The Office of Public Works (OPW) has been asked to seriously consider re-opening St Laurence Gate to the public.
At the moment nobody is allowed to climb up the stairs to the top of the historic monument for health and safety reasons.
The latest request was made by Drogheda Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne when OPW officials appeared before the Dail Public Accounts Committee during the week.
Joanne said:” St Laurence’s Gate is the jewel in the crown when it comes to Drogheda’s Heritage. I’ve long advocated for it to be opened to the public on a permanent basis.”
She believes it has massive tourist potential which matches if not exceeds heritage destinations like Kilkenny, Waterford and Derry.
If the Gate is opened to the public it would also benefit Millmount and the wide Boyne Valley region.
She said OPW representatives are not fully there yet in terms of fully reopening St Laurence Gate but they did give her a commitment to continue to open it on more regular intervals for festivals when a request is forthcoming.
Deputy Byrne added,” Our heritage is not just what we inherit from our ancestors but what we pass onto future generations and should be accessible for all to experience and enjoy.”
