the Market Cross. In the vicinity of the main monastery are three satellite churches; St Mary’s Church, Trinity Church and St Saviour’s Church.