A heritage group has mounted a campaign against plans to extend a quarry near the Black Pig's Dyke in Co Cavan. The dyke is an ancient defensive barrier once thought to have stretched from Armagh to Donegal.
Cavan County Council is considering a planning application by John Nulty Quarries to increase the area of its quarry by more than three hectares (eight acres) on the side of Ardkill More mountain at Carrickaboy, eight kilometres (five miles) from Cavan town.
An objection lodged by the Red Branch Heritage group states that expanding the quarry would further prejudice the integrity and value of the Black Pig's Dyke or Worm Ditch, which was the only surviving section of this monument in Co Cavan. In a separate submission, An Taisce says the existing quarrying has been devastating in its impact on the integrity of the Black Pig's Dyke.
Seán Nulty, a director of Nulty quarries, said the quarry had destroyed part of the dyke about 20 years ago. In 2003, the company was told by the council to cease excavation where it had no permission, and it had done so.
A decision on the application is expected in the coming days.