State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

iii) The various monuments, particularly the great passage tombs, represent “important cultural, IRELAND social, artistic [and] scientific” developments over a considerable length of time. Nowhere else in the Archaeological Ensemble of the world can one find the continuity of settlement and activity associated with a megalithic cemetery such Bend of the Boyne as that which exists at Brugh na Bóinne. iv) The passage tomb complex represents a Brief description spectacular survival of the embodiment of a set of The three main prehistoric sites of the Brú na ideas and beliefs which are of “outstanding Bóinne Complex, , Knowth and , historical significance”. are situated on the north bank of the 50 km north of Dublin. This is Europe's largest and As provided in ICOMOS evaluation most important concentration of prehistoric Criterion i The Bend of the Boyne monuments . The monuments there had social, represent the largest and most important economic, religious and funerary functions. expression of prehistoric megalithic plastic art in Europe. 1. Introduction Criterion iii The concentration of social, economic, Year(s) of Inscription 1993 and funerary monuments at this important ritual centre and the long continuity from prehistory to the Agency responsible for site management late medieval period make this one of the most significant archaeological sites in Europe. • Mailing Address(es) Department of the Environment, Heritage and Criterion iv The , here brought to its Local Government finest expression, was a feature of outstanding Dún Scéine importance in prehistoric Europe and beyond. Harcourt Lane Dublin 2 Committee Decision e-mail: [email protected] Bureau (June 1993): the Bureau proposed that the • Office of Public Works competent Irish authorities modify the name of the Dún Scéine property as follows: "Archaeological ensemble of Harcourt Lane the Bend of the Boyne". Furthermore, the Bureau Dublin 2 also recommended that in the event of further e-mail: [email protected] restoration work on the Megalithic monuments, consultation with international expertise should be sought to ensure that the best methods are 2. Statement of Significance employed for this work. Inscription Criteria C (i) (iii) (iv) Session (1993): the Committee inscribed the site under criteria (i), (iii) and (iv) and invited the Irish Justification provided by the State Party authorities to control carefully future developments in and around the site and to involve ICOMOS in Brugh na Bóinne represents an area of conservation and management planning. “outstanding universal significance” on a number of different levels. • Statement of Significance adequately defines i) The quality and quantity of the collective the outstanding universal value of the site megalithic art of the area represents a “unique • No change required artistic” and aesthetic achievement which is

unequalled in its counterparts throughout the rest of Boundaries and Buffer Zone Europe. • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate ii) The monuments of the area display a longevity of • Buffer zone: adequate settlement whose origins are found in • No change required settlements which are of “great antiquity".

State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Status of Authenticity/Integrity • Responsibility for over-seeing the • World Heritage site values have been implementation of the management plan and maintained monitoring its effectiveness: • State Party reports that the site is suffering from development pressures as the site is in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local vicinity of Dublin city but this will not affect its Government, outstanding universal value Dún Scéine, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2. 3. Protection e-mail: [email protected]

Legislative and Administrative Arrangements Office of Public Works, • The Development Plan for , Dún Scéine, where the site is situated, provides protection Harcourt Lane, for the site. It is also protected under Ireland’s Dublin 2. National Monuments legislation e-mail: [email protected] • The protection arrangements are considered sufficiently effective 6. Financial Resources 4. Management Financial situation • State funding Use of site/property • No funding drawn in through World Heritage • Visitor attraction (entrance fee) Fund

Management/Administrative Body • Sufficient

• Steering group: a Management Committee was established in 2002. The function of the 7. Staffing Levels Committee is to drive the implementation of the management plan • Number of staff: 32

• No site manager Rate of access to adequate professional staff • Management by the State Party; management across the following disciplines: under protective legislation; consensual • Very good: conservation, management, management promotion; interpretation; education; visitor • Levels of public authority who are primarily management involved with the management of the site: • Other: team of dedicated craftsmen in-house. national Also consultants engaged as required. An • The current management system is sufficiently Education Officer post is planned for Education effective Centre to be situated at Knowth House

• Staff resources are adequate 5. Management Plan • Management plan is being implemented/no 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in management plan Conservation and Management • Implementation commenced: december 2002 Techniques • The Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site Management Plan was drawn up by an inter - • No training available but all staff members have departmental committee in the light of an received the relevant level of training extensive public consultation process. The objectives of the Plan are to protect the cultural and natural heritage, to monitor the impact of 9. Visitor Management conservation works at the megalithic tombs, to • Visitor statistics: 225,581 visitors in 2004 prepare conservation strategies etc. while at • Visitor facilities: newly built visitor centre with the time providing a high standard of public car park, toilets, interpretation, restaurant and access and interpretation of the site tourist office • Very effective • Visitor facilities are adequate • Visitor needs: none State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

• There is a tourism/visitor management plan for Conservation interventions the site (it is part of the overall Management • The major excavation of Knowth has been Plan for the site) completed. Publication of report in preparation. We now wrap all carved stones at Knowth from 10. Scientific Studies November to March to protect them from frost damage. Kerb stones at Newgrange covered • There is an agreed research every night. Planning permission for Knowth framework/strategy for the site House • Monitoring exercises; condition surveys; • Present state of conservation: very good archaeological surveys; visitor management • Also: photographic record of carved stone Threats and Risks to site • Studies used for management of site: control of • Development pressure (due to vicinity to Dublin visitor numbers at Newgrange. Closing Knowth city and Greater Dublin area); environmental for winter months when the carved stones are pressure; number of inhabitants; visitor/tourism wrapped pressure; agricultural/forestry regimes • Also problems regarding financial and personnel resources 11. Education, Information and Awareness • Emergency measures taken: to control Building development in the Core Area, Buffer Zone and • No signs referring to World Heritage site vicinity (Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of Management • World Heritage Convention Emblem not used Plan). Authorities responsible: Meath County on publications Council and An Bord Pleanála in the event of • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: an appeal. Timeframe: ongoing visitors, local communities, businesses, local authorities 13. Monitoring • There is an education strategy for the site (the site is included in the Office of Public Works • Formal monitoring programme Free for Schools Scheme) • All staff on site must report any changes, issues • All relevant event and exhibitions refer to the etc. World Heritage Status of the site • No website available but information about the 14. Conclusions and Recommended site is available on www.opw.ie and Actions www.environ.ie (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. • Main benefits of WH status: conservation, Office of Public Works) management • No local participation • Strengths of management: Knowth House planning permission. Knowth open to the public. Visitor centre opening and control of visitor 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of numbers Conservation) • Weaknesses of management: proximity to city; Reactive monitoring reports development pressure; living landscape

• World Heritage Committee sessions: 27th (2003); 28th (2004) Future actions: • Co-ordination with planning bodies (authorities Actions taken to implement the Committee’s responsible: Department of the Environment, decisions Heritage and Local Government in conjunction • The relevant regulatory agencies are conscious with the Office of Public Works, Meath County of and take account of the Committee's Council). Timeframe: ongoing decisions. Various authorities are responsible • World Heritage funding is not sought for the implementation of this action, depending on regulatory responsibility, including: - An Bord Pleanála in relation to planning issues - The Environmental Protection Agency in respect of environmental issues