Multi-nationals circle closer around Tara

by Michael Martin - Heathen Libertarian Forum Thu Aug 24, 2006 23:34

Due to the lack of woodlands in the locality the vigil keepers coul soon be running out of windfall/dead wood for keeping the camp fire going. The fire is absolutely vital to the campaign, since this is the vigil keepers' only way of cooking a`meal, boiling water or for drying out damp cloths.
If you have any large bits of timber in your garden waste, please bring them up when next visiting the vigil keepers on The Hill.
Also urgently needed are timber pallets , off-cut and waste timber from construction sites. and if you have a tarpaulin you no longer need, please drop it in as well. Same goes for heavy duty plastic sheets (the type of material used under cement floors to keep dampness out).

I hope to head out to Tara Hill at some stage tomorrow afternoon.

by spider Fri Aug 25, 2006 08:03

whats the story with the schizophrenic references to foreign workers. first they're leaving the country with their fat paychecks, then they're being exploited, then theyre exploiting irish people by taking construction jobs. i dont really think that theres so many jobs available to them that they can pick and choose, nor do i think that theyre receiving particularly fat paychecks.

by Ciaran Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:56

Maybe what is meant is that while they often get low wages by our standards, in many cases, they are still fat paychecks from their point of view, and are not likely to be taking cultural/philosophical considerations into account.

by admin - TaraWatch Fri Aug 25, 2006 14:33 info at tarawatch dot org

The demonstration at the NRA conference, Routes to the Past, being held at Chester Beatty Library, will now take place outsid ethe Library in Dublin Castle at noon, Thusrday Aug 31st. A press/photocall will take place at 1.00pm and the demonstration will conclude at 2.00pm.

by anarchaeologist Fri Aug 25, 2006 23:57

Just what is it with TaraWatch? Why the constant need to fling muck at the archaeological workers working along the M3? And why the complete failure to engage politically and in real terms with those forces who are really responsible for forcing the road through the valley?

I, like most archaeologists of my acquaintance, absolutely abhor the act of cultural vandalism that's being perpetrated on the archaeological landscape that is the Tara-Skryne valley. I can see why it's preferable to keep the archaeology in the ground; it's a finite resource and once you dig it up, that's it, it's gone except for what's in our notebooks and on our plans and photographs. Yet the archaeologists are constantly getting it from TaraWatch and now with some sort of added xenophobic twist.

The archaeological world is small and bitchy and very highly regulated compared to the UK or most other European countries. If there was any evidence for malpractice among the archaeologists you can be sure it would have emerged ages ago. This isn't the first time TaraWatch has alleged archaeological malpractice on Indy though: if TaraWatch has real evidence for such shenanigans, by all means use Indy to publicise it. But all TaraWatch is doing at the moment is detracting from the real issue by picking on an easy target (while at the same time cheapening Indy’s reputation by posting inaccurate and badly written shite).

Although I personally have no professional connection with the NRA or the archaeological excavations being undertaken along the route, I can say that the NRA are doing something that is quite new in Irish archaeology: they are insisting on extremely high archaeological standards and ensuring that the results are disseminated to the public and eventually published. I wish the scumbag property developers I work for would undertake to publish some of my digs.

But before I'm accused of being some sort of lickspittle apologist for the NRA, TaraWatch should consider the fact that we as a body are incredibly poorly paid by construction industry standards and for the most part, that we work in really shitty conditions (ok, our fault for not organising and getting ourselves out of this mess). Sure, the companies and consultancies are raking it in, but not those folk providing the raw information getting their hands dirty in the muck on the sites.

For ages now I've wondered why TaraWatch has taken such umbrage at the lowly digger. Does TaraWatch think they should all walk off site, refuse to participate in the rape of the valley and join them up on the hill around the camp fire? The digger is of course a convenient target and can be zeroed in on from the encampment up above (through the now thinning wood smoke), as a personification of the evils to come.

But why has TaraWatch consistently ignored the class issue here? For the road is being ostensibly built to enable workers get to their desks/factories/hospitals/schools in the city in doublequick time. Of course, they'll be tolled twice and will have to face the mayhem that is Blanch and the M50 every morning. They'll be getting ripped off from when they jump out of the scratcher in the early morning until they return to it again late that night, to repeat the process again the next morning. Why hasn't TaraWatch engaged with these people and these real issues? Because they drive cars to work in the city? I dunno...

