10/01/2025
In case you missed this news story: The Irish practice of dry stone construction was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 5 December 2024.
Dry stone wall construction involves the skilful stacking of stones without the use of binding materials such as mortar or cement. Typically, the stones are gathered from the fields, helping to clear the land for cultivation. Minimal cutting is required, as the stones are carefully wedged together to form walls that are not only durable but also flexible, all while remaining in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape. This technique demands a deep understanding of geometry and gravity. The process generates little waste, as the stones can be reused repeatedly, making it a model of sustainability.
Dry stone walls are an enduring feature of the Irish landscape, particularly in the west and in coastal areas. In Ireland, the practice of dry stone construction dates back to the Neolithic period, but it reached its peak in the late 18th and 19th centuries when land was being enclosed on a vast scale. These walls served primarily to delineate property boundaries and to keep animals in or out. Dry stone field enclosures can also play an important role in protecting the land from wind erosion – the visible gaps between the stones in the walls on the Aran Islands, for example, allow wind to pass through while reducing its speed.
Along with field and property enclosures, other dry stone structures found in Ireland include beehive huts, tombs, forts, holy wells, penitential stations and various other buildings and monuments.
The practice of dry stone construction has survived mainly in rural Ireland among farming communities. An inherently social practice, relatives and neighbours still come together to build, restore and maintain dry stone walls.
Find out more here: https://irishheritagenews.ie/ireland-dry-stone-wall-construction-earns-unesco-status/
The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland
📸: Dry stone wall and penitential station in Ballymihil, in the Burren, Co. Clare (© Irish Heritage News).
