UNESCO Together Launch

New Cross-border UNESCO Together Network Launched

Published: 23 September 2026

Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark has joined an exciting new all-island partnership which has been officially launched.

UNESCO Together is a network consisting of 14 UNESCO sites and six tentative sites across Ireland who will connect for the first time through culture, heritage, learning, sustainability and community collaboration, creating a shared network for future cooperation and exchange.

The two-year project is led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council which is responsible for overall coordination, governance, financial management and communications, with the project delivered in partnership with Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark.

Supported by the UK National Commission to UNESCO and National Commission of Ireland to UNESCO, the cross-border network links UNESCO Global Geoparks, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and Creative Cities across Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The new partnership was officially launched on 2 September, providing an opportunity for its representatives to meet and begin the journey of sharing ideas and opportunities for collaboration.

The project aims to involve over 650 people in cross-border activities including workshops, community exchanges, creative residencies, environmental action activities and cultural storytelling programmes.

In addition, the new network aims to develop an all-island strategic roadmap to guide long-term cooperation between UNESCO sites, including exploring the development of a UNSECO Tourism Trail, highlighting Heritage Sites and Global Geoparks as drivers of sustainable tourism, education, cultural identity and community development.

Artwork by Graphic Artist Stéphanie Heckman, created to celebrate the shared heritage, culture and landscapes of UNESCO sites across Ireland.

Ambassador David Brück, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OECD and UNESCO, addresses attendees at the launch of the UNESCO Together network in Belfast.

Musicians from Belfast UNESCO City of Music performing at the UNESCO Together launch event.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “UNESCO Together brings some of our most important heritage, cultural and environmental destinations into a single network with a shared vision for collaboration.

“By working together, UNESCO sites can amplify their impact, support sustainable tourism, celebrate cultural identity and create meaningful opportunities for communities to engage with and benefit from their local heritage. I am delighted that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is leading this ambitious initiative and look forward to seeing the partnerships, projects and friendships that emerge over the coming years.”

Attending the launch in Belfast, Ambassador David Brück, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OECD and UNESCO added, “I warmly welcome the UNESCO Together initiative. UNESCO is already connecting communities and places right across the island of Ireland, from Skellig Michael to the Giant’s Causeway. This exciting project will bring those connections to life, with stronger links between those places and the people who look after them”.