I don't hold much though with the sacred valley nonsense. I believe that there is no need for the road (especially in the context of peak oil) and that traffic capacity can be better served by rail, or if needs must, by bypassing the various towns and villages along the route. We all know the road's being built to facilitate certain property speculators in Meath as well as to keep the construction industry happy. We know who the speculators are and we know which politicians they fund. Why not get on their case and lay off the diggers? Or is that a bit too political for you?

by M. Ni Bhrolchain - Save Tara Sat Aug 26, 2006 01:04 muireann at savetara dot com

Well said anarchaeologist. This is all about land speculation. Look at the latest planning application that I drew attention to over the last number of weeks here and elsewhere.
We all know that this is a political matter, that the land in the Valley is being bought up by those who support Fianna Fail in particular. This was highlighted in Ireland on Sunday but unfortunately no other newspaper has had the balls to take up this issue. Those articles outlined those involved and it went straight to the Taoiseach.
The M3, the chosen route and the poor commuter paying for it in every way (unnecessary excavation, tolls, petrol etc.) is purely a political matter and can only be addressed now by the politicians.
Look at Dempsey opening the hotel in Trim at Trim Castle - some history teacher he must have been.

by Robyn Sat Aug 26, 2006 01:34 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au

Dear Anarchaeologist,

I am trying to understand your perspective on this issue, as I believe archaeologists are incredibly important in the issue of Tara and the Motorway. Whilst I obviously prefer ancient heritage to be preserved and protected 'as is', I agree that the NRA appear to be doing their best to "appear" to be performing this vandalism using the professional standards of qualified archaeologists and world standard archaeology practices (correct me if I am wrong). I just question how free the NRA's paid archaeologists are to voice their true professional and personal opinion, or if they are merely paid mouthpieces of the NRA silenced and stifled with gag orders.

I am confused as to whether archaeologists are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They need to make a living by digging up the past, classifying it, writing about it, publishing and displaying in a museum. Yet is the past better left undisturbed?

I use my own profession as an example. I am a scientist with few career path opportunities available to me in my home city and state, yet I refuse to work in the local boom industry of uranium mining on ethical grounds - because I am opposed to the nuclear industry. Each archaologist needs to make a similar choice - preserve and protect the past and potentially be unemployed, or dig it up and profit and put food on the table for their families.

Worst case scenario for me, is if the road gets through the litigation in the Supreme Irish Court and European courts and actually gets built. A silver lining from every cloud would be that the important work of TaraWatch and other organisations has raised the importance of the heritage of Ireland and pre-Christian non-Romanised Western culture onto the world stage. Also any artifacts that are dug up will be treated correctly according to archaeological principles and made available to the general public. Do we want our heritage left where it was created thousands of years ago, or stuck in a glass case in the capital city to be goggled at by tourists? I wonder what would our ancestors would prefer.

What would you prefer for the archaeologists of the future? Imagine if in 2,000 years they wanted to dig up your house and classify your personal possessions into a museum. Would you like that, or would you prefer your house was left undisturbed and respected from a distance? An interesting thought.

I believe in finding a better way to transport the commuters to Dublin, one that doesn't involve destruction of irreplaceable ancient treasured landscapes and historic monuments. I am sad that more people of Celtic heritage are not joining me to insist the government fulfills the needs of all concerned, especially future generations that might not get to see and appreciate the ancient capital of Ireland in all its undisturbed glory.

Do we really want the ancient capital of Ireland to nothing more than a carpark on the side of a polluting motorway?

Comments welcome.

regards,
Robyn

by anarchaeologist Sun Aug 27, 2006 00:39

I would have thought my perspective on this issue was blatantly obvious. Let me try and clarify the issues as I see them as an archaeologist and as a libertarian:

1. There is no justification whatsoever in engaging in a series of archaeological excavations along the route of the proposed M3. Some excellent work has been carried out in recent years under the auspices of the Discovery Programme using non-invasive methods of archaeological prospecting. Using these methods, we've learned more about the complex of monuments here in the last 10 years than we'd ever learn from the relatively small-scale excavation being undertaken in advance of the road's construction. If this were only about increasing our knowledge of past societies (which of course it isn't) this would be the way to go.

2. The excavations are being undertaken to resolve the route (that's the jargon used, resolve...) and to basically clear the way for the contractors. There is no justification for the excavations as the road itself is unjustifiable under a number of criteria, and not only archaeological ones. I'm talking about peak oil, workers' issues, sustainable development, landscape protection... you get the picture.

