Historic Laois landmark not the Rock of Cashel - council told

Plans to build a large visitor carpark at the Rock of Dunamase tourist site in Laois have been cut back, following instruction from the Department of Heritage.

Laois County Council had planned four bus bays along with 44 carparking spaces, and pedestrian walkways through a field up to the Rock.

Now there will be just two busbays and no pedestrian walkways through the field, with one way road access. 

In a submission to the plan, the Department disagreed with a comparison to the Rock of Cashel.

They said that the Laois site is rural, accessed by narrow roads with no nearby facilities such as hotels or a town, and there are no plans for OPW guides on site.

They wanted fewer parking spaces but Laois County Council has kept to the 44 planned. The council must also comply with a request to provide an alternative smaller landscaping plan prior to installation.

Several local residents had also expressed concern at the narrow access roads, and access to the Church of Ireland chapel at the base of the Rock. 

International visitor numbers are expected to increase with the carpark, as part of the Ireland's Ancient East promotions.

Laois County Councillors gave the green light to a Part 8 planning application at their June meeting.

The 44 car parking spaces include disabled parking spaces, two bus lane parking bays, bicycle stands and a picnic area with landscaping. There will be traffic safety measures and signs to facilitate safe access.

The 2.5 hectare site is in a field bought by the council in 2022, beside the north side of the Rock to be accessed off a local road.

Cllr Willie Aird proposed the planning approval.

"It will be of great benefit, since Covid the amount of visitors has grown out of all proportions. There's not much point doing this work though if you don't do the two approach roads as well," he noted.

Cllr Thomasina Connell seconded.

"This is the start of something really special. We got €169million for the Midlands and I think we need to spearhead more funding for projects. The Rock of Dunamase is a diamond in the middle of Laois," she said.

Cllr James Kelly noted that Emo Court and Heywood Court both now have large carparks.

"The Rock of Dunamase is the symbol of Laois that we are all proud of. Build it and they will come. We have Electric Picnic, the National Ploughing Championships. This is great work by all the council staff, I hope it will be safe and cater for everyone," he said. 

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Gerry Murphy is the Director of Services responsible for the project.

"I thank the members for all their support. This is getting on for five or six years now," he said.

Safety at the Rock came into sharp focus in tragic circumstances in October 2022 when American tourist Laura Jones, 59, died after being struck by a car. Her husband was also injured.