Lough Gur proposed for heritage status

LOUGH GUR, one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites and located in Co Limerick, could soon be awarded world heritage status.

Ireland boasts two listed world heritage sites: Skellig Michael (1996) and the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne (1993).

Limerick County Council has submitted an application to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to have Lough Gur included on Ireland’s tentative list of potential World Heritage sites.

The site, 20km outside Limerick, includes stone circles and standing stones, ancient burial chambers, cairns and Neolithic house sites dating back more than 4,500 years.

World heritage sites include such well-known landmarks as the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, Machu Picchu in Peru, as well as the historic centres of Venice, Rome and Paris.