Grianan In Books
Blacker's Discovery Of Grianan In The 1800's
Dr. Bernard's Restoration Of Grianan 1878
2000
2003
2004
Danger Signs - A More Permanent Picture
Come Together Dates & Deadlines Revisit
Open Letter To The Taoiseach, May 2007
The Billeting Of Stones 21st Century Style
How To Demolish A Monument
Stories, Legends, Myths
Guarding Grianan Aileach - Blog
Sites In Danger
Arts & Crafts
At my visit three workers arrived. They are as suspicious of me as I am of them, what meant barely any answers for me and an embarrassing moment for two of us. As one of the workers left with a sack on his shoulder walking away from Grianan and emptied its contest, I took a couple of photos as "proof". - And found grass cuttings.
But all this secrecy and the revelation of "a series of major collapses" no one has ever heard off, surrounding the work at Grianan, can create an atmosphere of utter mistrust.
Although Grianan looks intact again from the outside, even if there should be no further collapses in the near future, a closer inspection of the wall, particulary the south west part, shows dents and irregularities. Winter is approaching, so is the feeling of deja vú.
Photos were taken September 28, 2006.
September 29, 2006
Attached the offical reponse from the Office of Public Works to the newspaper:
Grianan of Aileach
Dr. Walter Bernard, a local resident, carried out re-building of the monument between the years of 1874-1878. Following a series of major collapses of the restored structure, the monument was placed in State Care in 1904. Local repairs were carried out at the time but due to the unsatisfactory nature of the restored external masonry works and rubble/earth centre fill, sectional collapse continued at regular intervals.
In 2001, a specialist structural engineering and archaeological survey was undertaken by OPW. It revealed the lower original sections of the wall and confirmed the reasons for the monuments instability. The original inward leaning, stable profile and line of the Grianan wall was established and the monument is now being restored to that design.
Two of the three workers on the site are qualified stonemasons.
To the best of our knowledge there is no cement being used to repair the site at present.
The present intervention should considerably improve the future stability of
the monument and ensure safe public access to the site.
Regards,
Aaron Gracey
OPW 175 Events Coordinator,
Public Relations Department,
The Office of Public Works,
51, St Stephens Green,
Dublin 2, Ireland
T: [00 353] 1 6476066
F: [00 353] 1 6476491
