Today in the Seanad, Kildare based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin called for the Curragh to be designated a National Heritage Site.
Senator O’Loughlin said “Today I brought the Seanad’s attention to the terrible damage that was inflicted on the Gibbet Rath recently, and I called for National Heritage Status for the Curragh”
“We are luck in South Kildare to be home to the Curragh, and to have such a wealth of heritage and history on our doorsteps. The Curragh, which is a very unique landscape and a very important one geographically and historically needs to be protected sufficiently. We have seen a rise in illegal dumping, in illegal encampments in recent times and now more damage at the Gibbet Rath. It needs to be tackled”
“Sites such as the Gibbet Rath are of huge national historical importance. And in fact, in 1798, 350 Irish rebels were slaughtered there by British soldiers. We need to ensure that that history is fully protected and is preserved for the next generation.”
Fiona concluded “We need to see the Curragh being given National Heritage Status, and we need to see one of the countries most valuable heritage sites being protected and respected”