Ancient Irish site's daylight opening hours welcomed

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Grian谩n of Aileach is one of County Donegal's most recognisable landmarks
At a glance
  • An Grian谩n of Aileach now opens during daylight hours
  • That is an extension of opening hours introduced earlier this month
  • There has been concern locally about limited access to the ancient site
  • The stone fort is thought to have been built in the 9th century AD

Access to one of County Donegal鈥檚 most historic monuments has been further extended after concerns people were being prevented from visiting the site.

Earlier this month the Irish government's Office of Public Works (OPW) introduced new opening hours at An Grian谩n of Aileach.

Some visitors then voiced opposition over what they viewed as the OPW limiting access to the hilltop fort.

Now the OPW say after 鈥減ositive engagement鈥 with the local community, opening hours are to be further extended.

鈥淭he OPW are delighted to confirm that after further consideration, the site will be accessible during daylight hours,鈥 a spokeswoman said.

She added: 鈥淭hese opening arrangements will be kept under review by the Office of Public Works, who look forward to continuing positive engagement with the local community into the future鈥.

Designated a National Monument by the Irish government, the fort sits on a mountain top between Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly in the island of Ireland's north west.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The fort looks out across five Irish counties

The earliest evidence of a fort at the site dates to between 1100 and 800 BC.

The stone fort structure is thought external and is likely to have been used by the Cen茅l n脡ogain, a branch of the medieval O'Neill clan, for inauguration and other royal ceremonies, according to the OPW.

Earlier this month the OPW said the fort would open daily from 08:00 to 18:00 local time each day.

At that time Sinn F茅in TD (member of the Irish parliament) P谩draig Mac Lochlainn said the site was regularly being closed without advance notice.

Its closure, he added, has been going on for a prolonged period of time and sparked a campaign to restore unlimited access.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The OPW say the fort is now open to the public daily in daylight hours except in exceptional circumstances

Welcoming confirmation of the new extended access, local historian Dessie McCallion said it is 鈥渢he best news we have had in sometime鈥.

鈥淭he greatest attraction in An Grian谩n is the sunrise and sunset periods," he said.

鈥淭here are people from all over the world who have this in their travel list so it鈥檚 frustrating for them hearing it is no longer available to visit,鈥 he told 成人论坛 Radio Foyle鈥檚 North West Today programme.

Mr McCallion said he visits the site almost every day and meeting visitors who were 鈥渁lmost afraid of being locked in or fearing they were breaking the law 鈥 the signage that was there was very confusing鈥.

He added: 鈥淧eople were coming to the car park and seeing the signs and then turning away again鈥.