Ireland’s Dry Stone Construction Receives UNESCO Recognition

Longford examples of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognised by UNESCO yesterday will play a part in safeguarding the practice for the future.

Though most associated with the stonewalls of the West of Ireland there are examples of the skill across Longford.

UNESCO officially inscribed Ireland’s practice of Dry Stone Construction on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription was officially announced during the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is currently taking place in Asunción, Paraguay.

This recognition was part of an international application, led by Ireland, which also recognised similar cultural traditions in Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg under the inscription Dry Stone Construction, Knowledge and Techniques.

Dry Stone Construction is Ireland's fifth inscription on the UNESCO Representative List. Ireland’s first nomination, Uilleann Piping was officially inscribed in 2017, followed by Hurling in 2018, Irish Harping in 2019 and Irish Falconry in 2021.

Ken Curran of the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland said:

“Inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is wonderful news for all of the communities involved in the safeguarding of the practice here. The communities in Ireland join an ever-increasing international community of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Resultant connections are being formed, knowledge-sharing is taking place, the safeguarding of the practice is being strengthened, and the wonderful culture of dry stone construction is being celebrated more and more.”

There are only a few examples of dry stone wall construction left in Longford. One particularly interesting one is located just outside Granard in Dalystown.

The wall is listed in the inventory of Irish architecture as a protected structure. The section of dry stone field/boundary wall, was erected around the 1800s. It is constructed of roughly coursed random rubble stone with vertical limestone coping over. It is located adjacent to road, to the north of Granard.

Described as “an attractive and well-executed dry stone wall exhibiting the fine craftsmanship of vernacular building” this construction is increasingly rare in the Irish countryside, making this a rare surviving example of a once ubiquitous type.

The inventory says: “It adds visual appeal to its rural location, and is a worthy, if unassuming, addition to the built heritage of the local area.”