Government pledges support for more research at Wicklow site confirmed as Ireland’s oldest settlement
The Wicklow PeopleThe Department of Heritage has indicated that future funding applications will be considered to support further research, following the recent discovery of what is believed to be the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement in Ireland and Britain at the Baltinglass Hillfort Complex.
Recent research at the complex led by Queen's University Belfast has fundamentally altered the understanding of Irish prehistory, identifying it as the island's first "proto town".
Researchers identified a boat-shaped stone structure supplied by an upland spring. If confirmed, this would be the first prehistoric water cistern found at an Irish hillfort, indicating advanced communal planning.
The National Monuments Service, through its Community Monuments Fund, has supported a high-resolution LiDAR survey over an area of over 100 square kilometres within the Baltinglass landscape. This enabled archaeologists to create, for the first time, a comprehensive map of the landscape and to better allow the landscape to be assessed for previously unidentified monuments.
The National Monuments Service has also supported research on the hillfort landscape through the Royal Irish Academy archaeology grants scheme.
In addition, the National Monuments Service has funded the recent publication of seminal excavations at Rathgall Hillfort, a publication launched in the Royal Irish Academy last year.
In a recent parliamentary exchange, Wicklow TD Edward Timmins said further financial aid should be made available to support the project.
He also extended an invitation to OPW Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to attend the site.
“It has been recognised on a world basis,” said Deputy Timmins. “Recently, the headline related to Queen’s University Belfast, outside the State, which also did some work on it. I would not like to see it neglected. I would like to see it developed and brought to the wider public from a historical and tourism point of view.
“There are lots of pictures and drawings of it, but no one can access it. The whole thing has not been developed and brought to a wider public.”
In response, Minister Moran said he agreed with the sentiments of Deputy Timmins.
“I agree that our heritage is our history. I believe in our heritage and selling it. The project in this area that the Deputy spoke about so eloquently needs to be explored.
“If something can be done, it is about sitting around the table and getting the investment to do it.”
The project was also raised at a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council when Cllr Pat Mahon asked what position the executive takes on the project.
In response, chief executive Emer O’Gorman said she and her team were fully behind it and would offer their full support.
“I know Deirdre Burns, our heritage officer, is very excited about it and all that can bring to the area. There are significant investment and infrastructural challenges around access to those sites.
“When you are dealing with heritage sites, they are extremely sensitive so we will have to be careful around it, but we will look at all opportunities that we can to leverage funding from the various departments on that.”