Tuesday 1 April 2014

The Rock of Dunamaise, a possible rumour ?




The Rock of Dunamaise is to be demolished.

Last month’s heavy storm force winds, which contributed to the destruction of the castle at Coolbanagher, has severely undermined the foundations of the Rock of Dunamaise.

Works commenced today (Tuesday) demolishing the historic landmark, on health and safety grounds because of its current unstable and fragile condition.

So un-secure are the remaining medieval dry stone castle walls that the Department of Public Buildings issued an immediate notice to demolish the entire castle at the beginning of March. At least four British-based salvage companies competed for the tender. London-based company Solid as a Rock Ltd received the contract, as well as €1,675,000 from the department to carry out the work.

The Laois Nationalist has learned that the company intends dismantling the Rock brick by brick and transporting each one to Britain and America for resale. Experts in the salvage trade said that the castle bricks, because of their huge historical significance, could fetch up to $35 dollars each on the American market. They say that Solid as a Rock stand to make millions of euro if they pitch the rocks at the right market.

The weakening of the Rock, which proved a favourite location for many Hollywood blockbuster movies, including Darby O’Gill and the Little People, comes despite some €1.6m being spent on its preservation and strengthening eight years ago.

The company has begun advertising for 65 part-time positions to be filled under various job internship schemes, including JobBridge.

Over its historical past, the Rock, which is an internationally acclaimed architectural treasure, has been plundered, pillaged, racked and ruined, but still held firm against all-comers.

A group of local amateur historians have drawn up what they describe as “battle plans to defend the Rock.”
© The Laois Nationalist

16 comments:

  1. Do you not know what April the First signifies ? :-)

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  2. I couldn't believe this - and then I read your reply!!

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    1. For the day that's in it , I could not help myself by having a bit of fun :-)

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  3. He he he he ohhhh Grandpa Heron you are wicked ;) xx

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    1. I couldn't help myself Snapdragon! You may put it down to my great age -Not :-)

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Is this really a joke?how could a story like this if untrue be published in an established newspaper.

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    4. Today or rather The First of April is 'April Fools Day' or 'All Fools Day'
      The media: newspapers, radio & TV stations, as well as ordinary people make jokes and have Fun and play pranks on our friends!
      This is just one of them.
      A few years one newspaper printed an article saying that there was a possibility of a spaghetti shortage. Due to a crop failure with the Spaghetti Trees due to wet summer.

      As for established newspapers printing the truth they rarely do any way. Which is why they use suggestive words like 'May, Possibly or Could'

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    5. Thank you for the clarification. I was well aware of the date and significant day. I must adjust my sense of humour radar, I thought I had quite s good one but didn't particularly find the article amusing. It wasn't offensive but didn't fit my interpretation of an April Fools Day prank.

      Did chuckle at the spaghetti article mentioned above.
      Once again thanks for clarification. Though the details of the article did seem obscure I was unsure. Maybe I was having s gullible day :)

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  4. Very clever, Heron. I almost believed your story. Especially selling bricks for 35 dollars each. Great post.

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  5. Totally believable, governments would sell anything!

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    1. Don't tell me that you never noticed the date ??? April Ist !

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  6. Haha, Mel, you almost had me here! I was starting to get all outraged until I saw the date…then I read the comments!! Well done for fooling so many of us :-) I'm very glad it's not true, though!

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