Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark are spearheading a new all-island partnership that will connect UNESCO-designated sites across Ireland.

Backed by 100% funding from the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Programme (Investment Area 6.2), the two-year "UNESCO Together" project will create a cross-border network uniting UNESCO Global Geoparks, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and Creative Cities across Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The initiative positions the Council and the Geopark as lead partners in UNESCO collaboration, with a strong emphasis on peacebuilding, reconciliation, youth engagement and shared natural and cultural heritage. It also supports wider aims around community cohesion and people-to-people connections.

At its heart, UNESCO Together will produce an all-island strategic roadmap for long-term cooperation between UNESCO sites, including exploring a future UNESCO Tourism Trail that showcases World Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks as catalysts for sustainable tourism, education, cultural identity and community development.

Supported by the UK National Commission to UNESCO and the National Commission of Ireland to UNESCO, the project will bring designated sites together to strengthen collaboration rooted in shared landscapes, heritage and identity.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is the lead partner for coordination, governance, financial management and communications, working alongside Cavan County Council and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark to deliver the programme.

The emerging network will involve all 14 UNESCO sites on the island of Ireland, as well as the six Tentative UNESCO sites, building new cross-border links through workshops, community exchanges, creative residencies, environmental action activities and cultural storytelling programmes.

Over the lifetime of the project, more than 650 participations are planned across cross-border activities, including in-person workshops, community events at UNESCO locations and online exchanges. Creative strands will celebrate UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage, including Irish harping, uilleann piping, hurling, falconry and dry stone walling.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said: "UNESCO Together is an important and practical example of how we can work in partnership to deliver real benefits for our communities.

"This project brings together some of our most significant UNESCO sites and organisations to strengthen cooperation, share expertise and support sustainable tourism, education and cultural development in a way that delivers value for people locally."

Cllr Hanna added: "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is pleased to be leading this work with partners in Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and we look forward to seeing communities, schools and organisations take part in the wide range of activities planned over the next two years. At its heart, this is about creating opportunities for people to connect, learn and benefit from our shared natural and cultural heritage in a practical and meaningful way."

Ambassador David Brück, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OECD and UNESCO added, "At a time when peaceful cooperation is more important than ever, initiatives such as UNESCO Together highlight the power of cultural and natural heritage to bring people together, strengthen community connections, and create opportunities for collaboration, dialogue, and understanding"

Matt Rabagliati, Head of Policy, Research and Communications at the UK National Commission for UNESCO, said: "Congratulations to UNESCO sites across the island of Ireland on this extraordinary initiative. UNESCO designations are not only places of outstanding natural and cultural heritage; they are also spaces for collaboration, learning and shared action.

"UNESCO Together shows how sites can work together across the island to build relationships, share approaches and support wider objectives around sustainability, peacebuilding and community cohesion.

"We are delighted to support this ambitious project through our Local to Global programme, and to work alongside the Irish National Commission for UNESCO to strengthen collaboration across the UNESCO network."