What to do with Loughcrew...Charm of the ancient monuments needs to be shared with the world
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Sunrise at Autumn Equinox 2022 at Loughcrew. Photo: Loughcrew Megalithic Centre Facebook Page and (below) last week’s Chronicle feature on ‘What to do withLoughcrew’Image 2 of 4
Sunrise at Autumn Equinox 2022 at Loughcrew. Photo: Loughcrew Megalithic Centre Facebook Page.Image 3 of 4
A rusted gate post at Loughcrew.Image 4 of 4
Aine McGarry and Lar Dooley are both passionate about the Loughcrew site and want to see more done to protect it for future generations.Last week, the Meath Chronicle highlighted concerns that are being expressed about the ancient Loughcrew Cairns site near Oldcastle, a series of neolithic passages tombs that are thought to be up to 5,500 years old and could even predate the Newgrange Monument.
Questions were raised over the deterioration of Cairn T, the main cairn where the sun lights up the chamber at Spring equinox in a similar phenomenon to Newgrange and what can be done to preserve it for future generations, as well as questions about the future of the site in general.
There are very little facilities at Loughcrew with just a car park, an explanatory sign in the car park and another at the outer perimeter of the fenced part of the site, with a small tour guides hut that is used by the OPW tour guides during the summer months. Part of the gate and fence is rusting and in need of repair.
Part of the charm of Loughcrew is its natural beauty with stunning views over the surrounding countryside from where you can see 18 counties on a clear day and the fact that it hasn't been developed. So what to do with Loughcrew is not an easy question to answer.
Excavation of the site would be a major undertaking that could take many years and would need to be carried out by the top experts to ensure the integrity of the site is maintained. What impact any intervention to the site would have is also a consideration.
But fears have been expressed that the cairns could be lost to future generations if nothing is done to preserve them and questions are being asked of the OPW over what it intends to do about the cracked lintel stone in Cairn T that resulted in the interior being closed to the public in 2018 over health and safety concerns.
The OPW has said very little about what its intentions are for the site other than committing to commencing a conservation management plan for the site which will inform any future works.
It is a subject many feel passionate about and a number of people have shared their concerns and views about the site in this week's follow-up.