Graves Association and council to discuss future of the Teeling Monument
THE management of an important monument is to be discussed in the coming weeks.
The National Graves Association (NGA) has asked for a meeting with Sligo County Council to discuss the Teeling Monument in Collooney, pictured right.
This was confirmed in response to a motion put forward by Cllr Marie Casserly at last Friday’s adjourned meeting of Sligo County Council where she called on the council to write to the NGA to request a refurbishment report and works to be carried out on the limestone statue which commemorates the centenary of the 1798 Rising.
It depicts captain Bartholomew Teeling, who played a significant role in enabling a victory for the IrishFrench army over British forces in the Battle of Collooney – which is also known locally as the Battle of Carricknagat – when he shot a cannon marksman situated atop Union Rock and took control of the cannon himself, forcing a retreat.
The monument, built in 1898, is also a protected structure within the County Sligo Development Plan 2017–2023.
In a report compiled by director of services Dorothy Clarke, she said: “The monument is of regional importance and is of artistic and historical interest. The monument is in the care of the National Graves Association.”
“Contact was made by the Heritage Office with the NGA which advised that a site meeting had taken place with local representatives in February to discuss the care and conservation report for the monument. The NGA also advised that the ongoing care of the monument is challenging as there are limited resources available to the NGA to carry out conservation work to the monument and to undertake regular maintenance at the site.”
“In light of the above, the NGA would welcome an opportunity to discuss options for the future management of the monument in partnership with Sligo County Council. To this end the NGA has sought a meeting with Sligo County Council to discuss the matter.”
Cllr Casserly welcomed the report on what she described as “an important structure” and said that while she appreciates resources are very limited, she hopes that all possible funding streams will be considered in the future. The motion was supported by Cllr Thomas Healy who said that “a lot of community work has gone on” and they are hopeful of an update “in the coming weeks”.