tara day - August 15th

meath | environment | press release Tuesday August 09, 2005 14:45 by Tara

UNITE!

The people of Ireland are invited to visit the Hill of tara on August 15^th . tara Day, to express their opposition to the proposed
twice-tolled Motorway through the Gabhra (TaraSkryne) Valley.

Information will be available on the 38 sites along the proposed route, including those presently being excavated and others that may be investigated in the future. Maps will be available and everyone is invited to visit these sites that lie so close to the bottom of the Hill.

People are asked to gather from 3 p.m. onwards and at 7 p.m. we
invite any politicians who wish to join us for information and photographs.

The 15^th of August has been chosen for this event because on August 15^th 1843 Daniel O’Connell held a monster meeting at tara attended by an estimated 750,000 people. These people held a belief that the
strength of their unity could make a difference to their freedom. That same flicker of belief burns deep within us all.

Daniel O’Connell was not alone in choosing tara as a rallying or battle point. Many others saw tara as the location from which to launch a campaign. It was used by Brian Boru, by the O’Neill’s in the sixteenth
century and was the focal point of the 1641 rebellion. There was also a skirmish there during the 1798 rebellion.

One of the major battles between the Norse and the high-king of Ireland was the Battle of tara fought between Mael Sechlainn and Olaf Cuaran for the prize of the kingdom of Brega (the land surrounding tara) and for
tara itself.

The public are asked to bring their county flags and the tri-colour with them to express their support of those who oppose the routing of the proposed road through the Valley. People are also invited to bring
flags or banners representing various issues they might be trying to highlight
in their own communities.

The National Roads Authority and Meath County Council have issued a
propaganda pack on the archaeological aspects of the M3 and this is
being selectively distributed countrywide. The pack includes a CD
outlining how the proposed motorway might fit into the landscape.
However, Rath Lugh, one of the main outposts of tara, has been
completely ignored. Perhaps the NRA and MCC do not want the public to
know that it would be separated from its core, The impact on Skryne is
also overlooked. Public taxpayers money is again being spent to promote
a PPP project. The cost of this propaganda exercise is being
investigated.

spokes@sacredireland.org

www.sacredireland.org