Finally, Ireland's famous stone walls have been added to UNESCO's list of protected heritage world practices.

In 2018 France, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Cyprus were all inscribed onto the list. 

Strangely, Ireland wasn't included despite the prevalence, both geographically across the island of Ireland, and historically through time from the neolithic Cedide Fields through to modern field boundaries that vary by region from Connemara to the Mournes of County Down.

The Céide Fields of County Mayo have some of the oldest field systems on the planet, fields bounded by stone walls dating back 6,000 years.

I've written about stone walls before here on Panoramic Ireland, but this is the first time that Irish stone walls have gained international prominence.

It's interesting that intangible cultural practices include customs, traditions, crafts, games and practices that are part of people's lives and identities both individually and wider communities, and are passed on from generation to generation.

Yet surely a stone wall is tangible, a physical structure which is of course touchable, viewable and part of the wider community.

Anyway, the ancient Irish, and modern, landscapes are filled with traditional Irish culture and adding Ireland to this list will undoubtedly help in the realisation that stone walls are more than just a scenic addition to the Irish landscape, they are an integral part of Ireland.

Panoramic Ireland has built many stone walls over the years and enjoyed every single minute.

But more importantly, Panoramic Ireland is continuing to photograph Irish landscapes such as stone walls.

Calling all artists! Dublin Canvas is now open for submissions for 2024. 

This inclusive public art project started in 2015 with aims to make Dublin pretty by painting utility boxes all over the county, from Balbriggan to Killiney.

There are 68 boxes in Dublin City, 23 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and 13 in Fingal. For 2024 no boxes in South Dublin are in the artist call.

Dublin Canvas will supply materials such as paints, brushes and €250 to cover travel expenses and food etc. for the day, or they will pay €300 if you supply your own materials.

The call for artists is now live, and closes on Friday 3rd of May 2024. 

More information can be found at: https://www.dublincanvas.com/paint