The Office of Public Works has plans to maintain and preserve more heritage sites in Ireland.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) now has more than one thousand sites in its care, and with an increased budget of £422,000 will have no problem spending it on conservation projects which range from Stone Age tombs in the Boyne valley to King John's Castle in Limerick city, Saint Macdara's Island in County Galway, the Marino Casino and Ferns Castle in County Wexford to name but a few.
Impressive Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland (constructed around 1175 by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter) is one recipient. Archaeological digs around its keep have already yielded examples of thirteenth century pottery, and
Work is going on to preserve the structure.
Restoration work on the Neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange is nearing completion but nearby Knowth will take at least another seven years. When open to the public It will not disappoint however as experts believe that this Stone Age burial complex is.
The most important of its type in Europe.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 June 1973. The reporter is John McAleese.
