Ciarán Cannon (Progressive Democrats)

The Turoe Stone is acknowledged as one of the finest remaining examples of La Tène Celtic art in the world. It has been located at Turoe, near Loughrea in County Galway, for more than 2,000 years. Experts within the OPW and the National Museum have concluded that the stone must be moved indoors to afford it the protection that an artefact of this value requires. However, for some strange reason the decision has been made to move the stone to a location 30 kilometres away from Turoe to the middle of Galway city and an environment far removed from the rolling hills of the east Galway landscape. The proposal is to leave a meaningless replica in Turoe and to take the original stone out of its geographical context as the centrepiece of what was a large Celtic settlement in Turoe and its environs. The observation by the OPW and the National Museum that the stone needs protection indoors offers us a wonderful opportunity to create a new visitor centre at Turoe, where there is a wealth of heritage and where a new initiative of this type could give a massive boost to tourism.

In a recent e-mail from the National Museum, an expert cited some precedents for the moving indoors of archaeological monuments such as the Turoe Stone. I expect the contents of this e-mail will feature prominently in the Minister's response. Its author refers to Clonmacnoise and other locations as examples in which replicas have been placed outdoors and the originals placed indoors. However, she neglected to mention that the Clonmacnoise replicas of our valuable Celtic high crosses remain indoors in Clonmacnoise, that the cross of Kells remains in Kells and that the Iron Age road discovered in Corlea, County Longford, remains in Corlea. The expert also incorrectly asserts that the Turoe Stone was moved a considerable distance 150 years ago. This is totally untrue. The stone was moved, but only about 400 metres from one area of Turoe hill to another.

The sad aspect of this debacle is that no consultation took place with the local community, its elected representatives or the local authority, Galway County Council. In fact, the county council heritage officer, who is charged with the protection of our national heritage, was not even aware of the plan to move the stone until informed of it by locals.

I am surprised and disappointed that the order to move the stone has been signed already by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, whom I have always believed to be a passionate proponent of the devolution of powers to local government and particularly to local communities. In his speech at the opening of National Heritage Week last August, he said:

At a time when there is concern about a decline in civic responsibility it is inspiring to see that so many are willing to give generously of their time to their communities and neighbourhoods ... Recent research carried out by the Heritage Council highlights the public's support for a more proactive approach to protecting our heritage. It also articulated that this could be best achieved by increasing public awareness and empowering communities ... Tourism remains one of the key industries that benefits from regional development and generates employment in rural areas and it is set to continue to grow over the next decade.

The community of Turoe was not consulted before the loss of its most precious artefact was proposed. This community is more than willing to continue acting as the caretaker of the Turoe Stone, as it has done for generations.

I ask that the Minister make himself aware of the depth of feeling in east Galway on this issue. More than 3,000 signatures have been collected requesting that the Turoe Stone be left in Turoe and that an adequate home for it be constructed in acknowledgement of the rich archaeological heritage in this area. I plead with the Minister to revisit the issue and to see the opportunity, rather than the obstacle, with which he is now presented. The building of a new visitor centre in Turoe would be a major step forward and would acknowledge the commitment of this rural community to keeping the Turoe Stone in Turoe.