The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation "seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity... World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located".
UNESCO officially acknowledge 962 international sites, including three Irish ones. However, the Irish Government are currently campaigning to have more of our 900-odd national monuments added to the list.
Current Irish heritage sites
The Giant's Causeway, Antrim
The iconic basalt formation is Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attraction, and has been a World Heritage site since 1986.
Brú na Bóinne / Newgrange, Meath
Recognised by UNESCO in 1993, the famed Newgrange complex is one of the largest and best perserved Megalithic burial sites in Europe.
Skellig Michael, Kerry
The remains of this island monastery, west of Kerry's Iveragh Peninsula, represent Ireland's most recent addition to the World Heritage list, having been inscribed in 1996.
Five proposed sites
The Burren, Clare
(Photo: Dr Charles Nelson)
Hill of Tara, Meath
Clonmacnoise monastery, Offaly
Ceide Fields, Mayo
(Photo: C. Michael Hogan)
Rock of Cashel, Tipperary
(Photo: Mike Searle)
