Majestically placed, like a crown on top of a hill, the Grianan of Aileach in Inishowen, Co Donegal seems to guard the entrance to this most northerly part of Ireland. The monument is much cherished by the people of the surrounding areas of Inishowen and Derry and has become to many a place to relish life and beauty, a place to connect with one’s ancestors and past, a place of contemplation and peace in troubled times, a place to just be, to propose on one’s knees, to picnic and everything in between. Many enjoy a visit to the site during out of office hours, the sunsets being the favourite but also stargazers at night, hoping to glimpse the Aurora Borealis or to see the Milky Way above the monument. And there are people, some of them dealing with mental health issues, who come before work and school at sunrise, to ready themselves for the daily tasks and tribulations ahead.

As for the sunrise, a forgotten solar alignment was rediscovered in March 2012 at the spring equinox during which a glorious golden beam entered through the gate and divided the inside perfectly into a southern and northern half. Over the years a small ‘equinox family’ grew to witness our very own alignment. The Lithuanian families come for several years now, having chosen to celebrate their autumn equinox tradition at the Grianan. And the last few years saw finally visitors from around the world arriving, as well as other parts of Ireland, specifically to see the alignment and the golden beam of light streaming through the entire length of the monument.

The last 10 years have also seen a tremendous increase of visitors to the Grianan of Aileach be it on foot or bike, by car or coach from all corners of the world, increasing tremendously tourist numbers to this lesser frequented part of Ireland due to the tireless efforts of the local people to promote the Grianan and Inishowen. 

Recently a gate has been re installed by the OPW at the monument and for the first time in many decades this gate is now being locked according to the newly imposed opening hours. The only times access to the monument had been previously prevented was as work was carried out between 2000 and 2008 and a few weeks in 2020 during lockdown. Until last September opening hours were applied to the barrier at the foot of the hill preventing vehicle access to the carpark above. These are now implemented to prevent access to the monument itself, leaving the Grianan closed for every sunrise and every sunset during the entire year so that no one will be able to stand on its wall, admiring, enjoying, celebrating the beauty this monument has to offer between dusk and dawn. This is in utter disregard of how our community is using the Grianan and, as the past few months have proven, much to the disappointment and frustration to visitors from abroad.  

We are asking for the reinstatement of the open access to the Grianan, as it was before, and to reverse the newly introduced opening hours to the monument itself.

 

MAILING LIST

Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/

Catherine Martin
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Address:
Catherine Martin
23 Kildare Street,
Dublin 2,
D02 TD30

Email: 
ministers.office@tcagsm.gov.ie
diary@tcagsm.gov.ie

Patrick O'Donovan
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht

Address:
Patrick O'Donovan
23 Kildare Street,
Dublin 2,
D02 TD30

Email: 
airestait@tcagsm.gov.ie

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Depart of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/

Darragh O'Brien
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Address:
Darragh O’Brien
Minister's Office,
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
Custom House,
Dublin,
D01 W6X0

Email:
ministerofstate@housing.gov.ie

Malcolm Noonan
Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform

Address:
Malcolm Noonan
Minister of State's Office,
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
Custom House,
Dublin,
D01 W6X0

Email:
MOS@housing.gov.ie

 

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Donegal TDs
In order of first preferences votes percentage

Pearse Doherty (SF)
Constituency Office: 
Magheraclogher, Derrybeg, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 
Tel: 0749532832 
Email: pearsedohertytd@gmail.com 

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF)
Constituency Office
Sands/Fullerton House, High Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Tel: 07496 01730
Email: padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie

Thomas Pringle (IND)
Connolly House, Bridge Street, 
Killybegs, Co. Donegal
Tel: 074-97-41880
Email: thomas.pringle@oir.ie

Joe McHugh (FG)
Grier House, Lower Main St,
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Tel: 074 916 4787
Email: joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie.

Charlie McConalogue (FF)
Constituency address(es):
Chapel St, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal // Market Square, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Tel: 074 917 7282 and 074 937 3131 
Email: charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie