Unknown Swilly - Grianan Aileach September 2006

Large amounts of concrete have been used to improve the stability of Grianan Aileach’s structure and therefore the safety for the visiting public. But how safe can this method be, if parts of the wall keep collapsing or have to be declared unsafe and taken down? For as long as local peoples memory can reach, Grianan Aileach was the focal point for visitors to Inishowen and no one recalls a threat to limp or live for standing on its platform, admiring the magnificent view. The restoration work carried out at Grianan, nearly uninterrupted since 2000, seems to result in more collapses Grianan has ever seen in its entire history and one cannot help to wonder, what might cause this sudden snowball effect on this previously safe monument. Signs like “Danger Keep Out”, “Danger Pending Repairs Parts Of This Monument Are Unsafe. Visitors View At Their Own Risk” and “The Monument May Be Viewed From Outside Only” at and around Grianan carry a less ensuring tone. The increase in structural failure of the building since restoration works started is very worrying and indicates that the wrong steps and material could have been used to stabilise the wall. In this case all restored parts (from 2000 - 2006) of the wall if not the entire building would need to be raised to the ground and reconstructed completely with the right material and method to provide the same safety Grianan offered visitors for a very long time.
Another aspect of this project is the cost involved. How much has been already spent and how much more is to be expected? Since the current restoration takes already longer than the complete rebuild of Grianan Aileach from 1874 - 1878 by Dr. Walter Bernard, a reply by the Office of Public Works to this question would be much appreciated. More than once have been doubts raised over the management of the work at this heritage site. Maybe it is time for the Office of Public Works to shed light on the uncertainty of this ongoing dilemma and to make plans, expenses as well as an itinery of work carried out public. Public money is spend on a public project. The public is ought to know. Money for any public enterprise or improvement in Inishowen is scarce enough as it is. What little left should not be wasted. A publication of all files concerning the questions of how and how much of this money was spend would clear up concerns and reservations.

On September 22, 2006 the frontpage of the Derry Journal carried the headline "Grianan restoration 'gross act of cultural vandalism' "

In its defence the Office of Public Works claims that "The present intervention should considerably improve the future stability of the monument and ensure safe public access to the site." What seems strange, is the "present intervention" has turned out to be a feast of wall breaches and collapses. What is even more astonishing is that a search at its website for Grianan Aileach turned out with no result.

Photos taken September 3, 2007