Irish heritage and UNESCO programmes
A wide range of Irish heritage has been inscribed into UNESCO programmes
World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other significance, and encourage the protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage worldwide considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. There are three World Heritage Sites on the island of Ireland: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (1986), Brú na Bóinne (1993), and Sceilg Mhicíl (1996)
Memory of the World Programme
UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme initiative launched in 1992 to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, the ravages of time and climatic conditions, and wilful and deliberate destruction. Ireland has inscribed two elements of documentary heritage on the Memory of the World Register: the Book of Kells (2011) and The Irish Folklore Commission Collection 1935-1970 (2017)
UNESCO Global Geoparks
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. Three UNESCO Geoparks in Ireland were named in 2015: Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark (cross-border counties Fermanagh and Cavan), Copper Coast Global Geopark, and Burren and Cliffs of Moher Global Geopark
Man and the Biosphere Programme
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) is an intergovernmental scientific programme that examines the consequences of human interaction with the environment. Ireland is home to two biosphere reserves: Dublin Bay (1981) and Kerry (1982)
UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness of its importance. Ireland has inscribed four elements of Irish Intangible Cultural Heritage in the List - Uilleann Piping (2017), Hurling (2018), and Irish Harping (2019), and most recently Irish Falconry (2021) which was added as a multinational nomination.
UNESCO City of Literature and City of Film
Dublin was designated the 4th UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, and Galway was designated as a UNESCO City of Film as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network created to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.