Promote historic battle site plea

A leading Orangeman last night called upon the Irish government to preserve a Galway battlefield site which proved to be a decisive event in the Williamite wars.
Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters said the Aughrim site, where a cache of skeletons were recently unearthed could, like the Boyne battlefield site in Co Meath, become a major tourist attraction.

Thirty-two skeletons were recently excavated during building works at the Glebe National School (NS) near Aughrim and another 12 are thought to be in the area.
It's thought that the remains may be the first recorded victims from the battle in 1691 between the forces of King James II and King William III, which claimed 6,000 lives.
Mr Saulters told the News Letter that he hoped the "superb" work the Irish government had done in preserving the Boyne battlefield site could become a template for the Aughrim site.

"We would hope that the Irish government would now take a serious look at what can be done on the Aughrim site," Mr Saulters said.

"The significance of the Boyne battle was that the two kings were on the battlefield but it should be remembered that militarily Aughrim was every bit as important."

Mr Saulters said work had been done in the past to preserve the Aughrim site and to provide facilities to explain the course of the battle-Mr Saulters said: "I would now like to see even more work being done to make Aughrim a major tourist attraction and also an attraction for historians."

Later this year, he said, the Orange Order hopes to publish a new tourist map called the Williamite Trail.

"This map, which will be aimed at tourists, will begin in Carrickfergus where William landed and follow his route through Ireland taking in the Boyne and Aughrim," he said.

The small school near Aughrim where the skeletons were found is situated in the grounds of a Church of Ireland rectory and was used in medieval times as a burial site.

Archaeologist Michael Tierney was commissioned by the Glebe NS to excavate the area before it underwent extension work.

Mr Tierney said that, according to Christian tradition, the remains were laid east-west indicating that it was a formal burial.

Meanwhile, Mr Saulters warned of the importance of treating the remains that were found at the site with respect.

"It is very important that the remains found at the scene of the battle are treated with dignity," he said.

"The only people who should be involved in working on this site are the professional archaeologists who have already done such a good job."

He said the Battle of Aughrim had a huge impact On European history.

Mr Saulters added: "It is vitally important that this period of history is properly explained and understood not only by the people on this island but by visitors from overseas."

Archaeologists who worked on the Aughrim site felt the bodies had been flung into a shallow hole either in a hurry or as a mark of disrespect At present some of the bones are being tested to determine what dates can be confirmed.

The findings of this work are expected to be published some time this summer.
Robert Cooke, chairman of the Glebe NS board of governors, said the school's 12 pupils were excited by the find, even though building works have now been held up by 18 months.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment in the Republic said it is currently undertaking a major new study on the key battlefields of Irish history.
"A panel of recognised experts in the fields of military history, archaeology and mapping have been appointed to steer the project," he said.

"The eventual aim of the project is to assist in identifying the appropriate statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 that should be extended to battlefield sites within the ongoing consolidation and modernisation of this legislative code." 16th January 2008 News Letter

Click on the related link below

Unknown Soldiers - possible combatants from Battle of Aughrim in 1691