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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Aerial photo of the Céide Fields (Photo: OPW)
The Chief Executive of Mayo County Council has not ruled out applying for any future Unesco Heritage Site status for the Ceide Fields if there is public support.
During the week it emerged that the decision by Mayo County Council to drop its nomination of the Ceide Fields in North Mayo for consideration on a prestigious Unesco list of outstanding cultural and national sites was due to there not being 'unanimous local public support'.
World Heritage Sites are recognised for their importance to humanity, and they are protected and conserved under an international treaty. Ireland currently has three sites on the list: Sceilg Mhichíl, Brú na Bóinne and the Giant’s Causeway.
The Ceide Fields are a 6,000-year-old Neolithic farmed landscape considered to be one of the most important and extensive Stone Age monuments in the world.
The matter was raised at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council by Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne who questioned why the council had removed the Ceide Field application.
In response, Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council explained that the process took place a number of years ago and at the time there was not large support for the application in the local community.
However, he added that the council is open to a fresh application when the time comes if the support is forthcoming.
“This process was a number of years ago and has been no recent conversation on the ground. It has been indicated by Mayo County Council that if there is community support for putting forward the Ceide Fields as a possibility for a Unesco heritage site we will support it. But we can only do that with community support and at the appropriate time when the applicants are open,” he said.
Director of Services, Tom Gilligan added that the level of support was measured with consultation in the community and meetings with individuals. Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle agreed with the council executive saying he attended a meeting a number of years ago and felt the position among local people at the time was that the Unesco status would bring too many restrictions to the community.
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