I saw a comment in one of the threads here recently about the threat to some stones from burning heather. During the recent spell of dry weather here, it seemed that the whole range of hills to the south of Dublin were on fire. Venturing up there recently I see that the whole of Kilakee mountain has been torched. Even more worrying, from a megalithic viewpoint, fire has razed the whole of the north-east side of Seahan Hill which has 4 recorded neolithic monuments. The fire didn't reach the summit where the tombs and cairn are, but that was only because of luck rather than design.
What I'd like to know is are these fires set deliberately? By vandals? Or sheep-farmers? And what do the authorities think? I know there may be policy differences between blighty and here but there was zilch on the news about what seemed to me to be fairly large fires.
Of course, for the megalithically-minded, there's always the possibility that the fires burning back the heather and gorse and the subsequent wind and rain erosion will reveal new, previously undiscovered treasures. But that dubious 'benefit' aside, what about the existing monuments? Does nobody care? (Don't answer that last question – I already know!)
Andy
