OPW flooded with complaints over access to historical hill fort

● Office restricted opening hours over rise in anti-social activity and vandalism at site

The Office of Public Works (OPW) was bombarded with complaints after a dispute over access to a historical hill fort with gripes over a newly installed locked gate and restricted opening hours.

People in Co Donegal were unhappy with new arrangements that they say blocked access to An Grianán of Aileach, a heritage site in Inishowen dating back to the sixth or seventh century.

In internal discussions, the OPW said the hill fort had become a target for anti-social activity and they were trying to protect it from vandalism and other damage.

Records detail the increasing tensions over the closing times, with the site shut down for two days in both November and December on health and safety grounds during cold weather.

The OPW was monitoring Facebook comments, with members of the public calling for “freedom of the fort”. The OPW also received queries on why it had installed a gate on the site when access had in recent years been much easier.

An email from an official in the National Monuments Service said: “The re-installation of the gate to the fort, to replace the one that was previously stolen, is designed to discourage easy access in the hours of darkness, when the security of the monument and the safety of visitors cannot be supervised.”

Asked why the site had been closed entirely some days and on others as early as 3.30pm, the OPW apologised for confusion over access.

“This was possibly a day during the summer where unfortunately there was a breakdown in communications at a security company who had been engaged to open that day due to regular OPW staff members being off,” an email read.

“This has been highlighted by a number of visitors as unfortunately it meant some buses missed getting access.”

One person wrote of how they loved to visit the site at different times of the day to take photos, especially of the sunset and during the solstices.

“This is a beautiful scenic site where visitors flock in all weather conditions and are left disappointed because the gate is closed after coming from all parts of the world to see it,” they wrote.

Correspondence was received from the trade union Siptu querying why people “can’t come and go as they wish any more”, especially during times when the sun aligns with the fort.

The email read: “The new OPW arrangement means that the site will now never be open for sunrise or sunset when this alignment takes place.”

The SDLP wrote to say it was aware of three instances when tourist coaches, each carrying 50 visitors, had been unable to access the Grianán.

“This was not a one-off. I went back to one of the tour operators who had been in touch with us and they were able to provide specific information [on three cases],” they said.

The OPW has since reached a compromise with an agreement on access to An Grianán from 8am to 6pm and opening hours to remain under review.

A spokesperson said: “The OPW provides public access to An Grianán of Aileach, balanced with the requirement to ensure the protection of the monument.

“There is a history of potentially damaging activity at the site after dark. Over time, various arrangements have been in place to minimise the risk of anti-social behaviour inside the monument.”