Limerick historian joins UNESCO to assess French town’s world heritage bid
Limerick historian Dr Stephen Griffin has been invited to join a UNESCO committee to assess the French town of Lunéville's bid for world heritage status, a move that he hopes will put the town 'on the map'.
A LIMERICK historian has been invited to join a committee to review a French town’s potential to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dr Stephen Griffin has joined a committee of scientists to consider whether the French town of Lunéville is worthy of international recognition.
The ‘commune’ in north-eastern France must go through a rigorous multi-stage process to assess its ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ to world history.
Architectural masterpieces like its Château de Lunéville, nicknamed the ‘Versailles of Lorraine,’ will be considered for its historical and cultural significance.
Dr Griffin has completed a BA, MA and a PhD in history at the University of Limerick. He currently works as a supervisor with Limerick Civic Trust and is involved in the restoration of the iconic People’s Park kiosk in Limerick city.
His extensive research into the political history of Lunéville was read by a group of French academics who later invited him to help draft their application to UNESCO.
He told Limerick Live: “I have done a lot of research into the area and its politics dating back to the 1600s. I was invited by some local scholars and citizens to help them get the historic town and château acknowledged as a site worthy of world heritage status.”
I do a lot of political history so id be researching the towns importance in that regard
“I was first interested in Lunéville due to the Irish community that first arrived in the 1690s. I do a lot of political history so I’d be researching the towns importance in that regard. Then we will provide our own recommendations which will frame the application to UNESCO.”
Stephen is one of many academics invited to join the committee, “Historians from local universities in Lunéville and beyond were invited, It all comes down to their research specialty. I just happened to have done some of the most recent research into the area.”
He concluded: “I am hoping to visit soon. Hopefully, I will get over there and help UNESCO to put Luneville on the map.”