EIRE: TARA - UNESCO STATUS TO BE CONSIDERED SAY IRISH GOVERNMENT

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have responded to calls from the Celtic League for the site at Tara to be registered on the UNESCO World Heritage

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have responded to calls from the Celtic League for the site at Tara to be registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

There has been considerable controversy, both in Ireland and Internationally, about the construction of a motorway (which is now nearing completion) close to the archeological complex.

The Celtic League discussed the issue at its recent AGM held in Dublin and a resolution was passed calling for the site to be given UNESCO protected status. The correspondence from Minister Gormley\'s office is set out below:

\"Dear Mr. Tal-e-bot,

I have been asked by Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to refer to your email of 17 September 2008 and to inform you that the two resolutions adopted by the Celtic League have been noted.

The Minister would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that he is endeavouring to mitigate the effects of the route proposal on the Hill of Tara site.

At this point in time, the Minister is not in a position to process a nomination for the Hill of Tara to UNESCO\'s World Heritage List as it is not on Ireland\'s current tentative list. The list dates back to 1992 and is currently being reviewed with a view to establishing a new tentative list with an agreed programme of nominations to UNESCO.

The review will be overseen by an independent Expert Advisory Panel representative of both national and international experts. The terms of reference for this Advisory Panel include the prioritisation of sites on the new tentative list for nomination to UNESCO. The possible nomination of the Hill of Tara for inscription on the World Heritage List will be considered in the context of this review.

Yours sincerely,

Eddie Kiernan Private Secretary\"

Related articles on Celtic News at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2795 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2762 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2720 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2619 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2437 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2286 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2240 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2239 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2221

UNESCO World Heritage Site information at:

http://whc.unesco.org/

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 15/10/08