Vol. 455 No. 5
2 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the information available to him concerning the discovery of a 9th century Viking ship fortress known as the Fort at Dunrally on the banks of the River Barrow in County Kildare. [12402/95]
69 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the steps, if any, being taken to preserve the Viking site at Vicarstown, County Kildare, which is estimated to be half the size of the original Viking settlement in Dublin and much larger than the Wood Quay site; if he has initiated a full examination of the location from a heritage protection point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12616/95]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 2 agus Uimh. 69 le chéile.
I understand that there has been some recent press coverage of the site known as Dunrally Fort in the townland of Vicarstown, County Laois, and the National Museum of Ireland is currently preparing a report on a recent survey of the site. They will transmit this report to the Monuments and Historic Buildings Service.
When this report is assessed by the service, a decision will be made as to the protection to be afforded to the monument under the National Monuments Acts.
Perhaps the Minister could clarify this matter for me. I have been told Dunrally Fort has a fort with an outer ring — it can sometimes be referred to as a citadel. I am also told that the inner fort is protected but the outer citadel has not yet been given State protection. Does the Minister believe that such protection should be given, as I believe it should, and does he have any information from the Office of Public Works with regard to such protection?
Does the Minister believe there is a likelihood of any trial excavation? This can be done, as I am sure the Minister is aware, through a non-disturbance survey or by digging trial trenches across the ditches. I am told this would help to date the fort and would confirm the views expressed.
Could the discovery programme be implemented in this case? The personnel involved in the programme are moving onto another period and perhaps it would be an opportunity for the discovery programme to look into this particular fort.
When one digests and analyses the publicity and news reports on the find — I am not an archaeologist but I have responsibility in these areas, which I accept — one comes to the conclusion that there is no doubt whatsoever that this monument is of immense significance.
One could also conclude that the protection which was afforded previously by way of designation is not inclusive enough. Mr. Kelly is the person associated with the description of the find and John Mass, his collaborator, has worked on the analysis of annals. Mr. Kelly is the main person who has spoken about the find. It would be exciting if the find proved to be as good as has been reported. However, this will require confirmation and excavation. In the short term, it is important to complete the report and protect the site adequately, not just to protect that about which there is archaeological certitude but also what has been hypothesised in the recently reported find. I am inclined towards that and I will act as soon as I receive the report.
I understand from the writings of Mr. Kelly and Mr. Mass that this is a particularly exciting find which could well give us valuable information about other Viking centres. I am sure the Minister will be aware that this the 1200th anniversary of the first Viking raid on Ireland and perhaps this year might be an appropriate year for such excavation. However, my question relates to the protection of the site and helping to support the landowner in question.
The Minister has said that there is a necessity to protect the site and I agree with that. Would he not agree that because of the number of sightseers interested in this site, there is some worry about the potential damage to the site and the difficulties that may face the landowner with regard to liability insurance?
I am happy to tell the House that the landowner in question, Mr. Brophy of Vicarstown, Portlaoise, from the information available to me, is well disposed——
Very well disposed.
——towards the significance of the site, has been anxious to protect it and has resisted suggestions of land reclamation which would have damaged the site in the past before its significance was fully adverted to, hypothetically at least, by the field surveys of Mr. Kelly or the analytic work of John Mass. That is welcome because I am aware of land reclamation in other sites of different periods which is damaging the sites. We should bear that in mind. I would be anxious to act as quickly as the report is available but we should follow the procedure that exists, have the report to which I referred to obtained as quickly as possible and take action without delay. I can assure the House that I, on behalf of the Government, am grateful for the attitude of the landowner in question which is highly cooperative.
That seems a positive approach by the Minister. From what I understand, I also believe the landowner is very willing to co-operate and is as excited by this project as everyone else.
