Grianán signs deterring Derry visitors gone

Signs at Grianán of Aileach deterring people from visiting the iconic Inishowen monument have been removed.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) signs at the Fort car park were giving visitors the mistaken impression Grianán of Aileach was closed when it was actually open.

Dozens of disappointed Derry visitors found themselves repeatedly unable to gain access to the ring fort over Christmas and New Year.

Such was the visitor and community frustration with the situation, an online petition started recently by local historian, Bettina Linke to ‘Restore open access to Grianán of Aileach’ was signed by more than 1,500 people.

On December 14, Donegal TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe why Grianán had been closed for the previous three weeks.

The Minister answered that the Fort was only closed for two days - December 5 and 6, 2023, for health and safety reasons.
Minister Donohoe’s answer was disputed by visitors, who claimed the site was closed on many occasions between November 14 and December 7.

It is believed this confusion may have arisen from the fact there were signs in the car park saying the Monument was closed due to adverse weather - even when it was open.

Derry News understands these signs were removed this week and dumped beside nearby bins.

As was previously reported, there was additional anger locally that the gate on Grianán of Aileach was being locked on a daily basis, as per newly designated opening hours.

According to Bettina Linke, the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has oversight of Grianán Fort, had not consulted anyone about the new opening hours.

It has also neglected to include a single sunset or sunrise in them for visitors to watch from the Fort.

Ms Linke said: “This closure of the monument is difficult for me because there is an upcoming alignment at the spring equinox - March 20, 2024 at 3:06am. Grianán is solar and lunar aligned to the spring and autumn equinoxes. Last spring equinox, we had visitors there from all around the world.”

In a statement to Derry News regarding the community campaign to extend the opening hours at Grianán, an OPW spokesperson said: “The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to confirm that the site is now open from 08:00 until 18:00 hours daily since February 9, 2024, and from 07:00 until 21:00 during the summer months, except for such occasions of national storm alerts when the site, for the safety of all, will have to be closed.  

“These opening arrangements will be kept under review by the OPW who look forward to continuing positive engagement with the local community into the future.”

The spokesperson added: “A Memorandum of Understanding document is currently been prepared, highlighting the Council, the OPW and Fáilte Ireland’s shared ambition to significantly enhance the visitor experience of Grianán of Aileach through the successful execution of the various site management actions highlighted within the ‘Conservation Management Plan for the Grianán of Aileach’ and also contained contained within the ‘Inishowen Peninsula Destination Experience Development Plan’.

“The document will serve as a basis to establish a workshop meeting date with the elected Members, Fáilte Ireland, Council Officials and the OPW.  

“[It will be progressed] through the establishment of a sustainable management and visitor experience stakeholder group for review of visitor experience elements, signage, and interpretative requirements at Grianán of Áileach and to discuss the associated goals and tasks.”

OPW added that the car park at Grianán of Aileach is under the care of Donegal County Council and is operated free of charge and OPW does not charge for access to Grianán of Aileach.

Fáilte Ireland told Derry News, ‘Inishowen Peninsula Destination Experience Development Plan’ (DEDP) was a five-year sustainable development plan to improve the tourism development and promotion of Inishowen.

The DEDP supports the implementation of the various site management actions contained in the ‘Conservation Management Plan for the Grianán of Aileach’.

These include OPW, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council working “collaboratively to form a sustainable management and visitor experience stakeholder group to review elements of the visitor experience, including signage and interpretative requirements.”

The three will also “where signage and on-site interpretation is required, ensure it is both robust and sensitive to the setting”.
In addition, they will “support storytelling and interpretation through new technologies, with an emphasis on virtual and augmented reality that can bring the history of the site to life - assist the visitor in understanding the wider historical context and the role of this hillfort within different historical and prehistoric eras.”

DEDP states OPW, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council will also work with landowners to “use the location to orient the visitor to the peninsula, its geography in relation to Lough Foyle, Lough Swilly, Derry, and the landscapes beyond, through digital interpretation.”

Derry visitors locked out of Grianán of Aileach

Online petition established as lack of community engagement from Office of Public Works, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council over future of iconic ring fort

Gates of Grianán of Aileach unlocked

Office of Public Works to extend Grianán of Aileach following community campaign

Finally, in the medium term, OPW, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council, together with An Grianán Hotel, Inishowen Development Partnership and landowners, will work to “leverage the interpretative value of the Old Church Visitor Centre and the role of the Centre in the overall experience”.

It is hoped together they will “explore opportunities to develop a trail from the hotel to Grianán of Aileach.

“The combination of a trailhead and establishing the hotel car park as a staging area for a guided shuttle service would create a strong connection between the two sites and would provide an opportunity for the hotel to address the gap in food and drink services at the site.

“Explore developing a mini-bus shuttle service from An Grianán Hotel for visitors arriving by larger coaches to minimise issues associated with coaches trying to access the site.”