Michael Davoren and John Marrinan (Burren Farmers) at the launch, with Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Minister Josepha Madigan TD
On Thursday, 18th July Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD launched the permanent National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, celebrating living cultural heritage practices in Ireland. The tradition of winterage in the Burren is on the list. At the launch, Brendan Dunford spoke of this recognition
“This is a welcome acknowledgement of the importance of the farming community and their traditions in a landscape renowned for its geology, archaeology and ecology. It’s a lovely way to honour the past generations of farmers who devised these innovative practices in response to the constraints imposed by the Burren’s rocky terrain, while it’s also an encouraging message to current and future generations of farmers that we, as a society, value and appreciate them and their unique traditions which sustain this magnificent landscape”
The development of the National Inventory of Ireland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage is an integral part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s work under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which requires signatory States to recognise, protect and promote the living cultural heritage of their countries.
The Department’s press release is available at: https://www.chg.gov.ie/minister-madigan-announces-state-recognition-of-key-elements-of-irelands-living-cultural-heritage/