Debate contribution: Slieve Gullion Cairn

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 10 March 2026.

MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

10 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Slieve Gullion Cairn

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5437461

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The debate has certainly been more temperate in its language than the one that went before it. I begin by congratulating the Member for securing this evening's debate and for her contribution, which, along with those of other Members, outlined the history of the site. I particularly thank Mr McNulty for his one-man drama. He vividly outlined the history and myths of the place, which we are all now better acquainted with at 9.50 pm on this Tuesday evening. I will summarise a little bit of the history. As Mr McNulty will be aware, in the 1960s, the chamber and the passage were fully excavated, and a concrete roof supported on steel beams was installed. The corrosion of those steel beams was identified through my Department's proactive programme of cyclical inspections of state cairn monuments and its robust health and safety regime. The decision by officials to close the state cairn monument and ensure public safety was taken following advice from structural engineers. The project to replace the roof covering from the 1960s is well advanced, guided by my Department's conservation principles and international best practice, which demand minimum intervention, maximum retention of historical fabric, clarity of new work, reversibility and sustainability. I understand the importance of that special place to the community, as well as to visitors to the area. That is why I am pleased that my officials have maintained regular communication with the council and Slieve Gullion geopark staff to keep them updated on progress, most recently —.

I am happy to give way to the Member.

Consideration was given to that since the main chamber collapsed, but restructuring the entire stone roof to its original state would be based on a degree of conjecture. Structural unknowns may impact on the significance of the monument, including readability between new work and original material. It is unlikely that that original roof structure would be feasible to deliver, owing to the mountaintop location and a general lack of knowledge of and skills in that type of roofing construction technique. In addition, because of structural unknowns, that type of roof may require the restriction of access to the cairn summit, which is currently accessible to visitors. That is something that we did not want to consider. I understand the Member's concerns and know from where he is coming, but we believe that that is the best route for us to take.

The project is logistically complex due to the mountaintop location of the site and the impact of changeable weather in the winter months. My officials have therefore taken care to plan the operation to get the new materials to the tomb, install the new roof covering and make the site good. To the Member who secured the Adjournment debate, I say that the design for the replacement roof has been completed, and my conservation works team has been preparing to carry out the work. We aim to reopen the monument in time for the 2026 winter solstice. That will, of course, be subject to ecological permissions and, crucially, good weather. I do not believe that there is a contradiction between what was said in response to the question for written answer and what my officials have been saying. Things have developed. Of course, our actions are always subject to budget availability, but our aim is absolutely to have it reopened in time for the winter solstice. I hope that she understands that that will, to a large extent, be down to the weather, which plays a considerable role. We are working with stakeholders to obtain the necessary consents for the location, since it is in an area of special scientific interest, a special area of conservation, an area of outstanding natural beauty and a peatland priority habitat. We are also in consultation with the Historic Monuments Council, which has identified an area of significant archaeological interest (ASAI) around Slieve Gullion. I note that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has indicated, in its published local development plan, its intention to designate the ASAI. Why is the work going forward? Why are we able to take it forward now? It is because, this year, I have invested nearly £19 million in salaries, resource and capital to protect and conserve Northern Ireland's historic environment. There are huge pressures on my Department. There are some politically very popular and topical things on my desk. Despite that, I have made this a priority. That has included the creation of 34 new posts at an approximate cost of £1·6 million. Of those posts, 28 were created in the conservation works team to protect and conserve the 187 state care monuments that are in the care of my Department. I am glad that the Member secured the debate on this issue, and I am glad that she raised the points that she did in her speech, because this is important work. There are immediate pressures in front of us. In some cases, we will have only one opportunity to look after our state care monuments. There are 187 of them. They are all over Northern Ireland, and I do not want to lose them. That is why I have prioritised this investment, including £4·3 million capital and resource investment specifically to protect the state care monuments. That underscores my commitment. My investment will also support 11 apprentices, who will be the first apprentices to join the conservation works team in 25 years. I hope that that highlights my commitment to proceeding with the work. The investment that I have made is making it possible to prioritise the work at that nationally important site. We will reopen it for the benefit of the entire community and for visitors to Northern Ireland. I intend to continue protecting our rich cultural heritage and contributing to Northern Ireland's tourism offering. I have not made it up there yet, but I look forward to the work being done. I may join my colleague Mr Wilson up there, and anyone else who wants to join —.

I will even go with Mr McNulty, and he can tell us a little bit more. Thankfully, there are time limits in this place; there would be no time limits if I was getting a history lesson from Mr McNulty up there. I will certainly do that, however, because we have something that is worth protecting, and we have invested the money to make sure that it will be protected.

1,075 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification