Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 22 Feb 2007

Vol. 186 No. 6

National Monuments.

The largest dolmen and capstone in Europe is situated in Carlow. It is a megalithic tomb dating back to the first inhabitants of the country, making it a great deal older than any of us in this House. I was delighted to see a new interpretative centre opened at the Cliffs of Moher recently. While I do not seek the same in Carlow, we need to enhance considerably the facilities at the Brownshill dolmen which comprise a small pedestrian walkway and car park with craters in it. One could lose one's car in them if one did not watch where one was going.

We could market the dolmen more than we do. When I was teaching, I went on a local history tour ever year with the children, who loved it. We are blessed in Carlow to have also a beautiful Romanesque archway in Killeshin, a round tower in Castledermot and a castle in Clonegal where the witches of Isis reside.

It is an amazing place.

Yes, it is an amazing place. The oldest yew trees in the country form a beautiful walkway there. There are numerous other historical sites in the county.

There is great potential in using the dolmen as the focal point for a centre which could highlight the other historical treasures in the Carlow-south Kildare region. We need to follow the excellent example of the Cliffs of Moher. I believe there are caves in the Minister of State's area of east Cork.

In that case he will understand the attraction of these sites. Despite the inadequate facilities, hundreds of tourists come every year to see the dolmen. We have no idea of the exact numbers but people from Germany and elsewhere come to see it because they are so in awe of the structure.

The good news is that Carlow County Council has plans to purchase compulsorily the land around the area. I ask that it receive every assistance in that regard. We must market it much better. Carlow is turning into a major tourism destination which was not the case 20 years ago. Numerous hotels have been built there. People who opt to go on short breaks and do not want to queue for hours in airports would prefer to drive for two hours to Carlow and get away from city life for a weekend. The area needs to be put on the map. If we did not have it, we would look for it and now that we have it, we do not exploit it as we should.

On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this House on the subject of Brownshill dolmen. I am delighted to learn about it because I was not aware of it.

I will send the Minister of State some photographs of it.

It is nice to learn what is available in other counties and areas.

The Brownshill dolmen is located in the townland of Kernanstown and is visible from the public road. I understand it is known locally as "pagan's altar". It is a national monument as defined under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004. Its national importance is, as Senator Browne rightly states, of considerable historical and archaeological interest. Only the dolmen itself, however, and a small area around it, along with a pathway leading to a nearby public car park are in the ownership of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The car park, off the main road, is owned and managed by Carlow County Council which is responsible for its maintenance.

The Minister agrees that access to this national monument is somewhat difficult. Senator Browne suggests it is more than somewhat. One sets off from the public car park along a field boundary to the dolmen, but one must also bear in mind that its very isolation acts as a protection for the monument. We continually strive to balance the protection of national monuments with a reasonable level of public access and interpretation.

Discussions took place recently between the Department, the Office of Public Works, OPW, and Carlow County Council on the possibility of acquiring additional lands adjacent to the dolmen and the transfer of such lands into State care. The intention was to improve the amenity and setting of the monument and to widen and improve public access to it as well as to provide improved interpretation signage.

In the interim, the OPW continues to maintain both the public access and the area in State care directly around the monument. The OPW has informed the Minister that it is not aware of any need for major conservation work to the site. It is aware that there can be a problem with litter in the car park from time to time but this is a matter for the county council.

The Minister is also anxious to see access to, and presentation of, this highly important monument being improved and has instructed his officials, in consultation with the OPW, to reactivate discussions with Carlow County Council with a view to addressing these issues and to seek to bring forward any necessary practical measures in this regard. The Minister is confident that, between all parties, we can provide a better showcase for this magnificent national monument of megalithic provenance.

Barr
Roinn