The National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is hosting an international meeting this week to discuss issues of global importance for underwater cultural heritage. The Group I Regional Meeting of States Parties and Member States to the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage meets over 2 days in Dublin.
It brings together government representatives, UNESCO officials, heritage professionals and leading international specialists from 20 countries to discuss the protection, management and future of underwater cultural heritage.
The meeting follows Ireland’s ratification of the 2001 Convention in December 2025. It provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, share experiences and identify practical actions to safeguard the world’s underwater heritage.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said the meetings highlight Ireland’s commitment to protecting underwater cultural heritage as a vital part of our shared cultural legacy:
“We are honoured to host this important regional meeting at a pivotal moment so soon after our ratification of the 2001 Convention. Underwater cultural heritage is a unique and irreplaceable resource that connects communities across the world and across generations.
“By working together through UNESCO, we can strengthen its protection and ensure that these fragile remains are recorded, preserved and protected.”
The programme addresses several key themes shaping the future of underwater cultural heritage protection. It looks at legislative approaches to implementing the Convention, strengthening international cooperation, integrating underwater cultural heritage into broader heritage and marine management policies and other international conventions.
It will also focus on responding to the growing impacts of climate change on submerged archaeological sites. Opportunities for international collaboration to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are also being explored.
Chief Archaeologist at the National Monuments Service, Michael MacDonagh, noted the growing importance of international cooperation:
“Our recent discovery and recording of a possible Spanish Armada anchor from one of the wrecks off the coast of Sligo highlights the rich maritime heritage linking Ireland to other nations and the enduring international significance of underwater cultural heritage. This discovery demonstrates the importance of international cooperation protecting our shared past and reminds us that we should work together to safeguard underwater cultural heritage for the future.”
Senior representatives of UNESCO, including, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez and Secretary of the UNESCO 2001 Convention Ms Krista Pikkat, alongside internationally recognised experts from across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, will also address the meeting.
As part of the meetings, the delegates will visit the National Museum of Ireland to view some of the rich archaeological collections that have been recovered from Ireland’s underwater environment and engage with the stories behind the discoveries of these priceless objects.
