Derry’s historic Walls have made it into the definitive ‘must see’ guide to the world’s best heritage sites –the only site in Northern Ireland to have made the cut.

  By Alan Healyalan@derrynews.net   

Out of 16 Irish heritage sites listed in the United Nations guide, not one other northern landmark is included –no Giant’s Causeway, no Mountains of Mourne and no Glens of Antrim.

However, the 1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die guide lists a slew of southern sites well worth the time of any discerning tourist, such as the GPO in Dublin, WB Yeats’ grave in Drumcliff and the Guinness Brewery as unmissable destinations.

Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trinity College are also included in the book, which was produced in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The list was compiled by a team of journalists who travelled the globe visiting hundreds of landmarks which were then designated as UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, recognising their cultural significance and tourism potential.

Speaking to the Derry News last night, Ronan McNamara, of McNamara Tours, said that the designation was the ‘icing on the cake’ for an already globally established landmark.

“Any kind of award or accreditation is always great from a tourism point of view, and a recognition like this really makes us stand out as a city,” he said. Amazed “The Walls are always high on the list of priorities when visitors arrive in the city and it doesn’t surprise me.“Visitors are always amazed when they get there, especially at how well they’re kept and how well they look given all the trouble we’ve been through in the city.

“It really is the icing on the cake and a huge boost not only for the tourism industry here, but the north west economy as a whole.”

In March 2007, Peter Munce launched a campaign as the UUP Foyle Assembly candidate for Foyle to have Derry’s walls placed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.