Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
720. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the status of any application to have stone lifting recognised on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage; the criteria used in assessing such applications; and whether he would consider its inclusion given its rise in popularity, ongoing revival, and its importance as part of our cultural heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11878/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2015 Ireland ratified the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. Under the Convention, Ireland is required to develop and maintain a national inventory of ICH present in its territory. This inventory aims to safeguard and ensure the visibility of Ireland’s intangible cultural heritage locally, nationally, and internationally.
Ireland has an Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) to guide advice and to assess applications seeking inscription on the National Inventory. The EAC is chaired by my Department and is comprised of representatives from relevant authorities such as Ireland’s Arts Council, Heritage Council and local government heritage offices, as well as academics, practitioners and representatives from expert bodies. In line with the Terms of Reference for the group, and the UNESCO Convention, the EAC considers the following questions when assessing applications:
• Does the nominated element qualify as Intangible Cultural Heritage as defined in the 2003 UNESCO Convention
• Is there adequate community support & engagement for the element
• Is the nominated element passed from generation to generation
Following its assessment, the EAC can make recommendations to me, as Minister for Culture, for decision on any inscription of new elements on the National Inventory of ICH.
My Department received an application seeking the inscription of Traditional Irish Stone Lifting (Cloch Nirt) on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. An initial application was submitted in August 2025, with an updated version provided in October 2025. This application was discussed by the EAC at their most recent meeting on 3rd December 2025. As well as the application, the EAC considered submissions received by both the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) and the National Monuments Service (NMS) detailing their concerns with the practice of stone lifting, including what is considered to be strong potential of damage to archaeological heritage sites, potential for offences under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, as well as lack of compliance by practitioners with the National Monuments Acts and examples of damage caused to-date.
Given the serious concerns raised by the NMI and NMS regarding the potential damage to cultural and archaeological heritage that could be caused by the wider promotion of the practice, the EAC agreed that it could not at this point make a recommendation on this application, with the result that no recommendation has been provided for Ministerial consideration.
Given that there is currently ongoing engagement between the applicant, the NMI and the NMS, the EAC recommended that DCCS continue to engage with all parties, and that the EAC may revert to review this application again at future meetings.
Ireland's national inventory of ICH currently recognises 42 inscribed ICH practices. For full information on the inventory and guidance for applicants please see: [www.nationalinventoryich.ccs.gov.ie/] .
