Which site in Ireland best showcases our contribution to European heritage?
Posted on September 02, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Welcome back to the European Parliament- following our six week recess, my collegues and I resumed normal business in Brussels this week. This involved making preparations for the first of September's two sessions in Strasbourg next week, and meeting with our political groups and parliamentary committees.
While I spent some of the recess in Brussels tying up loose ends from my first year and preparing for the second, I was glad to find a few weeks in between to take a summer break. After twenty years working in mental health, I don't underestimate the benefits of recharging the batteries and unplugging from professional life for a little while.
This summer I spent ten days hill-walking in Britain and a week holidaying in France. These trips were hugely enjoyable, but were also linked to my work in the Parliament. This week the Culture Committee, of which I am a substitute member, published its plans for a 'European Heritage Label', something which has been in the pipeline for several years. An original heritage label had been launched through an intergovernmental process four years ago, although Ireland wasn't involved, and it was recently decided to reform the label and bring it under the EU umbrella.
The European Heritage Label is in the mould of the UNESCO World Heritage list (with a stronger emphasis on political development), and will be made up of sites which are of cultural, social or political importance to modern Europe. Sites on the previous list included the House Museums of Puccini, Rossini and Verdi in Italy, and the Acropolis in Athens.
Following discussions with the Department of Environment and Heritage this morning, I can confirm that Ireland intends not just to get involved this time around, but has emerged as a leading advocate of the new scheme. This is a smart move, as Ireland's involvement in the plan will bring innumerable benefits at little or no cost. An emerging trend in tourism is to visit the various sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, bringing in valuable tourist revenue to surrounding towns.
When the project is up and running, each country will be invited to make two applications each year for inclusion (though just one can be successful). While the Department of Environment has not yet decided which sites to submit, Ireland's early monastic sites and the Hill of Tara were mentioned.
What sites do you think best represent Ireland's contribution to European politics, culture and society?
