Public Consultation Launches On Ireland's World Heritage Strategy

The Government has launched a public consultation on the first World Heritage Strategy for Ireland.

The '2024-2034 Strategy for World Heritage in Ireland' will set out a vision for the preservation and management of World Heritage sites in Ireland, aligning closely with the principles of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

In 1991, Ireland ratified the World Heritage Convention, committing to protecting our invaluable cultural and natural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations. The National Monuments Service (NMS), situated within the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, serves as the Government's primary contact for interactions with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It also leads the execution of the World Heritage Convention in Ireland.


The Strategy lays out seven goals for the next decade, emphasising the role of local communities and stakeholders in World Heritage processes, management, conservation, protection, presentation, and interpretation. The National Monuments Service (NMS), situated within the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, serves as the Government's primary contact for interactions with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It also spearheads the execution of the World Heritage Convention in Ireland.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said: "This public consultation offers a valuable opportunity for people to have their say on the future of World Heritage here in Ireland. Despite being a small island nation, we have two recognised UNESCO World Heritage Properties and a further three sites on our Tentative List. These iconic sites are of huge cultural and historical significance and form a defining part of our visual and cultural identity, both at home and abroad. We have a responsibility to care for and nurture this rich cultural and natural heritage so that future generations may enjoy it and this consultation will allow the public to have their say on how we go about this."

The closing date for the public consultation is 10 April 2024.