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Heed the People - Respect the Law - Stop the Dig - Save Tara!

category meath | history and heritage | feature author Monday July 11, 2005 16:12author by tarawatch - Meath Photos

Excavations on the site M3 and Tara Interchange have begun.

From a Concerned Commenteer: The Tara campaign has become quiet of late, and it is time to mobilize public support in a very public way. There has been a need to separate litigation from the Save Tara Skryne Valley Group, in order to ensure protection from liability for the members of the non-incorporated group, who are not taking action, or directly supporting it. However, a strong message needs to be sent to the Government, and to the nation, that the people want the digs stopped. As you have seen, a new survey (PDF here / Methodology here) shows the majority of Irish people are against the route, and thus the excavation of Tara.


On June 14th, the Minister for the Environment, The Attorney General, Meath County Council, and the National Roads Authority will come to the High Court and give their first answer to the legal charges railed against them. Certain procedural determinations will be made that way, on how the case will proceed. One of the main issues, of course, will be whether the authorities will stop work of their own accord, and respect the legal process, or whether they will plough ahead, and the judge will be forced to either issue an order or an injunction. The fact that works are still continuing since the July 4th hearing in the High Court, when leave was granted to review the lagality of the M3 motorway scheme, shows the contempt the authorities have for the law. They must be shown up, for the cultural criminals they are.

A protest will begin outside the High Court on the morning of Thursday 14th July, at 9.00 am. It will continue throughout the day, until the hearing is concluded. The hearing will begin at 11.00 am - and could run into the afternoon.

Mass peaceful demonstration must happen, if it is ever to happen for Tara. This is an opportunity to reverse the PR and lies being circulated by the likes of Minister Cullen, Meath Chambers of Commerce, IBEC, to the effect that only a small minority of troublemakers care about Tara.

This must be a spontaneous outpouring. We need a strong representative group of Irish society there, including children, housewives, businessmen, shopkeepers and old age pensionners to come down and make their own sign. It is better that this is not seen to be 'organised' by Save Tara Skryne Valley group, since they are not taking litigation. It must be representatives of ALL environmental, social and political groups and PARTIES, who have an interest in this issue.

Please call your party, your boss, your society and get a mandate to put out a call. This is the best opportunity we will have for months. The world media will be watching, and we have to shout now, as loud as we can.

Details / Photos of Work In Progress At Tara

Work has started on the M3 at last. However the only area signed off for commencement is at the Tara area on the route.

Archeological dig licenses have been issued for work at Tara and nowhere else on the M3. Despite the M3 having been designed in stages, the Irish Government and Meath Co Co have adopted an all or nothing approach.

Work should be commencing for the undisputed section from Clonee to bypass Dunshaughlin but there is no sign of this, and indeed it seems the section will only happen once the Tara section of the M3 and the Tara Intersection is complete.

As Dunshaughlin is a major bottleneck on the N3 it would make sense to start that stretch. However, judging by the manner of the digging at the site of the Tara Interchange, excavations of the whole 3km stretch through the valley will be completed in a matter of weeks. Though this might seem like good news for commuters, it will unlikely be bad news for those with an interest in Gaelic heritage and culture.

Hopefully the diggers don't come across another 'Tara Brooch' because judging by the in the interest of those digging, not alone will the digger destroy it but it'll never be discovered (or maybe that is the point).

Signs outside site entrance
Signs outside site entrance

Excavator at Tara Intersection
Excavator at Tara Intersection

Area dug by Excavator
Area dug by Excavator

Turned Earth at sign of Tara Interchange
Turned Earth at sign of Tara Interchange

Top of the Hill of Tara in the background - from Tara Interchange dig site
Top of the Hill of Tara in the background - from Tara Interchange dig site

Comments (26 of 26)

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author by .publication date Sat Jul 09, 2005 17:53author address author phone

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author by Archaeologistpublication date Sat Jul 09, 2005 21:32author address author phone

Monitoring the machine. I can't see one in the photo, but that doesn't mean there isn't one there. If there is no archaeologist present the matter should be reported to Duchas and the National Museum of Ireland. That is on the basis that the condition ont he monitoring is to have an archaeologist present!

author by Proinsias Mac Fhearghusapublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 14:52author email procat at eircom dot netauthor address author phone 0863213755

I don't want to alarm anyone but all of the photos that I've taken at different stages show one to 2 Archaeologists standing in the field without watching what the digger is doing.

Not being of that profession myself, but having seen people standing around leaning on brushes in the past, I would say it’s a safe bet that there isn’t any real concern about what might be found in the topsoil. I can publish these photos too, if required?