3. The NRA, through their project archaeologists, are managing the archaeological resolution of the route by sub-contracting the work out to a consultancy which employs archaeologists to excavate the sites. The sites are run by licensed archaeologists (i.e. archaeologists deemed capable by the state to direct excavations) and crewed by a hierarchy of general operatives, site assistants and supervisors.

4. The archaeologists on site are quite badly paid for a long, physically and intellectually demanding day's work; up to 70% of the workforce clear less than €400 a week after tax and expenses. They are well-educated people and for the time being, are dedicated to the career they've chosen. Unfortunately, few will remain in archaeology over the next 5 years.

5. I know several of the NRA project archaeologists (as I said, it's a small world). Few appear to be particularly self-reflexive regarding their role in the whole business, but in fairness, self-reflection is an attribute one doesn't come across much in Irish archaeology. I won't go into the reasons here but they have a bearing on the general attitude of the archaeological community to what's going on at Tara and indeed elsewhere in the grander scheme (see point 6 below).

Some NRA project archaeologists appear quite gung-ho about what's being dug up around the country, and I detect a bit of ego at work here, Indiana Jones or Lara Croft wannabes who don't get their hands dirty. It's an attitude I personally find gauche and intellectually unsustainable. But, you'll get this sort of attitude in senior management in all walks of life, and not just in archaeology.

6. If you're interested in the myopic vision of the future as put forward recently by the great and the good in Irish archaeology, google the Archaeology 2020 document on the UCD website. Search in vain for references to workers' rights, fair conditions of employment etc. I wonder if there will be anyone stupid enough to want to be an archaeologist by 2020, but that's another issue entirely.

And so Robyn, the response of a professional archaeologist of some standing, who's also politically committed to a profound and fundamental political change with environmental justice as a central tenet, is not going to have a particularly convoluted view on the whole Tara-Skryne issue. I don't particularly believe that the archaeologists, NRA or otherwise are hiding anything, although it certainly suits some groups' agendas to suggest they are.

But you know this thing we call heritage is an odd commodity. I had a particularly interesting conversation last year with a leading member of the Save Tara crew who gave out to me at great length about the amount of time being wasted excavating a nineteenth-century post office in the vicinity of the other sites, which were doubtless of more significance. I was quite pleased that the NRA had seen fit to excavate something that imho warranted as much archaeological attention as any of the other monuments scattered throughout this particular landscape. But no, it wasn't Celtic enough (never mind the fact that there's feck all evidence for any sort of classical Celtic settlement in the country) and my friend obviously didn't consider the remains of the post office as archaeology.

The initial post which triggered my earlier comment hints at the foreigners being brought in to destroy the Tara-Skryne valley and I'm getting this again in your post Robyn where you said:
I am sad that more people of Celtic heritage are not joining me to insist the government fulfils the needs of all concerned, especially future generations that might not get to see and appreciate the ancient capital of Ireland in all its undisturbed glory.

This is an interesting comment and I'm sure there was no malevolent intent but do you not think that other folk of, errr... non-Celtic origin may have an interest in this, our heritage, as well? And I'm thinking particularly about two Polish diggers who were cornered and harangued by protesters a few weeks ago while having their first look around the hill of Tara.

I’ll say it again: TaraWatch should get their act together and consider the political dimension of what's going on here (see the link below). If you’ve got something on the archaeologists, let’s hear it. In the meanwhile though, you know who the real enemy are, so what's stopping you?

by Robyn Sun Aug 27, 2006 08:54 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au

Hello anarchaeologist,

Thank you for your detailed post, I am much clearer on your position now, but still have a few questions. Are you FOR the M3 motorway through the Tara Skyrne valley, or AGAINST it? I am getting mixed messages from you. I hear that you don't think Tara Watch are doing a good job, so what is it you think they could be doing better? Or do you think they should give up entirely and let the motorway happen as the current government wants.

I have no doubt that archaeologists working on NRA payroll are low paid and treated badly. But, if they are working for the M3, then they are on the side of the destroyers. How on earth can you be a supporter of leaving history be, and justify being employed and paid to examine what is dug up whilst destroying the peace of that history?

It just doesn't make sense. To me it makes as much sense as a sex-worker promoting the sanctity of faithfulness in matrimony, whilst getting paid for having sex with married people. Or a priest promoting celibacy, sex-only-in-marriage and denouncing homosexuality, whilst molesting children in secret. A paradox.

