The living heritage of falconry in Ireland recognised by UNESCO

Falconry in Ireland has today (14 December) been added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ireland, along with five other countries – Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia – has joined the existing multinational inscription of Falconry by eighteen countries on the UNESCO Representative List.

The inscription was officially approved today at the meeting in Paris of the Intergovernmental Committee for the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This international recognition of Falconry in Ireland will help support awareness raising of this element of Ireland’s cultural heritage, which dates back to medieval times.

Falconry in Ireland has joined 23 other countries in multinational inscription and recognition on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This acknowledgement by UNESCO is a clear illustration of the cultural significance of this living heritage practice. It is also a striking example of international co-operation among 24 countries.

Falconry has been practiced in Ireland for a thousand years and still to this day continues to enrich the lives of those involved through their connection with nature and through caring for these majestic creatures. The Irish Hawing Club and their community of practitioners worked closely with the department to achieve this UNESCO inscription.

Falconry is Ireland's fourth inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ireland’s first nomination, Uilleann Piping was officially inscribed in 2017, Ireland’s second nomination, Hurling, was officially inscribed in 2018 and Ireland’s third nomination Irish Harping was officially inscribed in 2019.