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The Slieve Gullion Cairn is set to reopen to the public before this years winter solstice, after Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons confirmed the timeline in response to a letter from SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty.
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The cairn has been closed to the public since last summer, and McNulty has been pressing for its restoration submitting a series of Assembly Questions to Ministers from the Department for Communities on the matter.
In his correspondence, McNulty specifically asked about the possibility of restoring the cairn's original corbelling. The Department for Communities responded that this was not feasible due to a lack of knowledge in corbelled roofing construction techniques. Works will instead focus on replacing the current roof with a lighter structure, which will be identifiable from the inside as not forming part of the original monument.
McNulty said: "Not before time we have received a timeline from the Department for Communities as to when the Slieve Gullion passage grave will once again be open to the public. This incredible monument, steeped in legend, offers a magical and mesmerizing experience for both locals and first time visitors when crawling along the passage way into the prehistoric chamber."
He added that he would be keeping a close watch on progress. "I will be ensuring that the Department follows through on this commitment to ensure a safe reconstruction of the roofing in line with conservation principles that allows reopening as soon as possible."
The Slieve Gullion passage grave sits at the summit of Slieve Gullion in south Armagh and is one of the oldest and most significant prehistoric monuments in Ireland.
