Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland 2025-2035

The Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland 2025-2035 is Ireland’s first national strategy to support the implementation of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The Strategy will foster a more integrated, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approach to World Heritage protection and management both nationally and locally and it will enhance local stakeholder engagement, participation, and communication in the management of the existing and future World Heritage Properties and Tentative List sites.

Ireland ratified the Convention in 1991 and Ireland’s two World Heritage Properties were inscribed on to the World Heritage List in 1993 (Brú na Bóinne) and 1996 (Sceilg Mhichíl). The Convention is an international treaty between States Parties – and calls for State processes, initiatives, oversight and management of World Heritage backed by public and community support, engagement and participation. As a signatory to the Convention, Ireland is under an obligation to conserve, present and transmit to future generations the Outstanding Universal Values of its existing and future World Heritage Properties.

The strategic vision for fostering World Heritage in Ireland is the exemplary protection and management of World Heritage Properties, empowered local communities and stakeholders, enhanced awareness and understanding of World Heritage generally, and the inscription of further Irish properties on the World Heritage List.

The Strategy sets out seven goals to achieve over the next ten years:

1. Increase the number of Irish sites that are inscribed on the World Heritage List* and undertake a regular review of Ireland’s Tentative List.
2. Provide statutory and non-statutory guidance for developing and managing World Heritage in Ireland.
3. Enhance the capacity and capability of all stakeholders for protecting and managing World Heritage in Ireland.
4. Support the proper protection, conservation, management, interpretation, and presentation of Ireland’s World Heritage Properties and Tentative List sites.
5. Integrate World Heritage into the wider framework of sustainable development to demonstrate and promote the benefits of heritage management in Ireland.
6. Contribute to World Heritage initiatives, including research and international collaboration.
7. Communicate the values and benefits of World Heritage inscription effectively and widely.

*Subject to approval by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

The Implementation Plan within the Strategy sets out a series of strategic objectives and associated actions to be delivered under the seven goals. The successful implementation of the Strategy will require an all-of-Government approach and effective coordination with a range of partners, in Ireland, with UNESCO and other States Parties to the Convention.