Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The Deer Stone bullaun in Glendalough, damaged by fire. Pat Reid

Glendalough's ancient Deer Stone monument damaged by fire in act of vandalism

The fire is believed to have been lit last Thursday night.

THE DEER STONE monument in Glendalough, a more than 1,000-year-old bullaun stone at the heart of the national park in the Wicklow mountains, has been damaged by fire in what appears to be an act of vandalism. 

The granite stone with a hollow depression at its centre, which is linked to a legend about St Kevin involving deer, was found burnt and cracked by Pat Reid of the Glendalough Heritage Forum after he heard there might have been a fire at the site last week. 

The extent of the damage is not yet fully known and a report has been compiled by the National Monuments Service, which has responsibility for national monuments, according to Reid who spoke to The Journal today.

deerstone 2 One of the cracks in the stone. Pat Reid Pat Reid

The fire is believed to have been lit last Thursday night. Reid heard about the fire on Sunday after an Office of Public Works (OPW) staff member discovered the damage. 

“The manager of the OPW here mentioned to me that they thought they had a fire in it prior to the weekend but she hadn’t really had time to look at it so I went out and had a look and discovered the cracks in it and the extent of the damage,” he said. 

Asked if it looked as if there was evidence of a campfire, such as rubbish and debris, Reid said that it seemed more likely that the culprits were using the stone to cook. 

“In fact there’s very little ash that would be associated with a campfire. So the thinking now is maybe they were using it to cook a barbeque very late at night because nobody seems to have seen it. Or that they just put accelerants into it, maybe petrol or something like that and et fire to it.”

Reid says the site is not exactly “session-orientated”.

“It’s not the kind of place that you would sit around, you know it’s just not comfortable. It’s not set up that way.” 

“There seems to be no motivation for it. That’s the thing. It just seems like senseless vandalism.”

Reid says that maybe people were trying to cook on the stone because the temperature needed to put three large cracks in a granite boulder is very high. 

deerstone 3 A crack left in the stone Pat Reid Pat Reid

“I find it hard that people would do such a thing on purpose,” he says. “I think it’s just complete and utter disrespect, disregard for our national heritage.”

There have been other incidents in which heritage sites have been damaged in recent years, such as the graffiti scratched into a Neolithic burial monument in Co Meath in April 2021 and the spray painted graffiti left on the Lia Fáil standing stone monument in on the Hill of Tara, Co Meath in February of this year. 

Pointing to those examples, and the fact that Heritage Week is coming up this Saturday, Reid says that public education is a necessity if these incidents of vandalism are to be prevented. 

deerstone 4 A close up of the burnt hollow in the stone Pat Reid Pat Reid

“It’s a good time to remind people that we need to protect, not take for granted our heritage, be it built, cultural or natural heritage. This can’t be sustained, we need to stop this.”

The concern now that the damage has been done is the effects of the coming winter, when low nighttime temperatures will cause freeze-thaw action and widen the cracks. 

Read more here on how to support a major Noteworthy project to examine if Ireland’s historic sites are at risk of disappearing.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
25 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Byrne
    Favourite Jason Byrne
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:38 PM

    The bit where the inlaws go home is my personal favorite.

    557
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean71
    Favourite Sean71
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:36 PM

    @Jason Byrne: ha ha your not wrong there mate

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark
    Favourite Mark
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 8:02 PM

    @Jason Byrne: Brilliant :-)

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Harte
    Favourite Martin Harte
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:34 PM

    The family around the table and the laugher is the best part of the Christmas Dinner

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Cunningham
    Favourite Terry Cunningham
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:40 PM

    The End of it.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Veronica Conway
    Favourite Veronica Conway
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    @Terry Cunningham: yes definitely

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Just Some Guy
    Favourite Just Some Guy
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:40 PM

    Some people mentioned Croquettes. That is a big thumbs up from me. Turkey and Stuffing always wins

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Ward
    Favourite Greg Ward
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:32 PM

    Roses and after dinner coma.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clark Griswold
    Favourite Clark Griswold
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    I think a vegan option should have been included

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clark Griswold
    Favourite Clark Griswold
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:41 PM

    @Clark Griswold: completely taking the piss obviously!

