Thousands of Newgrange visitors get lost as signage report gathers dust

THOUSANDS OF visitors who want to go to the world-famous megalithic tomb at Newgrange in Co Meath are getting lost every year…

THOUSANDS OF visitors who want to go to the world-famous megalithic tomb at Newgrange in Co Meath are getting lost every year without reaching the destination.

This is despite the publication two years ago of a report, which cost €30,000, on ways to improve sign-posting.

In-car GPS systems are being blamed for contributing to motoring confusion, sending visitors to the site itself rather than the Brú na Bóinne visitors centre, where tours begin.

According to a spokesman for Meath County Council, who shared the cost of the report with the Office for Public Works (OPW) and the Department of the Environment, “no agreement has been reached between the various stakeholders on its implementation”.

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Meath senator Dominic Hannigan said: “I am reliably told that in the last year alone, over 8,000 cars arrived directly at the front door of the site, only to be told that they are in the wrong place. They had to turn around and drive back several miles to get to the Brú na Bóinne visitors centre.

“Apart from the inconvenience to visitors, and the delay to their holiday itineraries, this is causing more vehicle emissions and more unnecessary wear and tear on the roads in the Boyne Valley,” he said.

The OPW said car GPS systems were partly to blame because, when “Newgrange” is entered as a destination, directions are given to the monument as opposed to the official visitors centre.

A spokesman said: “We have found the increasing use of GPS systems, whereby people just enter Newgrange rather than Brú na Bóinne has added to this.

“I understand the NRA and Meath County Council have plans to upgrade the signage on both the M1 and N2 and hopefully they will have this completed shortly,” he added.