The World Heritage Nomination Journey: Challenges and Successes International Seminar

The World Heritage Nomination Journey: Challenges and Successes International Seminar

In collaboration with the UCD Programme on World Heritage Management and Conservation, the National Monuments Service coordinated the delivery of an international seminar titled: The World Heritage Nomination Journey: Challenges and Successes. The seminar, which took place last week in Tom Johnson House, Beggars Bush, Dublin, was developed in the context of the World Heritage Capacity Building Programme for Ireland to support the implementation of The Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland 2025–2035.

The seminar examined key challenges associated with the World Heritage nomination process. This capacity building event was aimed at a broad audience of interested parties and stakeholders who had the opportunity to discuss key topics directly with the experts. Registered participants included representatives from national heritage institutions, heritage professionals associated with ICOMOS Ireland, local authorities (heritage officers and planners), stakeholders connected with World Heritage properties, including Brú na Bóinne – Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne, Sceilg Mhichíl, and the sites on Ireland’s Tentative List (The Royal Sites of Ireland; The Transatlantic Cable Ensemble; The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo and the Historic Astronomical Observatories of Ireland). Master’s and doctoral researchers from UCD also attended. In total, 69 participants took part in the seminar.

The programme featured case-study presentations and first-hand testimonies from six international practitioners from across Europe who have successfully navigated the nomination process and faced complex management challenges, providing valuable learning opportunities for attendees. These practitioners included representatives from the National Institute of Heritage in Romania, Historic England, and Gwynedd County Council, Wales. The afternoon session included round-table discussions, with positive feedback from participants and strong interest expressed in further targeted capacity-building workshops.

Group Picture: Back row from left to right –

• Claire Cave – Director UCD World Heritage Programme,
• Thomas Agar – Interim Programme Manager for the Orkney World Heritage Programme
• Chiara Ronchini –Secretary General, The Great Spa Towns of Europe,
• Michael MacDonagh – Chief Archaeologist National Monuments Service

Front row from left to right –

• Raluca Grama – Head of the World Heritage Unit in Romania,
• Leticia Leitao – Independent Consultant on cultural and natural heritage,
• Jane Jackson – Former World Heritage Co-Ordinator and Assistant Director for Edinburgh World Heritage,
• Patrizia LaPiscopia – World Heritage Unit , Archaeologist NMS,
• Hannah Joyce – Regeneration Programme Manager within the Economy and Community Department of Cyngor Gwynedd in Northwest Wales