Local county councillor James Carroll has initially welcomed Minister Gormley’s inclusion of Monasterboice Graveyard’s monastic site in his draft new Tentative List of potential nominees to the World Heritage List.

“This historic site will only be added to the list following consultation with relevant stakeholders and interested parties.  On first viewing, this is very welcome and is an extra boost to our great local site.”

“However, I have reservations that major issues might arise over people’s ability to apply for planning permission a substantial distance from the actual site.  There also seems to be some concern over various farming techniques that might not be allowed.  We have seen problems like this arise in Newgrange and surrounding Clonmacnoise.”

“Any potential restrictions need to be cleared up first rather than have any imposed on the local people against their will.”

At present, there are two world heritage sites in the Republic: the Brú na Bóinne archaeological complex which was added to the Unesco list in 1993, and Skellig Michael which was added in 1996.

“There is much confusion locally between this process and then the totally separate process from the Department of Environment and Louth County Council plan on how to maintain and manage the Graveyard and Crosses in the future.  This is the process that I want to see actioned rather than getting caught up in whether we are or are not on the final UNESCO List.,” Cllr Carroll concluded.

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