a ninth-century ring fort overlooking the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow was irreparably damaged by builder's rubble in the last few days.
Duchas, the State heritage service, and the national monuments section of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands had been investigating a potential danger to the fort since last February.
The ring fort is one of three significant items in the Downs area which are protected by Duchas. The other items are a Bronze Age hill fort and the Downs Church, a small medieval church which dates from the late 16th century and is thought to have replaced an older, wooden church on the same site.
The ring fort is a recorded monument as designated by Duchas, which requires that all work carried out in its vicinity must have the consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Duchas confirmed yesterday that no such consent had been granted.
The damaged ring fort overlooks a severe drop into the Glen of the Downs and was protected by an earthen mound and an outer stone wall. It is variously described as a ring fort in maps, and a significant "enclosure" by the Archaeological Sur- vey of Wicklow by Annabha Kilfeather and Eoin Grogan in 1997.
The ring forts were built for protection of the indigenous Gaelic people in pre-Norman times. Following the Norman conquest trading posts and settlements were often established in the vicinity of ancient ring forts.
The Downs village is an example of such occurrence, and Gaelic and Norman trading routes, as well as later examples of church and estate roads, are visible in the vicinity of the damaged ring fort.
Mr Chris Corlett of Duchas said yesterday that the site was likely to have been initially a ring fort established around the ninth century and to have been modified in Norman times, possibly as the location of a wooden castle.
Mr Corlett visited the site in February, but the dumping of rubble continued. A visit to a neighbouring land-owner was not fruitful.
A local resident, Ms Mary Jane O'Brien, estimated that about 40 per cent of the circular fortification had been damaged by rubble in an apparent levelling operation.
Another local resident, Mr Jim Fitzpatrick, said he had become concerned some weeks ago about the works in the area and had spoken to people on site about his concern.
However, he said yesterday that since that conversation further damage had been done to an earthen mound, and builders' rubble had breached an ancient stone wall.
According to Wicklow County Council the site of the ring fort has recently been claimed by another land-owner. The Irish Times was told yesterday that this individual was "too busy" to speak to a reporter.
The council is seeking legal advice and intends to establish a prosecution for unauthorised dumping against whoever emerges as the site's legal owner. Meanwhile Duchas is to consider what legal avenues are available to it.
