A community in Co Galway (Ireland) is outraged that a 2,000-year-old ritual stone is to be moved and taken to a museum. Minister for the Environment John Gormley has been asked to intervene to prevent Turoe Stone from being moved to Galway City Museum.
     The three-foot high oval granite monument was erected near a ring fort at Kiltullagh over 2,000 years ago and was moved a short distance to Bullaun, a few miles north of Loughrea in mid-Galway, about 150 years ago. Experts believe it needs protection from the weather, but the Turoe Historical Society wants it to remain, with a visitor centre built on the site. The society says this would boost rural development. "The stone needs protection from weathering, but rather than removing it, this protection can be given to it on site at Turoe," said a spokesman for the society.

Source: Irish Times (5 November 2008)