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

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

Excavator at Tara Intersection

Area dug by Excavator

Turned Earth at sign of Tara Interchange

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