Connacht queen's grave threatened by removal of cairn stones

A campaign is under way to save one of Sligo's best known landmarks, the reputed burial place of the legendary Queen Maebh on top of Knocknarea mountain.

This follows a warning from experts that the 4,000-year-old national monument has suffered serious erosion in recent months because climbers have been removing stones from the ancient cairn.

The summit of the mountain is now dotted with names and lovers' messages spelled out on stones which have been removed from the cairn.

Heavy foot traffic and persistent heavy rain have combined to create a deep scar on the mound of stones within which Queen Maebh is said to have been buried standing upright facing Ulster, in readiness for battle.

Archaeologist Tamlyn O'Driscoll, a frequent visitor to Sligo, said the cairn was becoming a victim of its own popularity.

She pointed out that stones had become dislodged by people climbing on top of the cairn when they reached the mountain summit and rain had exacerbated the problem.

"It could collapse in on itself", warned Ms O'Driscoll, a member of the Institute of Architects of Ireland.

She said no signs had been erected explaining the historical and archaeological importance of the site to visitors, who were captivated by its beauty.

"All that is needed is a few bilingual signs explaining its significance," she said. "People in Sligo are immensely proud of the cairn and conscious of its prominent position on top of the mountain."

In addition to its other attributes, the site overlooked Carrowmore, "one of the largest Neolithic cemeteries in Europe", Ms O'Driscoll said.

Michael Mulligan, a founder member of the Sligo mountaineering club, said members had been concerned for some time about damage to the cairn. "People have been removing stones writing 'I love you' and other messages," he said. "It would take two people to lift some of the stones that have been taken off".

Mr Mulligan said the club was hoping to have an open day on the mountain in the near future, during which historians could explain the significance of the cairn and encourage people to preserve it and refrain from removing stones.

Sligo County Council confirmed that there was a serious problem regarding the deterioration of the cairn.

Heritage officer Siobhán Ryan said that as a national monument, the site was the responsibility of the Office of Public Works.

She stressed however that the council would be happy to liaise with the OPW if it wanted to put up signs on the approach to the climb. "We would very much discourage people from removing stones and, in fact, would reinforce the old tradition where people carried stones up rather than taking them away."

Ms Ryan pointed out that the Rough Guide to Ireland referred to the "rather unhelpful tradition" of climbers removing stones from the cairn, thus causing it to shrink.

The guide notes that the authorities are trying to encourage people to instead carry stones up to the cairn.

The council is contacting the publication to point out that the removal of stones was never a tradition and to ask that this be clarified.

The Office of Public Works said yesterday that a report was being sought on any possible damage at the site. A decision would then be made on what action to take, "which may include damage-prevention measures and warning and educational signage."