Also, I was not excluding non-Celtic people from being involved in the various Save Tara campaigns, I welcome anyone's involvement, black, white, yellow, pink, green, Christian, Pagan, Islamic, Jew, Atheist, Irish, English, Whatever! I was just venting my frustration and sadness about the people of the world, especially countries such as USA, Canada and Australia, with any amount of Irish blood in their veins who have no interest in where they came from.

I don't believe in hassling foreign workers, its their management and their political masters I have a problem with. Unfortunately they hide in their well guarded ivory towers..... I don't know anything about 2 Polish diggers being harangued, perhaps you can enlighten me?

I am not in Ireland, and know next to nothing about archaeology or Irish politics. I would appreciate if you could advise any political party or independent you think would pick up the issue of diverting the motorway away from the Skyrne valley, or building alternatives including train lines, as I am not able to find any Irish politicians who are interested in not building the M3 in its current plan.

Thankyou anarchaeologist,

Robyn

by anarchaeologist Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:14

I'm against the road. Can I be any clearer?

by W. Finnerty. Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:28

"However, it is not expected that the construction of the project will be funded (by the European Union Regional Development Fund)."

There is reason to believe that, in certain circumstances, the European Union will refuse to fund road projects in the Republic of Ireland: possibly for reasons to do with protecting heritage sites "they" believe to be important - and regardless of how much local politicians and academics in the Republic of Ireland might try to argue otherwise.

For example, and in connection with EU Petition 1018/2003 (regarding the planned N6 Upgrade Road in County Galway), please see the last sentence of the European Parliament "NOTICE TO MEMBERS" letter dated October 21st 2004 at the following address:
http://www.constitutionofireland.com/EuropeanParliament...3.htm

A big problem with the EXTREMELY important "Tara" heritage complex is that senior Republic of Ireland politicians and academics appear to be in total denial regarding the crucially important historical information which links Brehon Law, the Hill of Tara, and King Ollamh Fodhla, and which is outlined at the following address:
http://www.kingollamhfodhla.com/

To make matters far worse, and though Brehon Law may well have been the most just form of law in human history, and far more so than the present forms of Roman Law many of us now live under, the senior politicians and academics concerned also appear to be in denial about being in denial - or at least they pretend to be.

As far as I know, and even though it costs almost nothing to do, nobody has ever made a formal petition to the EU (similar to the N6 Galway EU Petition 1018/2003 for example) regarding the present proposed route for the M50 Motorway?

Perhaps it is still not too late to make such a petition? They can be made "either individually or in association with others".

Additional basic information relating to EU Petitions can be found at the following European Parliament web site location:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/2_5_0_en.htm

by Robyn Sun Aug 27, 2006 14:42

William,

I am wanting to make an EU petition on behalf of keeping the motorway out of the Skyrne valley, but am lacking in local knowledge and legal know how. I know having the correct legal detail and political strategy is crucial. Do you perhaps know of any websites that could help me?

regards,
Robyn

by W. Finnerty. Sun Aug 27, 2006 18:21

Robyn,

Assuming you can meet the requirement set out in the paragraph immediately below, you can petition the European Parliament yourself directly; and, provided you can put forward a good enough case, that might result in the EU refusing to fund the present plan for the present route of the M50 (i.e. through the Tara/Skreen Valley) - in a way similar to what appears to have happened in my case regarding the N6 Upgrade Road and the "Turoe & Knocknadala" situation in County Galway.

"Any citizen of the European Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, may petition Parliament, either individually or in association with others."

If you cannot meet the above requirement yourself, you would then need to locate, and to work with someone who can meet it - and (in my view) it would be preferable to find someone who lives in or around the Hill of Tara area. Better still, try to locate a small group of dedicated people to work with - who live within a radius of 30 miles or so (say?) of the Hill of Tara.

You may wish to keep in mind that the European Union cannot sensibly be seen, IN PUBLIC, to be financing the destruction of large parts of what is probably one of the most important heritage complexes in the world: particularly if nearby Newgrange and Cairn T (in the Loughcrew area) are taken into account. As far as I know, the M50 project involves expenditure of 1000 million Euros or so at present estimates; and, though I have never looked into it, it seems reasonable to me to assume that a large portion of the sum in question is scheduled to be supplied by the EU - as is normal for major projects of this kind in the Republic of Ireland.

