Dun Ailinne makes it onto new World Heritage application list

There has been a warm welcome for the news that the ancient ceremonial site of Dun Ailinne has been placed on the new World Heritage Tentative List for Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. 

The site, which has been the focus of archaeological investigation for a number of years and also back in the 1970s, is part of the Royal Sites of Ireland application which includes Hill of Uisneach, County Westmeath; Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary; Rathcroghan, County Roscommon; and Tara, County Meath. There is also a potential for a serial transboundary nomination to include Navan Fort, County Armagh. 

In an initial response today, Dr Susan Johnston of George Washington University, who is leading the summer archaeological investigations, described it as 'fantastic news'.

The news was announced today by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, and Minister of State with Responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD.

The new Tentative List replaces one which was prepared in 2010, and the other successful contenders are The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo and the Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia-Heart’s Content, County Kerry (a serial transnational nomination with Canada).

The Department will now, with the OPW, focus on supporting the three sets of sites on the new Tentative List to develop their nomination bids for submission to the World Heritage Centre in Paris. The County Kildare Heritage Office said this morning that it is 'great news, and they are looking forward to working with the Thompson family, who own the farm where Dun Ailinne is located, to progress the nomination.

Dun Ailinne is a privately owned site and situated in a working farm. Permission must be obtained from the landowner prior to accessing the site.

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