Moves are being made to explore the possibility of replacing the collapsed roof on an ancient passage tomb – the highest in the British Isles – on the summit of Slieve Gullion.
Constructed at 1,894 feet – or 577 metres – the structure – believed to date as far back as 3,000BC – is known locally as ‘Calliagh Berra’s House’.
Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in south Armagh, the Slieve Gullion ‘South Cairn’ isdramatically sited and visible from miles away.
While access for the visitor today is difficult, those that do make it to the cairn are rewarded with spectacular views.
It is a proud reminder of a land steeped in history and folklore.
It is described by the Department for Communities as a “circular cairn with a revetment of large stones enclosing an octagonal chamber, reached from the south-west along a short passage with sides of drystone-walling rather than large slabs”. The passage is roofed with lintels, the chamber with corbelled stones, now partly collapsed.
According to Love Heritage NI, the earliest documented investigation dates to 1789, when the chamber was opened by locals searching for the ‘Old Lady’ or ‘Witch’ – Cailleach Bhéara – who was believed to have lived there, but only a few human bones were found.
Excavation in 1961 showed that the burial deposits in the passage tomb were badly disturbed, but there were fragments of cremated bone and flints.
The ‘bulge’ on the cairn’s north side results from the addition of a small round cairn, perhaps in the Bronze Age, but excavation produced no finds.
Now, Newry and Armagh SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has sought an update from Communities Minister Gordon Lyons given the condition of the roof.
Mr McNulty asked the Minister for “his assessment of the benefits of restoring the corbeling on the roof of the prehistoric court cairn on the summit of Slieve Gullion”.
Minister Lyons, meanwhile, confirmed that the prehistoric monument is certainly on the radar of his Department.
In reply to a written question, he advised: “The original stone corbeling over the main chamber collapsed in antiquity and is no longer extant.”
But he confirmed: “The Department is currently assessing options for the repair or replacement of the modern roof covering.”