BTW, there was a group of workers on the knees today examining something in a cleared area – maybe the discovery of afore-mentioned next Tara brooch?

author by an imcerpublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 14:56author address author phone

.

author by eeekkkkpublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 16:56author address author phone

PDF
http://hilloftara.info/survey/SurveyResults.pdf

Word Doc On Methodology
http://hilloftara.info/survey/method.doc

author by infopublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 17:53author address author phone

Tara Protest strategy meeting tonight, Monday at 7.OO PM

There will be a meeting in the IFI (Irish Film Institute) in Temple Bar on Monday night at 7.00pm, to co-ordinate the protest to be held
outside the Four Courts on Thursday, July 14th, beginning at 10.00am.

We will have flyers to be distributed over the coming days.

Rossa came up with a good idea - that everyone wears suits on Thursday
- and we look like IBEC, with no theatrics

Here is the copy on the protest:


'Heed the People - Respect the Law - Stop the Dig - Save Tara!'

SOS - PLEASE HELP NOW - OR NEVER

The Tara campaign has become quiet of late, and it is time to mobilize
public support in a very public way. There has been a need to separate
litigation from the Save Tara Skryne Valley Group, in order to ensure
protection from liability for the members of the non-incorporated
group, who are not taking action, or directly supporting it. However,
a strong message needs to be sent to the Government, and to the nation,
that the people want the digs stopped. As you have seen, a new survey
shows the majority of Irish people are against the route, and thus the
excavation of Tara.

On June 14th, the Minister for the Environment, The Attorney General,
Meath County Council, and the National Roads Authority will come to the
High Court and give their first answer to the legal charges railed
against them. Certain procedural determinations will be made that way,
on how the case will proceed. One of the main issues, of course, will
be whether the authorities will stop work of their own accord, and
respect the legal process, or whether they will plough ahead, and the
judge will be forced to either issue an order or an injunction. The
fact that works are still continuing since the July 4th hearing in the
High Court, when leave was granted to review the lagality of the M3
motorway scheme, shows the contempt the authorities have for the law.
They must be shown up, for the cultural criminals they are.

A protest will begin outside the High Court on the morning of Thursday
14th July, at 9.00 am. It will continue throughout the day, until the
hearing is concluded. The hearing will begin at 11.00 am - and could
run into the afternoon.

Mass peaceful demonstration must happen, if it is ever to happen for
Tara. This is an opportunity to reverse the PR and lies being
circulated by the likes of Minister Cullen, Meath Chambers of Commerce,
IBEC, to the effect that only a small minority of troublemakers case
about Tara.

This must be a 'spontaneous' outpouring. We need a strong
representative group of Irish society there, including children,
housewives, businessmen, shopkeepers and old age pensionners to come
down and make their own sign. It is better that this is not seen to be
'organised' by Save Tara Skryne Valley group, since they are not taking
litigation. It must be representatives of ALL environmental, social
and political groups and PARTIES, who have an interest in this issue.

Please forward this mail. Please call your party, your boss, your
society and get a mandate to put out a call. This is the best
opportunity we will have for months. The world media will be watching,
and we have to shout now, as loud as we can.

Related Link: http://www.hilloftara.info
author by someonepublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 20:26author address author phone

.

m3__tara_proximity_photo2.jpg

author by someone elsepublication date Mon Jul 11, 2005 23:45author address author phone

.

bettertaraimage.jpg

author by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Irelandpublication date Tue Jul 12, 2005 00:18author address author phone

.

author by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Irelandpublication date Tue Jul 12, 2005 00:22author address author phone

.

author by Getting better..publication date Tue Jul 12, 2005 22:28author address author phone

May be of interest?

2.5' of topsoil removal by digger - what
2.5' of topsoil removal by digger - what

Note caterpillar track marks - no chance of artifact salvation here
Note caterpillar track marks - no chance of artifact salvation here

Clearance for further digging
Clearance for further digging

2 Archeologists ignoring the work of the digger (standing right)
2 Archeologists ignoring the work of the digger (standing right)

Machinery in motion
Machinery in motion

author by Have a look..publication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 00:03author address author phone

For reference

N3 and Part of M3 dig site
N3 and Part of M3 dig site

author by Duinepublication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 17:05author address author phone

Ní maith liom daoine a mbíonn ag adhlachadh ár gcuid oidhreacht idir dhúlra, shéadchomharthaí is theanga orainn.
Ná réabaigí ár gcuid fréamhacha uainn!

author by harpspublication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 18:05author address author phone

What, no tourists?

author by This how you do it fast and efficiently..publication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 19:46author address author phone

And who does care..?

Dig it up, shift it, dump it ..
Dig it up, shift it, dump it ..

author by Look at the dumper behind the trees on the right.. - Look at the archaeologists standing behind the dumper at the bottom right cornerpublication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 19:57author address author phone

Look at the dumper behind the trees on the right.. Look at the archaeologists standing behind the car behind dumper at the bottom right corner .. Do they look like they care?

Look carefully - the digger is not the point in this photo - look at the tipper truck on the bottom right..

