Gearagh woodlands - World heritage site for Co Cork

The campaign by Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada for the Gearagh Woodlands in the Upper Lee Valley of Cork to be designated a Unesco World Heritage Site is a neat idea. It is, as she says, “a unique and ecologically important area of outstanding natural beauty and diversity.”

We already have three such sites on the island of Ireland – the Neolithic chamber tombs at Brú na Bóinne, in Co Meath, the magical Giants Causeway in Co Antrim and the majestic Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry.

In addition to these three sites, Dublin is a Unesco City of Literature and Galway is one of only five Unesco Cities of Film, so recognition of what Cork has to offer is well worth promoting.

She has already met with Unesco officials to make the case for it being granted such a status. In order to achieve this, we would have to persuade Unesco that the site forms a unique eco-system that is worth preserving.

However, we would also have some explaining to do, like why in 1954, we chose to build two hydroelectric dams that resulted in the flooding of the alluvial plain.

Yet, it is, perhaps, too harsh to use 21st century eyes to judge decisions made in the mid 20th century when our needs were more basic.

Today, the blackened stumps of the trees felled 65 years ago are still visible but there are also signs of rejuvenation and Gearagh is still the only extensive alluvial forest in Ireland or Britain.

We wish Ms Ní Riada well in her endeavours.