Today’s meeting of Sligo County Council will decide whether to approve a material contravention to the County Development Plan which would clear the way for the sites of two unopened Neolithic tombs on Cairns Hill to be used for the construction of 74 new houses.
The sites situated close to Markievicz Park, are part of a bid to have the county’s Neo-lithic past honoured.
In 1998 councillors voted to block the construction of a road on the hill, following strong lobbying by archaeologists and others who feared for the impact on the monuments and the landscape.
With the County gripped by a housing crisis, councillors will be asked to give the go-ahead for the construction of the houses, which has already been approved by planners.
The proposed development will require support from 13 of the 18 Sligo Councillors at today’s meeting.
Speaking earlier to Ocean FM News Ballymote Tubbercurry Councillor Paul Taylor says the Councillors have a big decision to make today.
Eugene Flynn grew up on Cairns Hill and was involved in the campaign to block the road plan at the site in 1998 he’s urging Councillors to vote no this morning.