    134
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dow Dubrov
    Favourite Dow Dubrov
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:54 PM

    @Clark Griswold: You couldn’t help yourself and ruined the joke

    32
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ole dan tucker
    Favourite Ole dan tucker
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:24 PM

    @Clark Griswold: feck off with ur vegan humbug

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean71
    Favourite Sean71
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:37 PM

    @Clark Griswold: jaysus there’s always one.. Enjoy your leaves

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stevie Doran
    Favourite Stevie Doran
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:34 PM

    Piggies in Blankets

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marty Lawless
    Favourite Marty Lawless
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:50 PM

    Everything I can’t just pick one thing my wife is an awesome cook nearly as good as my mother god rest her

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PolyglotPaul
    Favourite PolyglotPaul
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:53 PM

    Has to be the sausage meat!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
    Favourite Mirabelle Stonegate
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 6:09 PM

    Spiced beef. Despite it being available year round, I really only eat it at Christmas, which makes it extra special.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eugene H. Krabbs
    Favourite Eugene H. Krabbs
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 3:38 PM

    Krabby patty

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonny Chip
    Favourite Jonny Chip
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:16 PM

    @Eugene H. Krabbs: I cant hear you

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Harte
    Favourite Martin Harte
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 7:46 PM

    @Jonny Chip: AYE AYE CAPTAIN

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran
    Favourite Kieran
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:05 PM

    Bread sauce.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kay English Curtin
    Favourite Kay English Curtin
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 7:29 PM

    @Kieran: homemade only

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark
    Favourite Mark
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 8:04 PM

    Brussels Sprouts, par boiled for a few minutes and fried with smoked streaky bacon!!!!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rb1kan
    Favourite Rb1kan
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:38 PM

    Croquettes…..hands down

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean71
    Favourite Sean71
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:36 PM

    Stuffing without doubt

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reuben Gray
    Favourite Reuben Gray
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:21 PM

    All of it, none of it is off limits at any time of the year to be honest. You can get Turkey and ham at any carvery on any given Sunday.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Nevin
    Favourite Alex Nevin
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:06 PM

    @Reuben Gray: You seem like good craic, do you write the jokes in the crackers

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Katie Wrest
    Favourite Katie Wrest
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:54 PM

    @Reuben Gray: might be able to have it any time during the year, but christmas is the only time we do it with the all out extras!!!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan James
    Favourite Jonathan James
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 4:23 PM

    Cabbage

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dialadogwash Gerald Barry
    Favourite Dialadogwash Gerald Barry
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 8:38 PM

    Has to be sausage meat stiffing

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gaughan
    Favourite James Gaughan
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:39 PM

    All good except the farts on a fork. Aka sprouts.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louise B
    Favourite Louise B
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 8:01 PM

    Sprouts

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Alford
    Favourite Jane Alford
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 5:24 PM

    Just having the one meal a year where I turn on the cooker and cook a meal…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mulligan
    Favourite John Mulligan
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 7:33 PM

    Turkey curry. It means the whole thing was yesterday.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Curran
    Favourite Colm Curran
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 11:33 PM

    8 hrs later visit to the loo wit the rte guide

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kay English Curtin
    Favourite Kay English Curtin
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 7:30 PM

    Croutons and cream in the soup

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Grey
    Favourite David Grey
    Report
    Dec 25th 2019, 9:00 PM

    The Goose

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zmeevo Libe
    Favourite Zmeevo Libe
    Report
    Dec 26th 2019, 1:00 PM

    @David Grey: With you there. Far superior to turkey.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beer Wolf
    Favourite Beer Wolf
    Report
    Dec 26th 2019, 4:11 AM

    Spiced Beef with Horse Radish… gorgeous.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds