Sacred Site Preservation Challenges in Ireland
By Nancy & Leonard Becker

A report by Irish sacred site preservation activist, Phil David, states that sacred site preservation in Ireland is undergoing difficult times in the face of the Irish economic boom, or what is refered to as the "Celtic Tiger economy." Preservation legislation is well written but is unenforced and the Dúchas, the department responsible for site protection, are unaccountable in spite of the present wave of commercial destruction.

The Irish National Development Plan admits to fostering "unsustainable patterns of development" especially with plans to build new multi-lane roads between major cities. Dúchas, in fact, recently made a deal with the department of National Roads to simply record archaeological sites and then destroy them. Only a year ago, Dúchas policy was to preserve sites in situ as a primary goal. ¹

An independent advisory organization, the Heritage Council, has said that Ireland's archaeological heritage "is now under more threat than at any other time in history." ²; a third of recorded sites are already destroyed. Phil David's report states that one of the best ways to preserve ancient sacred sites is to keep them secret. Many landowners preserve prehistoric monuments by simply not reporting them. Hikers are encouraged to contact landowners to ascertain that the owners are caring for the sites, and report them, only if and when they are threatened.

Sacred landscapes are also endangered and Ireland is in violation with EU Habitats Directives because of on-going delays in designating Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The Dúchas recently redrew the boundaries on an SAC in Doonbeg, County Clare, to accommodate a large-scale golfing development. SAC's account for only 5% of the State's land compared to 23% in Denmark. ³

The sacred land of the Boinne (Boyne) Valley, home of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Newgrange, is now endangered on several fronts that include the western spread of Drogedha's urban development, and forestry and mining taking place in County Meath, around Loughcrew, part of the Newgrange complex. Newgrange is considered the most important and largest complex of megalithic art in Europe with social, economic, and funerary functions. Loughcrew is part of a vast necropolis consisting of 30 mounds spread over four hills. It consists of three hills known at the Mountain of the Witch or Slibabh na Caillighe . ⁴ The chambers of the Loughcrew mounds are transcepted with some slabs exhibiting   a unique decorative style named after the site.

Phil David reports that one of the Loughcrew hills, Patrickstown, a large cairn surrounded by smaller satellite carins, has been densely planted with chemically treated commercial sitca spruce, a species that is extremely hostile to Ireland's ecosystem. No regard to the archaeology has been made despite the fact that photographs exist of archaeological remains unearthed by heavy equipment trenching. A Site Management proposal by Michelle Boyle of the Univsersity of Leicester recommends the immediate removal of the plantation because its continued growth and subsequent harvesting will result in further destruction of the site. David states, "I strongly support this   but also feel that much can be accomplished by removing the financial incentives (EU grants) for such projects." Mining, mostly gravel for roads and concrete, is destroying the adjacent sacred geometry of the hills, thereby ruining its contextual meaning. David feels that there needs to be more incentives for traditional stonework and permaculture techniques.

Sacred Sites International recommends a Letter-Writing Campaign to alert officals of the need to curb development and stop irresponsible mining and forestry at Loughcrew and other megalithic sites in Ireland:

Mr. Mounir Bouchenaki, Chairman, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352, Paris, France

Dr. Michael Petzet, President, ICOMOS, 49-51 rue de la Federation, 75015 Paris, France

1. "The golf course of Irish History," The Irish Times, August 20,2000, Frank McDonald.

2. ibid.

3. ibid.

4. from www.mythicalireland.com . Photos of Loughcrew are available on this website.

ssif / preservation/ the 2005 most endangered sacred sites list / The Black Hills