Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
108. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has an action plan or ideas for increasing the number of tourists or visitors to the Loughcrew megalithic tombs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10206/22]
View answerEach year, the Heritage Services division in the Office of Public Works carries out a programme of international and domestic marketing actions to promote all heritage visitor sites in its management and care.
The megalithic tombs of Loughcrew are an extraordinary part of our national heritage which are particularly vulnerable and require careful conservation and management. Unfortunately, in recent years there have been increases in reports of damage to archaeological monuments including Loughcrew Cairns. As a result, promotional efforts relating to Loughcrew will focus on reminding people of the importance of protecting this significant heritage site and, indeed, all of our country’s unique archaeological and architectural heritage sites, many of which are extremely vulnerable.
This messaging strategy follows on from the ‘Protect our Past’ campaign run jointly by the OPW and the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2021 which focused on raising awareness of the value, importance and uniqueness of Ireland’s archaeological heritage together with conveying the key messages for appropriate visitor behaviour at vulnerable heritage sites to ensure their survival in the landscape so that they can be enjoyed by present and future generations.
It is also worth noting that only one of the cairns at Loughcrew is in State ownership and that is accessible to the public at all times. This is one of the largest tombs in the complex and it is aligned to sunrise at the Spring and Autumn equinoxes and at these times people gather there to see the first rays of the sun. The monument attracted in excess of 28,000 visitors in 2019, but like many such sites, visitor numbers were negatively impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
