MEP Liadh wants top status for Gearagh

THE case for the Gearagh Woodlands in the Upper Lee Valley of Cork to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site has been made to officials in Paris. 

Ireland South MEP Liadh Ní Riada made the case for the alluvial forest, the only one of its kind in Europe, to be granted the special protection after meeting with UNESCO officials in Paris.

Ms Ní Riada said it is our responsibility to preserve the site for future generations.

‘The Gearagh is a unique and ecologically important area of outstanding natural beauty and diversity,’ she said.We have a duty to protect this site as part of the natural heritage of Ireland and indeed, of the planet. This is only the start of a long process but it is a positive start.’

The MEP now plans to meet with all stakeholders to rally support for this campaign.

 ‘The Gearagh is also tied into our history through legend, song and story,’ the MEP said.