Robert M Chapple writes (May 2013): Unfortunately you’ll not currently have an opportunity to see the Turoe Stone. I realised this as I stood at the entrance, and saw that ominous-looking shed standing alone and silent in the middle of a green field. At first I thought that this was some machination by the landowners to hide or attempt to get extra money for looking at the stone. A chat with the landowner, and then encountering the large Office of Public Works sign, informed me that this was not the case. As you can see from the sign, the OPW are:
“currently undertaking a programme of conservation involving the erection of a temporary shelter over the Turoe Stone, in order to protect the decorated stone from ongoing deterioration due to adverse weather conditions and to inhibit harmful organic growth. The condition of the monument is being monitored by a specialist conservation team from the Office of Public Works and the National Museum of Ireland. The future conservation requirements of the monument are the subject of current discussions.”
I’m all in favour of careful and considered conservation for this internationally significant stone – but this sign is dated 2005!
More at
http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/release-iron-age-one-whats-happening-to.html
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road