Mary Wallopers object to housing development at Cú Chulainn’s birthplace: “It’s greed”

The Mary Wallopers and member of The Corrs have lodged objections to plans for a large-scale housing development in Louth at the birthplace of Cú Chulainn. 

The developers bought the land in 2024 for over €12m.

The plan would allow for 765 houses, 150 duplexes and 143 apartments. The proposed development also includes four apartment buildings ranging in height from four to six storey.

Dún Dealgan is known locally as Cú Chulainn’s Castle and is a National Monument in state guardianship.

A motte and bailey was first built on the site in the 12th century by the Norman de Verdun family, and the existing structure of a single-tower castle is also known as Byrne’s Folly named after the pirate Byrne who built it in 1780. 

The planning application says the castle is a protected structure and is not within the application site and incorporates a standing stone, which is also a protected structure.

Louth County Council received 240 submissions about the application and a decision is due on Monday 22 July.

Charles Hendy, the band's frontman said it's the first time he has ever objected to housing.

"We have been on archeological walks around Dundalk with a guide who showed us how building developers are knocking down standing stones and other important structures and building frankly inadequate housing," he told JOE.

"Theres plenty of land around here to be building on without mythilogical importance, it's greed and it's the reason we have a housing crisis.

"This is one of most significant mythological sites in Ireland, maybe in Europe and if we get rid of it, it's gone forever.

"Houses can be built anywhere, its such a significant place, and the fear is when they begin building, they'll take stuff out of the ground and destroy it.

"They want us to forget our history and they're not from Dundalk, they can make their millions and move on."

The Dundalk native rejects that a housing crisis means that all land should be considered for housing.

"The govenment uses these arguments to shame people, but the real problem is the houses being hoarded by landlords," he said.

"There are so many empty houses, loads of buildings and land, and greedy landlords wont share it."

Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland has said that the site is "second most important in the old kingdom of Ulster", next to Navan Fort in Armagh.

"There is no archaeological evidence of what age it might be", he said.

He and other historical campaigners are opposed to any development of the land surrounding Cú Chulainn's castle.

"I am personally opposed to it. I think this should be one of those places that should be protected, completely protected from development."