Access row over Cairns Hill Neolithic monument reignites at Sligo County Council meeting

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Access to one of Sligo’s iconic neolithic monuments was raised once more at the June meeting of Sligo County Council with Cllr Declan Bree’s motion bringing the issue back into the spotlight.

Cllr Bree’s sought an update “regarding the possibility of developing public access to the neolithic monument above the Fox’s Den on Cairns Hill and if there has been any recent communication with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works regarding the issue.”

Speaking to the motion, Cllr Bree gave some background to the ongoing issue saying, “I have tabled numerous motions over the past number of years requesting the Council executive and the Office of Public Works to investigate the possibility of developing a walking route to the cairn located above the Fox’s Den on Cairns Hill.

“Back in 2021 an area of 23.5 acres on Cairns Hill on which the Neolithic monument is located was advertised for sale.

“However, the bid which was submitted by the Office of Public Works and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, unfortunately was submitted too late and the lands in question were sold to a private individual.”

Outlining the current situation, Cllr Bree remarked, “I note from the report we have received from the Director of Services that the full extent of the land required to develop access to the monument is not for sale.

“However, taking into consideration the significant importance of the archaeological site and its strong association with local mythology I believe that the Council should again make contact with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Office of Public Works with a view to investigating the possibility of developing public access to the Cairn.”

Highlighting the local campaign underway to secure access, Cllr Bree said, “The Carraroe and District Regeneration Association has been campaigning to have a structured walk provided, and the association remains committed to this objective.”

“The Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage has acknowledged that Sligo’s numerous passage tombs are a remarkable asset and taking into consideration the fact that the ‘Passage Tombs of Sligo’ have been placed on Ireland’s tentative list of potential world heritage sites, I feel we should work with the Minister’s Department and the Office of Public Works in the hope that a mechanism can be found to purchase the necessary land required to allow public access to the monument.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Fergal Nealon who said, the neolithic monument, “Has been described by Dr Stefan Bergh, renowned archaeologist, as the jewel in the crown of all Sligo’s monuments.”

Cllr Nealon continued, “The view up there is stunning, right over town. Certainly I think in light of our UNESCO World Heritage bid it is something we need to sort out; the public access.

“I’ve seen this come up before because the full extent of the land required to develop isn’t for sale. That is really kicking the can. I agree it is in two parcels, so there is an owner with two thirds of the land and an owner with one third of the land. I have already had discussions with the owner of one third of the land, and they are open for sale, open for business, and we have sent that message to the Council, they know that.”

Cllr Nealon continued, “The other two thirds are up for sale so you can’t keep saying, ‘we can’t get the full amount’. Just because the full amount can’t be got in one package doesn’t mean it can’t be got. I think that is something we need to be proactive about.”

Taking issue with the comments expressed by Cllr Nealon, Sligo County Council Chief Executive Martin Lydon replied, There is no kicking the can at all in relation to this. If the OPW or the Department want to buy it they are more than welcome to buy it.

“We are doing our bit already in relation to the neolithic UNESCO bid. We are not the landowner, but we have been selected as the body to try to pull stuff together. We are more than doing our bit in relation to the bid. It should be directed to the OPW or the Department because that is where the funding is for such a purchase.”

Outlining the reason for his frustration, Mr Lydon said, “I do lobby quite regularly, what I do take exception to is that the Council is informed as if everything is our job; that is the bit I took exception to, Cllr Nealon.

“We do our job, we just want other bodies to come on board with us where there is funding available so they do their side of it.”

In reply to Mr Lydon, Cllr Nealon stated, “No insults were intended. We do keep seeing the full extent of the lands required to develop is not for sale, but we do know the full extent of the land is available. The OPW need to get the message because they keep using that as an excuse.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.