However, please also keep in mind that unless a formal petition is sent in by someone (or some group), the appropriate people in the European Union cannot even formally consider the issues involved, let alone take any action.

The actual procedure for making a petition to the European Parliament is very simple I have found, and it seems to me that the procedure for any petition you (or anyone else) might wish to make regarding the Tara situation can easily be copied using the information at the following Internet page location, which includes the postal address in Luxembourg that you need:
http://www.finnachta.com/EuropeanParliamentPetition.htm

by M. Ni Bhrolchain - Save Tara Sun Aug 27, 2006 23:50

There has been a lot of speculating about the various ways in which Tara can be protected here and on other lists and most of this has either been done or cannot be done by the public. Just to clarify what has been done heretofore.

UNESCO
Two and a half years ago now, UNESCO came to Ireland to investigate the Battle of the Boyne site and allowed the then Save the TaraSkryne Valley Group to attend. Vincent Salafia, Julitta Clancy and I all attended and we were all allowed to speak even though strictly speaking the enquiry was about Newgrange and the Bend in the Boyne. We were lucky that the ICOMOS representative was and ex-student of Thomas Charles-Edwards the noted early Irish historian who had signed the first letter to the Irish Times.
The Group, me primarily, also compiled a huge file to send to UNESCO for the following June (that is 2004). I still have that file in electronic form.

EU Complaints
Three complaints have been made in the last year. One by the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society and that is on their website.
The Labour Party MEP, Proinsias de Rossa, who is strongly opposed to the present route, has been keeping a watch on these.
He keeps us informed as to what is going on.
As far as i understand only a certain number are allowed. Indeed, theirs was nearly disallowed because another complaint had gone in ahead of them. It was P. de Rossa who fought to have these complaints kept open until September as far as I know.

WORLD heritage status
Only the government can nominate a site. We have very few compared with other countries and it obvious why ... it would stop development. This government is dependent on the building industry for funding, Fianna Fail in particular. They and the building trade are hand in hand on this.

All this makes the recent invitation to add Tara to the World Monument Fund's invitation to add Tara to the list of endangered sites even more crucial and important.

by W. Finnerty. Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:08

I'm very pleased to learn that complaints have already been sent to the EU (and elsewhere) regarding the protection of the Hill of Tara.

However, all complaints, petitions, newspaper pleas, and so on, which I have seen to date - on efforts to protect the Hill of Tara and surrounds - fail completely to show the extremely close link between Brehon Law and the Hill of Tara.

Can anyone explain why this is? - particularly in relation to those petitions and complaints which have been signed by numerous senior academics working in various universities around the world?

The Island of Ireland, in effect, became a very large and bloody battleground between Brehon Law and Roman Law in the 1100s; and, Brehon Law was eventually "fully decommissioned" in the 1600s (as far as I know). There is probably no event in Irish history that has had a bigger effect on the lives of Irish people?

Brehon Law is not some kind of historical fantasy; and, among other things, I understand there are at the present time several volumes of ancient Brehon Law manuscripts in Oxford University (in England). Further information relating to this point can be found via the following link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=Breho...earch

What are these ancient Irish manuscripts doing in Oxford University in England I wonder? - are they just gathering dust possibly? Why are they not being translated into modern versions of the Irish and English languages, and made available to Irish people - so that they can learn more about what is perhaps the most important part of their history and heritage?

Brehon Law may be - by far - the most important part of Irish culture, might it not?

Complaints and petitions by themselves may not be enough to prevent large parts of the "Tara Heritage Complex" from being destroyed?

Powerful "culture protection" arguments, supported by historical facts, might need to be put forward as well? - keeping in mind that 1,000 million Euros have been ear-marked for the M50 Motorway Project apparently? That is a lot of money for people who appear to care little about anything other than money, and the political power it provides them with to bully others into kowtowing to them in all matters.

The crucially important link between "Feis-Teamhrach" (The Great Feast of Tara) and King Ollamh Fodhla, who is the Irish King primarily associated with Brehon Law, can be viewed on Page 53 of the "Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters" (written between 1632 - 1636 A.D.).

As far as I know, most of the large libraries in the Republic of Ireland have copies of the "Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters" in their "Reference" sections. For anyone outside of the Republic of Ireland who might have difficulty finding a copy of Page 53, a scanned copy can be viewed a little over half-way down the page at the following Internet location:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/name/annals.htm

by W. Finnerty. Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:43

I have been advised that the address for sending petitions to the European Parliament is no longer the Luxembourg address used for Petition 1018/2003 (referred to above).

