Re: Planning application by Telecom Eireann to Clare County Council for planning permission to erect a 24m high latticework tower carrying antennae, with associated equipment housing in a fenced compound at Rockview Td., Park na Binne, Co. Clare.
Following the enactment of the Heritage Act, 1995, the Heritage Council was appointed on 10th July, 1995. Under section 6(1)of the Act, the functions of the Council shall be to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage, including monuments, archaeological object, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks and inland waterwaysí. Under section 6(3) it states that ëthe Council shall in particular - (a) promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in, and facilitate the appreciation and enjoyment of the national heritage, (b) co-operate with public authorities, educational bodies and other organisations and persons in the promotion of the functions of the Councilí.
The establishment of a National Park and the management policies pursued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service have major implications for the protection, preservation and enhancement of the Burren, which is part of the national heritage. It is in this context that the Heritage Council recommend that Clare County Council give due consideration to the comments presented below, when assessing the merits of the planning application.
The proposed development would severely detract from the amenity of the megalithic tomb cemetery at Parknabinnia and the archaeological landscape in which it is situated. The site consists of 27 megalithic tombs, mostly wedge tombs, and cairns in the townlands of Parknabinnia, Leana and Commons North which are situated in an area covering 1.8km NE-SW and 600m NW-SE on the north-west facing slope of a ridge. Twelve of these sites have been published by de Valera and OíNuallian (1961, 47-57) in the Megalithic Survey of Ireland Vol. I. Cooney, in his paper in Antiquity (1990) ìThe place of megalithic tomb cemeteries in Irelandî, noted that one of the tombs was situated on the highest point of the ridge in a prominent location, overlooking the remainder of the tombs. The positioning of this monument and the aspects of siting and intervisibility are an integral component of the archaeological landscape. Cooney noted the 12 tombs are all of the same type, occur in a restricted area, there is a focal point and there is a clustering within the group and it can be defined as a megalithic tomb cemetery. Our knowledge of this complex of monuments is increasing and recent work carried out by the Megalithic Survey and others has revealed five further megalithic tombs and ten cairns within the focus, raising the total number of monuments to 27. These additional sites are not included on the Archaeological Constraint map produced by The National Monuments Service and University College Cork in 1992. It is likely that further research and fieldwork will increase the numbers of known monuments in the area further and increase the importance of this as a heritage landscape.
The positioning of the 24m high tower would alter the integrity of the landscape in this area and render it impossible for the public and specialist alike to fully appreciate the siting of the cemetery. In addition its positioning between the southern tombs and the cemetery focus on the highest point of the ridge would degrade this important intervisibility. The net result will be to degrade one of the most important heritage landscapes of the country. The alternative location, noted in the location plan in the planning application, to the north, would cause similar degradation.
It is the opinion of the Heritage Council that any developments of this kind should be considered in the context of an overall landuse and landscape policy for the Burren as a whole. On the basis of the above the Heritage Council advises that Clare Co. Council reject the application.
The Heritage Council
26 November 1996