A cross-border project linking 14 UNESCO-designated sites across Ireland has secured €93,000 in funding through the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Programme. The initiative, named UNESCO Together, will be led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in partnership with Cavan County Council and Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will coordinate involvement of the Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement, which was recently inscribed as a World Heritage Site. The council will work alongside the Gracehill Trust, the Moravian Church, local primary schools and village residents to build connections with other UNESCO sites and expand educational opportunities.

Over the next two years, the project aims to deliver cross-border workshops, community events and online exchanges, with more than 650 participants expected. Activities will focus on peacebuilding, reconciliation, youth engagement and cultural exchange.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, said the initiative would strengthen cross-border community connections and promote understanding and respect. He highlighted the involvement of Gracehill Primary School as an investment in a more inclusive and cooperative future.

The project will develop an all-island roadmap for future collaboration, including exploration of a UNESCO tourism trail intended to highlight heritage sites as drivers of sustainable tourism and education. David Johnston, Chairperson of the Gracehill Trust, said the initiative offered an opportunity to deepen understanding of shared natural and cultural heritage while promoting community cohesion and sustainable tourism.

The project is expected to attract new visitors to Gracehill and the wider Ballymena area, supporting local tourism and community development.