Wicklow hillfort complex still off limits as state declines to intervene

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The government has again ruled out any immediate moves to promote or develop public access to the Baltinglass hillfort complex, despite its status as one of the most significant prehistoric landscapes in Ireland or Britain.

Junior minister Christopher O’Sullivan has said the Department of Heritage “very much appreciates and acknowledges” the importance of the hillforts, but stressed that the monuments remain in private ownership and that no State‑led access plan is currently under consideration.

His response came after Wicklow TD Edward Timmins asked what actions would be taken to promote a specific site in the Baltinglass complex and the wider cluster of archaeological monuments in the area.

The question follows a series of recent discoveries and research outputs that have elevated the academic profile of the Baltinglass landscape, including high‑resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mapping and new analysis of settlement patterns across southwest Wicklow and neighbouring Kildare.

Minister O’Sullivan’s reply, however, largely restated the Department’s long‑standing position: while the State has funded research and mapping, any future access or promotion initiatives would depend on engagement from the private landowners who control the sites.

“The Baltinglass hillforts are in private ownership and there is no public access to them,” he said.. “The National Monuments Service will always welcome discussion on any substantive proposals it may receive on improving access to these monuments that may emerge in liaison with those landowners who are long‑standing custodians of these monuments.”

The Baltinglass hillfort complex comprises up to thirteen prehistoric hillforts spread across a broad upland landscape. It is considered the largest concentration of such monuments in Ireland or Britain and has been the focus of renewed archaeological interest in recent years. The Department has supported a major LiDAR survey covering more than 100 square kilometres, producing the first comprehensive digital map of the terrain and identifying previously unrecorded features.

Minister O’Sullivan said the LiDAR dataset “may assist in future protection, conservation and management strategies,” but did not indicate whether the Department intends to initiate any such strategies itself. He also pointed to research funded through the Royal Irish Academy and the recent publication of excavations at Rathgall Hillfort, one of the best‑known sites in the region.

The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Deputy Timmins’ question reflects growing political and community interest in the potential of the Baltinglass landscape as a heritage asset. The area has been the subject of increasing academic attention, with recent studies suggesting that some of the hillforts may have functioned as major ceremonial or settlement centres during the Bronze Age.

However, the absence of public access, interpretive infrastructure or a coordinated management plan has long been a source of frustration for local representatives.

The minister’s reply did not reference any plans for State acquisition, protective designation, or the development of visitor facilities. Nor did it outline any mechanism through which the Department might proactively engage with landowners to explore access options. Instead, the emphasis remained on the Department’s willingness to respond to proposals rather than initiate them.

This marks the third time in recent months that parliamentary questions on the Baltinglass hillforts have elicited similar responses. Earlier queries from Timmins and other TDs sought updates on promotion, conservation and public engagement, but the Department has consistently cited private ownership as the primary constraint.

Heritage advocates argue that the Baltinglass complex represents a rare opportunity to develop a landscape‑scale archaeological attraction comparable to the Boyne Valley or the Burren. However, unlike those areas, the Baltinglass hillforts are dispersed across multiple privately owned farms, with no established access routes or visitor management structures.

The minister’s reply did not address whether the Department has considered alternative models, such as permissive access agreements, targeted land purchase, or partnership frameworks with local authorities. Nor did it comment on whether the hillforts might be candidates for future inclusion in national or international heritage designations.

For the moment, the State’s involvement remains limited to research support. The LiDAR survey, completed under the Community Monuments Fund, has been widely praised by archaeologists for its ability to reveal subtle earthworks and landscape features that are not visible on the ground. The dataset is expected to underpin future academic work and may help identify additional sites within the wider Baltinglass region.

Minister O’Sullivan said this research “may assist in future protection, conservation and management strategies,” but did not commit to any timeline or process for developing such strategies. The reply also did not indicate whether the Department intends to publish a consolidated plan for the Baltinglass landscape or engage in public consultation.

Deputy Timmins has repeatedly raised concerns that the significance of the hillforts is not being matched by Government action. His latest question sought clarity on how the State intends to promote the site he referenced and the broader archaeological landscape. The Minister’s response suggests that, for now, the Department sees its role as supportive rather than proactive.

With the hillforts continuing to attract academic attention and local interest, the question of how — or whether — the State will move beyond research funding to active heritage management remains unresolved. For the moment, the Department’s position is unchanged: the monuments are important, the research is valuable, but any future access or promotion depends on private landowners taking the first step.