Fears are being expressed that an East Clare heritage site may ‘fall off’ Ireland’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Inis Cealtra was named on the list in 2010, along with a number of other sites across the country including Clonmacnoise, with the Department of Heritage currently undertaking a review of its register.
Clare County Council has until June to submit an application for Inis Cealtra, though Minister of State Peter Burke has said he doesn’t expect any request for such early medieval sites, apart from Glendalough in Wicklow.
Responding to the Minister in the Dail, Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara says it’s vital that sites such as Inis Cealtra are protected into the future.