As stated at the first European Parliament web location below the present postal address for sending petitions to is:

The President of the European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
B-1047 BRUSSELS
Belgium.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticD...ge=EN

General information on making petitions to the European Parliament can at present be found at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticD...ge=EN

by W. Finnerty. Wed Aug 30, 2006 16:21

An e-mail was sent yesterday to several senior public officials in the European Union, and in the Council of Europe (which deals with human rights law, and cultural heritage issues).

This was an attempt to try and make those concerned aware - while there is still time - that there are important links between the Hill of Tara, Brehon Law, and the Cultural Heritage of the Irish People.

As some people will already know, though not nearly enough (at the present time) to "save" Tara perhaps, the stamping out of Brehon Law in Ireland (roughly between 1169 and 1650 AD), and its replacement with "Roman" Law, was the most cruel injustice in recorded history that the people of Ireland ever suffered, and that none has had more far reaching consequences for Irish people.

In effect, it was this forced switch-over of legal systems which enabled the bulk of the land of Ireland to be taken away from the people of Ireland, during the lengthy period in question. It really does appear to be as simple, as basic, and as important as that.

Assuming the writers of the "Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters" got things right, the origins of Brehon Law first appeared on the Hill of Tara at some time during the 40 year reign of King Ollamh Fodhla, which they claim was between 1317 and 1277 BC.

As many who have visited the Hill of Tara will know, strong traces of what many believe are the remains of the foundations of "The Great Banqueting Hall" associated with the triennial meetings used - primarily it seems - for updating and maintaining Brehon Law, can easily be seen on top of the Hill of Tara; and, it really does seem to have been "Great" in terms of size at least - as can be judged from the photograph at the following location: http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/32463 .

One of the several problems with digging things up around the Hill of Tara at the present time is that there are many valuable Brehon Law documents which remain untranscribed in places such as the British Museum, the Bodleian Library (Oxford University, England), and Trinity College, Dublin. Among other things, some of these documents may contain direct references to the Hill of Tara which nobody doing the digging around Tara at the present time knows anything about. All things considered, and for whatever reason, there appears to be an amazing lack of "joined-up" thinking between the historians and the archaeologists who are at present directly involved in the excavations near Tara.

One other point about Brehon Law which is not as well known as it might be perhaps, is that in terms of producing and sustaining social justice, and the genuine peace associated with a high-quality social justice system, Brehon Law seems to have been many times more efficient than Roman Law. For example, Brehon Law does not appear to have relied to any great extent (if at all) on such things as police, prisons, lawyers, and politicians - certainly not to anything remotely like today's situation. The reason for this appears to be simple: Brehon law was widely accepted by the vast majority of Irish people, and deeply appreciated by the vast majority of them - so much so that the judges ("brehons") were easily able to deal satisfactorily with most crimes and disputes by applying fines (called "erics") where appropriate, which were very finely tuned to "make the punishment fit the crime", and which took full account of both the perpetrators' and the victims' social status and circumstances.

Last, but not least, there is the almost completely forgotten matter of the Celtic Christians, who are sometimes referred to by such names as "Ceile De" (roughly meaning "Partners of God" in the Irish language), and by other anglicized versions of these two Celtic words such as "Culdees", "Colidei", and so on. Unfortunately, when Brehon Law was stamped out, the Celtic Christians were stamped out with it - as were their monasteries. One of several sad and regrettable aspects of this is that it was the Celtic Christian monks who were responsible for the fabulous works of art produced during the so called Dark Ages in Europe. Such items included "The Book of Kells", for example, and a sample page from this particular work can be viewed at the following address: http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/protest/nov...kells .

Clonmacnoise, founded in 548 AD, and destroyed (almost completely) in 1552 AD, was probably the most famous of the Celtic Christian monasteries to be very deliberately "decommissioned" in order to make room for Roman Law in Ireland; and, many might strongly argue that Clonmacnoise was the first major Christian university in the world - not least because of the fact that many members of its student population in the first millennium AD came for countries all over Europe, and some from as far away as present day Russia it is believed.

