asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a request to grant permission for the removal from their original sites of ancient monuments to be displayed in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin, on exhibition; if this includes the proposed removal of two monuments at Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, one an ornamental capital and the other an ornamental lions shaft; if he will refuse such a request as removal to Dublin is likely to cause damage to the monuments and to hinder research in relation to them; and if he will make a general statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Removal of Ancient Monuments.
85.
The Commissioners of Public Works have received a request from the committee of Rose to have certain national monuments made available for display in an international exhibition of modern painting and ancient Celtic art to be held in the premises of the Royal Dublin Society at Ballsbridge, Dublin, in November and December next. The Rosc committee were prompted to make their request by a distinguished international jury who have chosen the paintings. The request is supported by An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the official advisory body to the Government on matters relating to Art. It is important in the public interest to demonstrate the principles of ancient Irish art and modern affinity between design. This can best be achieved by exhibiting the sculptured stones with the modern paintings. The commissioners consider that the greater public interest would be served by affording the people an opportunity of seeing the sculptures in a new context. They have accordingly acceded to the request. The Northern Ireland authorities are providing a number of monuments for display.
The monuments proposed for display are:
The Turoe Stone, County Galway;
The Tau Cross, Killinaboy, County Clare;
Fragment of a cross shaft and a carved capital from Clonmacnoise;
A cross-shaped slab and two small pillars from Carndonagh, County Donegal.
None of these monuments is in an undisturbed original position and there is no question of research being hindered as all have been moved in recent times. The Turoe Stone, which is a carved ritual granite stone from the Celtic period at one time stood outside the bank of an adjacent ring fort. It was removed in the last century to the grounds of the nearby "Big House" and is now back in what may have been its former location. The Tau Cross was missing for about 30 years in the last century, being returned in 1894. The cross shaft at Clonmacnoise had been built into the wall of a church and was discovered only ten years ago. The capital there was found during excavation at the same time. The Carndonagh slab and pillars were moved twice in recent years to permit of road improvements.
The commissioners are satisfied that the removal is not likely to cause damage. The objects will be removed and reset by the skilled staff of the National Monuments Branch and adequate measures will be taken to ensure their safety. The two fragments from Clonmacnoise were sent to an Exhibition of Romanesque Art sponsored by the Council of Europe in Barcelona in 1961 and suffered no mishap.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state if it is intended that a monument could be removed from Knowth, Slane, County Meath?
No.