Gilltown cemetary access concern

A local historian and member of Kilcullen Heritage Group has expressed serious concern about a new fence and gate which makes access to a historical site on Gilltown Estate more difficult.



The fence has been erected on land outside a back gate into the estate, which was previously open to the road, and Des Travers says access to the site of an old graveyard is 'imperilled'.



"It is not just the graveyard, but I'm of the belief that it is also the site of an old church, which I have had confirmed by checking out old and new maps of the area. On previous occasions, when the History Group went to the site for lectures, it was not a problem for the manager to come and open the gate for us. But now there are two gates, involving two landowners, and I feel the public is losing access to the site."

The fenced property is on a triangle of land backing onto a new house built on land outside the walls of Gilltown. The church site itself is mentioned not only on maps produced in 1837 and 1984, but also in detail on a Soviet military map produced during the cold war which retired army officer Travers is studying.

"The indication on the Soviet map is of a 'Christian chapel made of stone', and if the Communists recognised its importance, we should also do so from a heritage point of view."

Des Travers, who has ascertained that there are at least two families in the area who have people buried there, and would like to have access maintained, says the site is a place where the owners' rights and the rights of people to visit have always been respected. "The question of a right of way from the original gate to the cemetary is probably a right of way that is a courtesy to people who wish to worship, or to pay their respects to the dead," he says.

At the time of writing, the relevant management at Gilltown was not contactable for a comment.

Brian Byrne.