Vol. 511 No. 2
37 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position in relation to the restoration project on the Round Tower at Kinneigh near Enniskease, County Cork; her views on whether the tower itself is unusual, if not unique; if her attention has been drawn to a bequest towards the restoration work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23733/99]
Conservation works are under way at Kinneigh Round Tower. These works include the removal of vegetation, repointing of joints, resetting of displaced stones and the fitting of doors, windows and grids. Following the completion of the conservation works, further presentation works will be carried out involving the upgrading of the access to the tower itself and the laying of a gravel path around it. The feasibility of allowing access within the tower will be assessed during the course of the works. A new information plaque will also be erected at the site. It is expected that these works will be completed early next year.
The bequest made towards the restoration works, of which I am aware, will greatly assist in the carrying out of the works.
This round tower is unique in that its base is hexagonal for about six metres from the ground and then turns round in profile. It is built of slate stone of the locality, with large stones in the base and smaller ones high up, and is founded on the rock. It has a square-headed doorway and an internal ladder leads to the top which was altered in the last century to make a belfry.