Look at the careful 'dumping' by the tipper truck on the bottom right.. Read comments above.. Ignore the digger, look at the tipper truck and the 2 Archaelogists behind the car..
Look at the careful 'dumping' by the tipper truck on the bottom right.. Read comments above.. Ignore the digger, look at the tipper truck and the 2 Archaelogists behind the car..

author by The Tipper Truckpublication date Wed Jul 13, 2005 20:09author address author phone

They stand chatting. The digger has dug up that soil, loaded it on to the this tipper truck, the tipper truck dumps it. as with photo above it is the compacted by the digger.

And the whole process seems to be ignored by the 2 archeologists standing behind the digger 30 feet away..

The Tipper truck, the soil of Tara and 2 relaxed Archeologists enjoying the sun.. There is gold in that there hill (well euros anyway)..
The Tipper truck, the soil of Tara and 2 relaxed Archeologists enjoying the sun.. There is gold in that there hill (well euros anyway)..

author by Duinepublication date Thu Jul 14, 2005 17:16author address author phone

An grianghrafadóirí agus iriseoirí idirlín gníomhaithe an lae inniu?
Cá bhfuil na hagóidthe lena gcláracha ina lámha acu ag dul roimh na tochailteoirí?
Níl mé cinnte an léann an rialtas an suíomh seo.

author by Catherine Swift - Save Viking Waterford Action Grouppublication date Fri Jul 15, 2005 23:37author email save at vikingwaterford dot comauthor address author phone

At a public meeting at Dalgan Park on Sat June 11th attended by approximately 100 people (video records and minutes available) , one of the directors of the archaeological firm digging along the route of the M3 stated that all their sites were open to the public and that they were negotiating with the Dept of the Environment to have people present on the site to tell visitors at all times what they were doing. Please, everybody who can, please visit the sites, ask questions and take photographs. The same director also implied that his firm was at least 5 years behind in producing reports on their work (because of the references he made to work done on other motorways which has not been written up.) It is imperative that we put as much pressure as possible on archaeologists to be transparent; otherwise we are paying millions (estimated as between 20-30 million a year) for work which is almost entirely unmonitored and is not available to Irish citizens to read. There is so much work for these firms at the moment, they are under no pressure by the state to publish what they do as the NRA themselves have stated in their own monograph. Unless interested Irish citizens make a record, we may never have one. Archaeology is a branch of education not of building construction; we must fight to make sure that the millions spent "mitigating the archaeology" (i.e. designing the road to find as little as humanly possible in the course of road construction) includes publication of that excavation work which has been done. Otherwise we, the Irish taxpayers, are throwing our money away.

author by diggerpublication date Wed Jul 20, 2005 17:03author address author phone

I welcome the M3, if there is any important artificats to be found they will be found now, if not they can be found under the ruins of our motorway by future post apocalypse generations

author by Megpublication date Fri Jul 22, 2005 18:55author email dagvna at aol dot comauthor address author phone

should there be any information on the finds of the digging? There was mention of a "house'' being found". Can anyone explain this? I just thought it would have been considered something of importance..am I wrong? What else have they found?

author by ..publication date Fri Jul 22, 2005 19:58author address author phone

Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares
Nobody knows 'cause nobody cares

author by LOLpublication date Sat Jul 30, 2005 22:16author address author phone

Woodstown people are quite now.. They must have succeeded..

author by cynicalpublication date Sat Jul 30, 2005 23:39author address author phone

literally a handful of people. It really is obscene.

"Those millions could finance a public hospital"

author by cynicalpublication date Sat Jul 30, 2005 23:49author address author phone

would generate and distribute wealth widely in the valley. Instead a few benefit (strictly short term farmland prices money whether cpo or not) and the majority's fields look onto - and down onto at that - a big noisy busy road. There goes the valley. No supervised tourists paying to do sensetive research/training archeology in one of the most famous areas - tara - on the planet. No access to 'encouragement' from europe to farm ecologically, develop heritage industry, allow land to be fallow and collect subsidies for providing habitat. The valley split in two as a community. A smell of petrol on the hill of tara.

And it's 3/12 k longer than an alternative route.

How much development exactly is planned for th valley area?

Lousy deal all round. All for sharks to come in and profit from destruction? Question is who are the sharks and what future attacks they have planned in and around tara?

I mean you could have a QUANDA about this for the week - easy.

author by Dick Rochepublication date Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:26author address author phone

I trust that the people of Meath will protect the valley from any unsightly developement.

That's why I am not going to place a ministerial order as I know they will police it themselves.

By the way, I think the old and run down Tara na Rí pub should be redeveloped as the Tara View Hotel.

As it is just on the other side of the M3 from Tara and has a perfect view of the Hill itself, and it's main features I would be a perfect tourist asset.

Also it is just at the site of the Tara Intersection. Perfect. In fact, I'll build a service station around the back as it will be hidden from the hill by the M3 intersection and the new TARA VIEW hotel.

So long - if you need my I'll be at my tent in the Galway races. Aside from the above, once the M3 is completed no more developement should take place.


http://www.indymedia.ie/article/70749

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