FIRST they rip out a 17th century style garden from Tully Castle, now the government department responsible is considering replacing it with something similar, Stormont Files has learned.
There was condemnation last month when the popular garden with its box hedges, roses and herbs was dug up in what the Department for Communities said was a “necessary management task.” The Minister for Communities, Paul Givan, who will visit Enniskillen today (Thursday) has told Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton that he accepts his officials should have “engaged with the local community before making these changes.”
“My officials will therefore now engage with neighbours and community representatives to discuss how we can improve the overall presentation of the site, whilst recognising our constraints in terms of resources and archaeological impact,” he said.
In a letter to the Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA, Minister Givan defended the decision saying the vegetation within the garden at Tully Castle “had become over mature and much of it needed to be removed.”
“Taking into account the most likely landscaping when the castle was occupied, my officials decided that it was most authentic to replace the ornamental garden with lawns. No monuments or ancient structures have been removed from the site as a result of these works. The works were completed as a necessary management task and not to save costs. Most of the plants removed from the site were taken away for recycling; some of the roots remain on site and will be taken for recycling shortly.”
In a few paragraphs later, Minister Givan declared: “It is a large site, and one that could lend itself to a range of improvements.” And crucially he made this point: “This might include planting something similar to the garden that was there previously, in much the same location, or the engagement might point to different enhancements at different places on the site.”
Minister Givan was responding to concerns by Mrs. Barton over Fermanagh’s local heritage which has been highlighted extensively in The Impartial Reporter in recent weeks. 
In response, the Democratic Unionist Minister said: “Monea and Portora Castles are fully open to the public at all times: I am therefore unclear what restrictions to access have been raised with you as concerns. The state care site at Tully Castle is also open to visitors at all times. The visitors’ centre and interior of the castle are open 12 to 4pm on Sundays during the summer. My officials are engaging with the local community to determine how we may be able to extend these hours; and we are assessing whether it is possible to leave the castle unlocked without staff being present on site: there are some significant drops from the walls of the upper floor. Turning to Devenish Monastic site, problems with a grounds maintenance contract left this and other state care sites unmown earlier this year. This has now been addressed and the area of the island in my Department’s ownership is in good condition. The ladder has been removed from the round tower for safety reasons,” he said.