9 August 2000
OPEN SESAME! - ALADDIN'S CAVE OF ANCIENT TREASURES REVEALED BY DOE IN CASTLEWELLAN FOREST PARK!
Visitors to the Castlewellan Forest Park, County Down, this month, will have a rare opportunity to explore an Aladdin's Cave of carved stones and ancient logboats that few people ever see.
Towering over the exhibition is the 1000 year old Drumadonnell Cross.
From now until the end of the month, the DOE's Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) will be throwing open the doors of its historical treasure trove to the public in the Castlewellan Forest Park.
Jim Lamont, Chief Executive of the EHS, in highlighting the attractions on view, said: "The EHS has collected and protected a wide range of ancient objects, ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre, over the last 30 years.
"Pride of place goes to the magnificent 1000 year old Drumadonnell High Cross and in this New Millennium year we thought it would be appropriate for the public to have the opportunity to delight in this unusual collection.
"Some artifacts housed in the store, such as the prehistoric mill-stones from Lough Eskragh, come from archaeological excavations. Others, like the carved stones from Grey Abbey cloister, were brought in for their protection from possible theft.
"The stone carving of an African head from Belfast and King Charles' head from Antrim Castle were rescued from buildings undergoing demolition.
"Further, EHS conservator, Malcolm Fry, has rescued many ancient logboats discovered in lakes and rivers. Their waterlogged condition has preserved them for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years, but once dug up, treatment is needed to preserve them. Recently, Malcolm had a new logboat made so that he could see how it performed, and carried out trials on Castlewellan Forest Park Lake."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Mr Jim Lamont, Chief Executive DOE Environment and Heritage Service, will officially open the exhibition at 10.30 am in Castlewellan Forest Park.
- The Exhibition is free. Opening hours, daily, 10.30 am - 5.00 pm, 8 August - 1 September. The store is located next to the entrance courtyard, and is signposted.
- Parking at Castlewellan Forest Park at usual charge.
- The Drumadonnell Cross was for many years built into the gable of the National School in Drumadonnell village, a few miles from Castlewellan. When the school needed a new building in 1971, the archaeologists were asked to take the cross indoors to keep it safe. So, for nearly 30 years this 3-metre high treasure has stood safe but unseen in the store.
Malcolm Fry's new book on logboats "Coiti" will be on sale at the exhibition. For further information please contact Paddy Murphy tel. 02890 540014 or by e-mail pady.murphy@nics.gov.uk