Northern Ireland ‘hidden gems’ granted new protection by Department for Communities

The Battle Garden associated with the Moravian Church in Kilwarlin, Co Down.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the formal protection of several “hidden gems” across Northern Ireland, following the addition of a number of historically significant sites to the official schedule of monuments and list of protected buildings.

The newly designated sites span multiple counties and reflect what the Minister described as “a microcosm of our rich heritage”.

Among them are St Patrick’s Chair and Well in Co Tyrone – associated with Ireland’s patron saint and venerated for generations, the World War Two wharfs at Lisahally where German U-boats famously surrendered in 1945, and the unique battle garden at Kilwarlin Moravian Church in Co Down, commemorating the  Spartans last stand against the Persians at Thermopylae in 480BC.

St Patrick's Chair at Altnadaven, Co Tyrone.

In Co Fermanagh, several granite milestones on the old Enniskillen-to-Dublin coach road have also been awarded listed building status, ensuring their long-term preservation.

Minister Lyons welcomed the designations, highlighting their cultural importance. He said:

“Scheduled historic monuments and listed buildings are among the most important parts of our built heritage, and the structures we have protected this week represent a microcosm of our rich heritage.

“I am pleased that my Department has taken steps to identify and protect these unique aspects of Northern Ireland’s rich and varied historic environment.

“These special places, alongside many others already designated, provide an important narrative in our landscape of the very valuable and diverse history of the places in which we all live.”

Protecting Northern Ireland’s Past for Future Generations

The designation process gives each site formal recognition as being of special architectural or historic interest. In practice, this means any work that could alter or damage them is controlled either by the Department for Communities (in the case of scheduled monuments) or by local planning authorities (for listed buildings).

Officials say the strengthened protections will ensure each site’s significance is understood, preserved and properly considered whenever modifications or management decisions are proposed.

Members of the public can explore details of the newly designated sites — and discover information on historic places in their own area — via the Department’s online Historic Environment Map Viewer.