A Co Clare landowner has been prevented by Duchas from building a footpath up to Poulnabrone, a megalithic dolmen in the Burren.
Artefacts from the megalithic period were found under the dolmen following a recent archaeological dig. The dolmen is estimated to date from between and 2500 BC and 2000 BC. Its capstone, which rests on three vertical slabs, is believed to weigh over 100 tons.
The heritage service, which has responsibility for the upkeep of the tomb under the National Monuments Act, was alerted yesterday by a local person to the work being carried out by a man with a digger on the lands of Mr Tommy Byrnes.
Mr Terry Dunne, a senior executive officer with Duchas, said he alerted the regional depot in Athenry, Co Galway, and the foreman for the Burren district, Mr Michael Heraghty, was able to stop the work before it started.
The Poulnabrone portal dolmen is located 100 metres off the Kilfenora-Corofin road in the Burren. Mr Dunne said the landowner had intended building a path off an existing pathway which leads to a shed on his land.
Under the National Monuments Act, Duchas has the power to bring prosecutions if it is not served with a notice by an owner/occupier who intends to carry out work on a monument or in relation to it.
It is also illegal to interfere with the limestone pavement, under the European Habitats and Species Directive.
For visitors, there is no formal right of way to the dolmen and recently they have been asked by a person with a bucket to make a financial contribution.