An Taisce says 50m buffer zone at Dún Dealgan in Louth 'totally inadequate'
An Taisce repeats call for Minister for Heritage to implement Special Protection Status to Dún Dealgan following Louth County Council’s planning decision and said that the planned buffer zone of 50m is ‘totally inadequate’
An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, has repeated its call this week for the Minister for Heritage, to utilise the powers conferred on him by the 2023 Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, to grant Special Protection Status to the Dún Dealgan monument, known locally as Cu Chulainn’s Castle, and its environs so that the recently permitted housing can be delivered in such a way that protects the monument and its unique and rich history.
An Taisce repeated its call, following the decision by Louth County Council last week, to grant planning permission for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) or 1,025 homes on lands beside Cú Chulainn's Castle in Dundalk.
Grandspect Limited was granted planning permission on 22 July for the development, consisting of houses, duplex units, and apartment units. The application includes plans for a local centre, comprising three retail units, a community/medical unit, and the provision of a stand-alone childcare facility in a two storey building.
An Taisce described Dún Dealgan as a monument of national significance, and said that the monument, primarily a Norman Motte & Bailey built on an earlier Gaelic Irish settlement, but also featuring a Prehistorical Standing Stone, is steeped in mythology.
It was mentioned in the epic Táin Bó Cúailgne saga, and became synonymous with the abode of the legendary Cú Chulainn.
Commenting on Louth County Council’s decision, An Taisce noted that the application had sought 1,058 dwellings, but 1,025 have been approved, a reduction of 33 units.
It said that a buffer zone of 50m has been created, but added that it “is totally inadequate”, and that given that the mound (the Motte) is 10m in height, the visitor would be looking down on an encompassing housing estate, which is not in keeping with the ambience of the historical and mythological landscape.
The Minister has also been requested to deny the relevant licence to conduct any works within the resulting Special Protection Archaeological and Heritage landscape. The extent of the buffer zone should then be determined within that criteria, and not on commercial values.
An Taisce added that the Minister has not yet substantively responded to its requests, and it is calling upon him to do so urgently in light of the grant of planning permission.