Another traditional Irish instrument has been recognised by Unesco as an example of living heritage.

Last year UNESCO considered applications for special cultural status at a meeting in Paris, and among the submissions made was one from the GAA seeking the inclusion of hurling.

The context in which hurling is played is what makes the story of the sport unique to Ireland, write Paul Rouse and Aidan O’Sullivan

Hurling and camogie have been recognised by UNESCO as protected cultural activities.

The United Nations cultural agency has called on Colombia not to commercially exploit the 300-year-old wreck of the Spanish galleon San Jose, which is believed to contain a cargo worth billions of pounds.

Canada is taking a lead role in seeking Unesco World Heritage status for a residential Irish island.

Israel has announced it is leaving Unesco, citing the UN cultural agency’s "systematic attacks" on the Jewish state.

THE ongoing confusion around the status of Killarney National Park as a Unesco world biosphere reserve and efforts to extend that status to an area five times the size of the current park epitomise our less than admirable and too often dishonest attitude towards the environment.

The Irish Wildlife Trust has asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to suspend the designation of the Killarney National Park as a world biosphere reserve.

Israel has suspended cooperation with Unesco after the UN cultural agency adopted a draft resolution that it is claimed denies the historic Jewish connection to holy sites in Jerusalem.

A small aircraft will traverse the sky over eastern Waterford, parts of southern Tipperary and Kilkenny, and western Wexford, collecting geological information over the coming month.

Areas of geological importance in Waterford, Clare, and Fermanagh have been designated Unesco Global Geoparks following a vote in Paris yesterday.

The heritage committee of Unesco has said the outlook for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is poor due to threats including pollution and climate change but stopped short of listing it as “in danger”.

World Book Day, the greatest annual celebration of books and reading on the planet, takes place tomorrow and the good news is that all school children can get a token to be exchanged for a special free publication in their local bookshop.