Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rathcroghan is a complex of archaeological sites near Tulsk in Co. Roscommon. The Office of Public Works purchased 71 acres at Rathcroghan, County Roscommon, in 2008 on behalf of the then Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The OPW managed landholding is leased for sheep grazing and also contains the Rathcroghan Mound the focal point of the complex. Beside the mound the public car park is owned by Roscommon Co. Co. Of the 240 or more archaeological sites that constitute the complex the state has 60 in ownership or guardianship.

Oweynagat, the Cave of the Cats, is one of a number of National Monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the State that make up the part of the archaeological site complex at Rathcroghan. There is an association with Halloween leading to, it is understood, an increase in visitor interest over the last number of years. The Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, a community social enterprise) located in Tulsk village offers guided tours of Rathcroghan to visitors. The inclusion of Oweynagat in this offering is of concern to OPW as it relates to the health and safety of visitors accessing the cave in addition to the challenges being presented in terms of the longterm preservation of the Cave.

On foot of this, a Report has been prepared by a member of the Senior Architectural team in the Office of Public Works regarding the Oweynagat Cave at Rathcroghan. This report is currently being considered by both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and OPW taking into account both the context of the on-going protection of the monument and also the safety of visitors. We expect to have more information to share on this in the coming months.

As part of the strong commitment to the local community, OPW has supported the Tulsk Action Group and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Rathcroghan European Innovation Partnership (EIP), which promotes the continuation of farming in the area by providing guidance and support for farmers to maintain the archaeological landscape.