Madam, – The attitude of Galway County Council to the historic site of the battle of Aughrim is at least consistent. As Maolsheachlainn Ó Caollaí said it his letter (October 11th) they have allowed commercial and housing developments on areas well within the radius of famous battlefield site. Ironically, they acknowledge and advertise the historical site by placing well-designed signs along the N6 Dublin to Galway motorway. On Friday last, October 8th, my wife and I noticed one of their advertising signs and took a detour off the motorway to visit the site of the famous battle. Having taken a 6-kilometre journey back to the village of Aughrim, we found the signs became less clear and eventually we were directed by a helpful villager to the Aughrim Interpretative Centre with the warning that he didn’t think it was open. The centre wasn’t open, and looked like it hadn’t been for quite a while.
A faded and barely legible handwritten note was stuck to the inside door of the centre advising potential visitors that “we are sorry for the inconvenience but the centre is closed until June 2011”. Mr Ó Caollaí’s wish for the creation of a major visitor attraction already exists, however it seems that neither Galway County Council nor the local community seem interested in opening the interpretative centre. – Yours, etc,