Wind turbine development near five thousand year old Neolithic cairn in Ireland halted

The construction of a 40 metre high wind turbine has been halted near a Neolithic cairn in Co Down (Irish: Contae an Dúin) in the northeast of Ireland. The development has been paused for 28 days due to fears that the development would have a visual impact on the integrity of the 5,000-year old site and was in breach of planning policy. The Neolithic Round Cairn on Knock Iveagh, a hill outside Rathfriland (Irish: Ráth Fraoileannin), dates back to beyond 3000BC. Measuring 100ft in diameter and 10ft tall it was used as a burial place and for ritual. 

Recently, a tall broadband mast was erected beside the cairn without planning permission and the discovery of the plan to build the wind turbine has met with strong  local opposition. Archaeologists were not consulted about the development on Knock Iveagh which has been a hill of major historical significance since Neolithic times. It has unparallelled 360 degree views from Slieve Guillion to Slieve Donard and from Lough Neagh to the Antrim plateau. Campaigners have welcomed the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council 28-day stop notice on work at Knock Iveagh and have now called for a total rejection of the development.