Taking place from 12th to 20th August and focusing on the theme of ‘Living Heritage’, this year’s National Heritage Week is sure to be an exciting week full of opportunities to explore our traditions, practices, knowledge and skills.
Visit the National Heritage Week website to see what events are happening near you that help promote and safeguard Ireland’s intangible cultural heritage.
20th Anniversary of the UNESCO 2003 Convention
This year also marks the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Convention was adopted on 17th October 2003 by the 32nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, and expanded the concept of cultural heritage to include intangible cultural heritage and highlighted the importance of safeguarding it at international level.
The purpose of the Convention is
to safeguard intangible cultural heritage;
to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned;
to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of its’ importance; ensuring mutual appreciation thereof; and,
to provide for international cooperation and assistance.
Throughout this celebratory year, UNESCO will host meetings and events to mark the occasion and reflect on the impacts this Convention has had over the past two decades while using the opportunity to further highlight the importance of safeguarding our living heritage.
For further information, please click here.
What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?
Intangible cultural heritage is defined in the 2003 UNESCO Convention as referring to the practices, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities and groups recognise as part of their cultural heritage. It is passed from generation to generation and is recognised under one or more of the following categories:
• Oral traditions and expressions;
• Performing arts;
• Social practices, rituals and festive events;
• Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; and
• Traditional craftsmanship.
Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
In December 2015, Ireland ratified this 2003 UNESCO Convention. Ireland’s National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage was launched in 2019 with the aim to protect, promote and celebrate Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and traditions, locally, nationally, and internationally. To date, 38 elements of Ireland’s living heritage have been inscribed.
Applications to the National Inventory continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis. The applications are assessed by an Expert Advisory Committee who consider whether the nominated element is an example of Intangible Cultural Heritage (as defined in the 2003 Convention), as well as whether there is adequate community support & engagement for the element and whether the nominated element is passed from generation to generation. The Committee then provide their recommendations to the Minister of Culture.
UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Successful applicants to the National Inventory may also be put forward by the State for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, to which the State is entitled to make one nomination every year.
To date, Ireland has successfully inscribed four elements of our Intangible Cultural Heritage on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Uilleann Piping was inscribed in 2017, Hurling in 2018, Irish Harping in 2019 and most recently Falconry in 2021, which joined the existing multinational inscription of Falconry.
In March this year an application (led by Ireland) was submitted to UNESCO to include Ireland, Austria, Andorra, Belgium and Luxembourg on the existing Dry Stone Construction inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We eagerly await UNESCO’s decision on this application, which is expected in December 2024!
By achieving international recognition of these practices, in close cooperation with the communities concerned, their safeguarding is supported for future generations. It also serves to acknowledge and celebrate the work of the generations who have kept these traditions alive and provides a wonderful opportunity to share these cherished aspects of Irish culture with others.
