Ireland's strangest site

​Remember Achill Henge, the concrete structure that appeared one weekend in November 2011 on Achill Island?  It was built by property developer Joe McNamara as a protest against Anglo Irish Bank.  It stands 30 metres across on a hillside outside Pollagh, overlooking the Wild Atlantic Way.  Joe McNamara was briefly imprisoned for contempt of court.
 
The Stonehenge like structure built illegally by the Mayo property developer on Achill Island. Following Mayo County Council taking him to court, the High Court ruled in July 2012 that it should be demolished.  It still dominates the landscape.
 
When asked Mayo County council said, ““Achill Henge” is an unauthorised structure and Mayo County Council is attempting to seek its demolition. Mayo County Council has not been successful in serving the necessary court papers on the developer.It is not intended that it will be retained as a tourism site.”
The circular concrete structure, dubbed ‘Achill-Henge’ by locals. McNamara claimed that the structure, which consists of 30 concrete columns and is 30 metres in circumference, was exempt from planning laws as it was an “ornamental garden”. He received a stay in March on an order requiring the demolition of the structure until An Bord Pleanála reviewed the case.
However, following a ruling by the board which found that the structure is not an exempted development, Mayo Co Council informed  Mr Justice Brian McGovern of the High Court ruled that the structure does not constitute an exempted  development.
Mr Justice McGovern said that in those circumstances, the stay against its demolition should be lifted and the site restored to its original state. Mr McNamara was not in court to hear the ruling.
Known to some as the ‘Anglo-avenger,  McNamara has made headlines in the past because of a series of high-profile protests against Anglo-Irish Bank, including driving a cement truck with the words ‘Toxic Bank’ written on it at the gates of Leinster House. Charges for the stunt were dropped.
Joe McNamara unveiled the seven metre-high sword structure on the banks of the Thames beside Tower Bridge in May 2015, it was taken down a few days later. The location was in front of the offices of the then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
The structure consisted of a sword with the letters ‘pol’ written on it being driven through a heart­-shaped Union Jack plinth.A friend of the controversial developer said that the ‘pol’ is short for ‘politicians’ and the meaning of structure is that politicians are a sword through the heart of Britain.
McNamara has been working in the construction sector in England for since leaving Ireland. “Joe was amazed that he was able to carry on erect the sword without any objection, right in the middle of London yet, when he did likewise in Achill], Mayo County Council were straight down to him,” said the friend, adding:
“Joe feels that politicians are the bane of everyone’s life over here, especially with the election coming up, “ a friend said.
 

Several different art installations have been placed at this particular location in recent years.
The structure weighs 14 tonnes; the sword is made of steel while the heart is concrete. McNamara took the unauthorised structure down after the management company responsible for the area asked him to do so.
McNamara came to national prominence in 2010 for two protests in Dublin which earned him the moniker the Anglo Avenger. One incident saw him drive a cement mixer to the gates of Leinster House, while another saw him park a cherry picker outside Leinster House.
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Tourism Officer for Achill, Sean Molloy, does believe that it brings tourists to Achill where a dearth of accommodation is becoming more of a problem.
Achill Henge is not the only piece of citizen art in Mayo.  Around the country other installations have been appearing and are part of an art trail, Tearmann na Gaoithe is part of Tir Saile the largest public art trail in Ireland. 
The original art trail entailed the installation of fourteen site specific sculptures along the North Mayo Coast, supplemented by an exhibition site at which the work of artists or temporary exhibitions ere accommodated. 
A number o f the original works have since been decommissioned and currently the trail consists of 11 works.  The north Mayo sculpture trail begins in Killala and follows the coastal route through Ballycastle. Belderrig, and to Blacksod Bay.