They had a fairly big overhaul of their T-list about 5 years ago and launched
a website to go along with it.
I expected to see them pursuing inscriptions after the update, and looking through the
documents online that was the plan, though everything seems to have ground to a halt in 2009, or they just aren't publishing the minutes and are being very secretive about their proposals.
That page is worth a look even for non-Hibernophiles, especially from the World Heritage Seminar, Dublin Castle, September 2013, with presentations on the formation of t-lists etc.This is their assessment of the T-List sites as of April 2009:
The BurrenCriterion (viii) is questionable in a comparative context as other international karst landscapes take precedence. The Cliffs of Moher be excluded from the site listing.
Submit 2012 for nomination in 2014.
The Ceide Fields and the Atlantic Boglands of NW MayoNoted that these sites have obvious national importance, but was concerned about OUV. If Ceide Fields were nominated alone it would be easier to demonstrate OUV.
Aim for submission in 2014 and inscription in 2016Royal SitesThis proposal amounts to a potentially valuable serial nomination. The intention might be to nominate 3 of the 5 sites initially, namely; Cashel, Tara and Rathcroghan. The Hill of Uisneach and Dun Ailinne would follow. Contacts with the relevant UK and Northern Ireland authorities would be made by the Chair in relation to the nomination of the Navan Fort.
Aim for submission in 2013 and nomination in 2015Early Medieval Monastic SitesLink to European monastic sites enhances their OUV, adding that the influence of these sites on Christianity and the different monastic and town plan forms in Europe was very significant. There are justifications for Criteria (ii), (iii) & (iv) applying to this nomination.
Aim for submission in 2015 for nomination in 2017ClonmacnoiseDraft nomination documentation and management plan had been prepared for Clonmacnoise it could be submitted for nomination at the end of 2009/early 2010 for
nomination by 2011Georgian City of DublinThe City Council is committed to looking at the potential for Georgian Dublin’s nomination for World Heritage status. Georgian Dublin has a cohesive terrace form which is consistent in both the suburbs and the city district. It is imperative that detailed comparative studies should be undertaken before including Georgian Dublin high up the Tentative List for nomination. An important personality does not guarantee World Heritage Status, citing the example of Charles Darwin. He added that Criterion (iv) was used for Vienna “the musical capital of Europeâ€, which could be compared with Dublin.
The site should be prepared for
nomination from 2014 with a view to submission in 2017.
In Short this was the plan for nominations if all went well:
2011 - Clonmacnoise
2014 - the Burren
2015 - Royal Sites
2016 - Ceide Fields
2017 - Early Medieval Monastic Sites or Dublin
Now those haven't happened, I have no idea why, but will head off and see if anything turns up. But Clonmacnoise's proposal
wasn't met particularly warmly by local residents, and maybe that just ground the whole process to a halt before it really got started.
Putting a bit of interpretation on the other recommendations it seems this is how the other sites were reviewed.
Need further research but have potential:
Western Stone Forts
Keep in mind for future T-list updates:
Aran Islands, Blasket Islands, Cork (the Emigrant's Story), Cork (Napoleonic Fortifications), Valentia Tetrapod Trackway
Nationally significant but don't demonstrate OUV:
Clara Bog, Killarney National Park, Birr Castle, Lough Gur, St Brendans Clonfert
Go away:
Waterways Ireland, Boyne Navigation Canal, Rinn Duinn, Irish Walled Towns, McCarthy Castles, Carrigaphooca Castle