• Minister Martin Announces State Recognition of Irish Set
Dancing, St. Brigid’s Cross Weaving, Gaelic Football and Ladies’
Gaelic Football, the Irish Amateur Dramatic Tradition
• Announcement brings the number of cultural practices on the
National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage to 42
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has
announced formal State recognition of four additional practices as part of Ireland’s living
cultural heritage.
At an event at Croke Park during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
between Donegal and Galway yesterday, Minister Martin announced the recognition of
Irish Set Dancing, Gaelic Football and Ladies’ Gaelic Football, Weaving of a St. Brigid’s
Cross, and the Irish Amateur Dramatic Tradition.
Following recommendation from Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee on Intangible
Cultural Heritage, these four cultural practices will join 38 other cultural practices already
recognised on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ireland maintains this National Inventory in line with the 2003 UNESCO Convention for
the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which Ireland ratified in 2015.
The aim of the National Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage is to protect, promote and
celebrate Irish living cultural heritage practices, customs, crafts and traditions.
Minister Martin said:
“Our living heritage is an integral part of our culture. I am pleased to announce state
recognition of four further practices through Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible
Cultural Heritage. Each of these practices is integral to the culture and identify of the
communities who practice them, and to our society more broadly. As part of my
department’s ongoing obligations under the UNESCO 2003 Convention, we aim to
acknowledge, safeguard and promote Ireland’s cultural heritage. The practices
recognised today continue to thrive through the dedicated communities who sustain and
pass on their skills through the generations”
Jarlath Burns, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, said:
“We are extremely honoured to have Gaelic football formally added to Ireland’s list of
intangible cultural heritage. Just as hurling and camogie were recognised by UNESCO in
2018, this recognition is important because Gaelic football and Ladies Gaelic football are
an intrinsic part of who we are. They are unique to us and their importance to Irish people
is evidenced by their popularity in more than 1,600 clubs throughout this island and the
500 GAA clubs which exist elsewhere in the world. We are enormously proud of the skills
and artistry which have evolved in our national games over centuries, and we ar
