Call is made to protect St Michael’s Grange in Duleek
MEATH County Council are to contact the OPW in relation to the historic St Michael’s Grange at Abbeylands in Duleek following a request from a local councillor.
Cllr Sharon Keogan said she was contacted by archaeologist Geraldine Stout who said the area needed to be preserved.
‘It needs to be fenced off,’ Cllr Keogan stated. ‘Maybe she (Ms Stout) could come in to us to talk about these sites.’
Fiona Lawless from Meath CC said that once its a National Monument, it’s the OPW’s responsibility and the council don’t have emergency funds. She also stated that it was on private lands.
‘We can’t do anything, but will follow up with the OPW.’
The issue of St Michael’s was raised in the Dail in 2014 by then TD, Seamus Kirk who asked if it was listed as a national monument and what plans were in place to preserve it.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys said ‘it is not a national monument in my ownership or guardianship, as Minister, the State is not responsible for its management or maintenance.
‘ The monument is, however, included on the Record of Monuments and Places established under Section 12 of the National Monuments Acts 1930, as amended. As a consequence, any proposal to carry works at or in relation to the monument is required to be notified to me not less than 2 months before the works commence,’ she added.
The Grange dates back to Walter de Lacy who established it as a link to the Augustinian House at at Llanthony Secunda at Monmouthshire in the late 1100s. It was dissolved around 1541.