The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's only site to have achieved a Unesco listing so far.
Irish government funding could be the "start of a long journey" for Armagh Observatory to obtain Unesco World Heritage Status, the observatory's director has said.It included money for the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland, which includes Armagh, Birr in County Offaly and Dunsink in Dublin.Unesco is run by the United Nations to preserve cultural and natural heritage.
The funding support will enable the team to complete the application and undertake the necessary studies and planning.Professor Michael Burton, director of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, said he hopes it is "the start of a long journey""This will be an application led by Ireland but it will be a trans-national nomination because the UK is involved from the Armagh side.Prof Burton added that it could take another 10 years to get onto the Unesco list itself.