• Aerial View of Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Aerial View of Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Dowth henge (large earthen enclosure) (abstract detailed photo)Dowth henge (large earthen enclosure) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth site M (5th - 10th century secular cemetery) (abstract detailed photo)Knowth site M (5th - 10th century secular cemetery) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)
  • River Boyne & small passage tomb (abstract detailed photo)River Boyne & small passage tomb (abstract detailed photo)
  • Night view of Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (abstract detailed photo)Night view of Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of Knowth showing the passage tomb & ringfort (abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of Knowth showing the passage tomb & ringfort (abstract detailed photo)
  • Ringfort at Knowth (abstract detailed photo)Ringfort at Knowth (abstract detailed photo)
  • Small passage tomb beside river Boyne (Newgrange in background) (abstract detailed photo)Small passage tomb beside river Boyne (Newgrange in background) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre Entrance (abstract detailed photo)Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre Entrance (abstract detailed photo)
  • Great circle at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Great circle at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Side view on Newgrange mound (abstract detailed photo)Side view on Newgrange mound (abstract detailed photo)
  • Close up aerial view of Newgrange mound (abstract detailed photo)Close up aerial view of Newgrange mound (abstract detailed photo)
  • Tri-spiral carving at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Tri-spiral carving at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Winter Solstice sun shining through roof box at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Corbelled roof (overlaping rings of stones) of the chamber (abstract detailed photo)Corbelled roof (overlaping rings of stones) of the chamber (abstract detailed photo)
  • View of Newgrange mound with a guided tour in progress (abstract detailed photo)View of Newgrange mound with a guided tour in progress (abstract detailed photo)
  • Right recess with basin stone at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)Right recess with basin stone at Newgrange (abstract detailed photo)
  • Newgrange entrance stone & roof box (abstract detailed photo)Newgrange entrance stone & roof box (abstract detailed photo)
  • Newgrange entrance stone & roof box (abstract detailed photo)Newgrange entrance stone & roof box (abstract detailed photo)
  • Lozenge motif on Knowth orthostat (abstract detailed photo)Lozenge motif on Knowth orthostat (abstract detailed photo)
  • Decorated orthostat in eastern chamber at Knowth (abstract detailed photo)Decorated orthostat in eastern chamber at Knowth (abstract detailed photo)
  • Eastern view of Knowth mound with reconstructed timber circle (abstract detailed photo)Eastern view of Knowth mound with reconstructed timber circle (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth passage tombs in background with Norman corn drying (abstract detailed photo)Knowth passage tombs in background with Norman corn drying (abstract detailed photo)
  • Decorated basin stone in recess on the right of Knowth's east (abstract detailed photo)Decorated basin stone in recess on the right of Knowth's east (abstract detailed photo)
  • Right recess in eastern chamber of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)Right recess in eastern chamber of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth kerbstone 5 (spiral in centre with crescents on both) (abstract detailed photo)Knowth kerbstone 5 (spiral in centre with crescents on both) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Decorated basin stone in recess on the right of Knowth's east (abstract detailed photo)Decorated basin stone in recess on the right of Knowth's east (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth kerbstone 86 (two crescent shapes on the base of stone) (abstract detailed photo)Knowth kerbstone 86 (two crescent shapes on the base of stone) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth kerbstone 84 (multiple concentric circles) (abstract detailed photo)Knowth kerbstone 84 (multiple concentric circles) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Knowth kerbstone (sundial like carving) (abstract detailed photo)Knowth kerbstone (sundial like carving) (abstract detailed photo)
  • Three smaller mounds in front of main mound of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)Three smaller mounds in front of main mound of Knowth (abstract detailed photo)
  • Western passage at Knowth with decorated orthostat on left (abstract detailed photo)Western passage at Knowth with decorated orthostat on left (abstract detailed photo)
  • Side chamber in Dowth South (abstract detailed photo)Side chamber in Dowth South (abstract detailed photo)
  • Raised sun symbol craving in Dowth South side chamber (abstract detailed photo)Raised sun symbol craving in Dowth South side chamber (abstract detailed photo)
  • Dowth kebstone 51 (Stone of the 7 suns) (abstract detailed photo)Dowth kebstone 51 (Stone of the 7 suns) (abstract detailed photo)
  • St. Michael's Church, east window. (abstract detailed photo)St. Michael's Church, east window. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of the monastery from the south.(abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of the monastery from the south.(abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the west with Little Skellig in the background.(abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the west with Little Skellig in the background.(abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of the Oratory Terrace, part of the Hermitage on the South Peak. (abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of the Oratory Terrace, part of the Hermitage on the South Peak. (abstract detailed photo)
  • A large decorated cross on top of a leacht within inner monastic enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)A large decorated cross on top of a leacht within inner monastic enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)
  • The South Steps leading to Christ's Saddle.(abstract detailed photo)The South Steps leading to Christ's Saddle.(abstract detailed photo)
  • View of dwelling cells within the inner monastic enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)View of dwelling cells within the inner monastic enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)
  • The inner dome of Cell F, showing corbelling and projecting stone pegs. (abstract detailed photo)The inner dome of Cell F, showing corbelling and projecting stone pegs. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Departing from Skellig Michael, leaving a turbulent wake. (abstract detailed photo)Departing from Skellig Michael, leaving a turbulent wake. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Visitors disembarking at the island's pier in Blind Man's Cove. (abstract detailed photo)Visitors disembarking at the island's pier in Blind Man's Cove. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Cells A, B and C within inner monastic enclosure.(abstract detailed photo)Cells A, B and C within inner monastic enclosure.(abstract detailed photo)
  • The Small Oratory located on an artificial terrace to the north-east of the inner enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)The Small Oratory located on an artificial terrace to the north-east of the inner enclosure. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the east. (abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the east. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the east. (abstract detailed photo)Aerial view of Skellig Michael from the east. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Skellig Michael and the Little Skellig viewed from the mainland. (abstract detailed photo)Skellig Michael and the Little Skellig viewed from the mainland. (abstract detailed photo)
  • Summit of Hill of Uisneach, Co. Westmeath (abstract detail photo)Summit of Hill of Uisneach, Co. Westmeath (abstract detail photo)
  • Hill of Tara Aerial View (abstract detail photo)sHill of Tara Aerial View (abstract detail photo)s
  • Hill of Tara Rath Na Ri (abstract detail photo)Hill of Tara Rath Na Ri (abstract detail photo)
  • The Mound of the Hostages (abstract detail photo)The Mound of the Hostages (abstract detail photo)
  • The Forradh and Teach Cormaic. (abstract detail photo)The Forradh and Teach Cormaic. (abstract detail photo)
  • Aerial view of the graveyard at Monasterboice from the west showing the churches and round towerAerial view of the graveyard at Monasterboice from the west showing the churches and round tower
  • The head of Muiredach's Cross from the east at MonasterboiceThe head of Muiredach's Cross from the east at Monasterboice
  • Aerial view of the graveyard at Glendalough from the east with the two lakes in the background (abstract detail photo)Aerial view of the graveyard at Glendalough from the east with the two lakes in the background (abstract detail photo)
  • An aerial view of Dun Ailinne looking SSE (abstract detail photo)An aerial view of Dun Ailinne looking SSE (abstract detail photo)
  • An early medieval cross slab with inscription at Durrow (abstract detail photo)An early medieval cross slab with inscription at Durrow (abstract detail photo)
  • The high cross in its original location with the post medieval church in the background at Durrow (abstract detail photo)The high cross in its original location with the post medieval church in the background at Durrow (abstract detail photo)
  • The high cross in its original location from the east at Durrow (abstract detail photo)The high cross in its original location from the east at Durrow (abstract detail photo)
  • An aerial view of Dun Ailinne looking SW (abstract detail photo)An aerial view of Dun Ailinne looking SW (abstract detail photo)

Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Cultures’ World Heritage Ireland website. We aim to provide a valuable information resource on Ireland’s World Heritage sites and World Heritage Programme.

Hopefully you will enjoy navigating our website whilst enhancing your appreciation of World Heritage matters from an Irish perspective.

World Heritage Site:Brú na Bóinne

The Bend of the Boyne, or Brú na Bóinne, has been an important ritual, social and economic centre for thousands of years. Internationally renowned for its elaborate Neolithic passage tombs, and containing the largest assemblage of megalithic art in Europe, its universal value was recognised in 1993 when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World Heritage Site: Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael is an outstanding and in many ways unique example of early religious settlement, spectacularly sited on a pyramidal rock in the Atlantic Ocean. This well-preserved early monastery provides a rare insight into the organisation, architectural achievements and way of life of an early Irish monastic community.


Irish Heritage:

News Headlines

View all news here...

 

World Heritage Site:Tentative List

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Culture has national responsibility for compiling a Tentative List of properties for potential nomination and inscription on the World Heritage List.

A review is currently taking place and a revised Tentative List will be submitted to UNESCO once this has been completed. It is anticipated that this will take place in summer 2021.

View more information about the Tentative List

 

World Heritage Site:Publications

Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: The Monastery and South Peak.  Archaeological stratigraphic report: excavations 1986—2010


This archaeological report throws new light on the evolution of this spectacular monastery and the lives of the monks who inhabited it between the seventh and thirteenth centuries.

View: Interactive Viewing Tool Skellig Michael. Archaeological stratigraphic report

View and download this report and other publications in the Publications section

Celtic cross

A World Heritage Site is a property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its outstanding universal value.

View more information about World Heritage in Ireland

Cashel, Dún Ailinne, Uisneach, Rathcroghan, Tara, Céide Fields, NW Mayo Boglands, Monastic City of Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Glendalough, Kells, Monasterboice, Western Stone Forts, Historic City of Dublin, Aran Islands, Great Blasket Island, Birr Castle Demesne, Cork Harbour, Lough Gur, Tory Island, Valentia Tetrapod Trackway ………

View larger map

Galleries
 
You will find an array of different Irish world heritage images in the galleries. Please select from the galleries below.

View the Brú na Bóinne Gallery
View the Skellig Michael Gallery
View the Tentative List Gallery