Minister reveals plans for Clonmacnoise

Environment Minister Martin Cullen has revealed plans to have the monastic ruins at Clonmacnoise declared a World Heritage Site.

Mr Cullen said he hoped to write to UNESCO to seek the designation for the Co Offaly ruins.

The move is part of the minister’s plan to protect and conserve the site, which attracted almost 160,000 visitors last year.

Skellig Michael off the coast of Co Kerry and Bru na Boinne in Co Meath are the only two existing World Heritage Sites in Ireland.