For anyone interested, a copy of the full text of the e-mail sent yesterday to the European Union and Council of Europe officials, and to 16 Irish MEPs (Members of the European Parliament), can be seen at the following address:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

It is my hope that the senior public officials working in Strasbourg and Brussels might now show more respect and more regard for the Hill of Tara than our own senior public officials here in Ireland are doing. I further hope the officials in Strasbourg and Brussels will assume, until (and if) someone proves otherwise, that the authors of the "Annals of Ireland by the Four Masters" got things right: and that The Great Banqueting Hall on top of the Hill of Tara really was the birthplace of Brehon Law (sometime around 1300 B.C.) - in addition to being its "home-base" for several centuries afterwards.

by upmayo Wed Aug 30, 2006 16:30

Its sickening that any Irish Government could think of destroying Teamhair.

by Robyn Thu Aug 31, 2006 18:30 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au Australia

What on earth are Irish Brehon Law Manuscripts doing in Oxford University indeed? They should be brought home and translated (yes indeed it seems tragic that Roman law overtook Brehon Law). Where are all the archaeologists campaigning for the return and translation?

The multinational companies who are effectively being hired by the Irish government to destroy the heritage of the Irish people must be held accountable too.

William, I am eligible for preparing an EU petition, yet lack the background legal, local and political knowledge to prepare a case.

regards,

Robyn

by W. Finnerty. Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:11

Robyn,

I'm delighted you are eligible for preparing a petition to the European Parliament.

With regard to this point, it may help you to know that I informed several senior officials at the European Union yesterday, including Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles (President of the European Parliament), regarding the links between Brehon Law, the Hill of Tara, and the M3 Motorway toll road - which is at present scheduled to run through the Tara/Skreen Valley.

A copy of the e-mail I sent yesterday to the EU officials in question can now be viewed at the following location:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

Regarding the legal background information you mention, and in so far as I am aware, there has only been one major case before the courts to date which directly involved the present proposed route for the M3. Information on the case I have in mind can be found at the following address:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75561

Additional legal background information on the M3 situation can also be found via the following link:
http://www.google.com/search?q=M3%2C+High+Court&btnG=Go...earch

by Robyn Fri Sep 01, 2006 23:38 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au

It will be very interesting indeed to watch the European Parliament's response to pleas for help in stopping the Irish Government desecrating a site that should have World Heritage protection. I am not clear of the jurisdiction of the European Parliament over the Irish Government, but would suspect they don't have the power to do anything other than write letters asking them to take one course or other. I hope I am wrong.

Very interesting too, to see if the Irish Government accepts its broader responsibility as part of Europe and the whole world, and recognises its unique position as custodian of a precious yet overlooked part of Western culture and history.

A higher global profile for Tara and Brehon Law could be of great benefit Western culture and perhaps challenge the dominant divide-and-conquer military-industrial complex that seems to dominate us all.

Robyn

by Robyn Sun Sep 03, 2006 02:11 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au

Aideen Ireland, President of the Royal Society for Antiquaries (http://www.rsai.ie), wrote a letter to The Irish Times, 5 May 2005, the day Minister Roche gave his Directions to proceed with the current route of the M3, stating:

"Over one hundred years ago this Society campaigned vigorously to have ill considered excavations by the British-Israelites on the Hill ofTara stopped. On that occasion the excavations ceased and the site was preserved. It would be a scandal if Tara, saved on that occasion, were now to be sacrificed in the interests of short-term progress."

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If the Royal Society of Antiquaries saved Tara from the excavators 100 years ago, can it do it again? I am wondering of the similarities and differences of the two campaigns 100 years apart and how much influence the Society holds with government.

Looking forward to another Vigorous Campaign!

Robyn

by Equally frustrated Sun Sep 03, 2006 02:19

They had integrity. They were honest.
Some of these people are not

by W. Finnerty. Sun Sep 03, 2006 15:46

Europa Nostra ( www.europanostra.org ), the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, is the representative platform of over 200 heritage NGOs active throughout Europe. It is the voice of the vast movement of European civil society active in the field of heritage protection through the international bodies concerned, in particular the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

From August to November, and in connection with "European Heritage Days 2006", the 48 countries signatory to the European Cultural Convention will be celebrating the European Heritage Days (EHDs), a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Earlier today (the last day of "Heritage Week 2006" in Ireland), basic information about the Hill of Tara situation was sent by e-mail to the Secretary-General of Europa Nostra (Mrs Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović).

As some believe that G8 ideation is the main driving-force behind toll-road projects like the M3, and as this very rarely seems to ever get mentioned in connection with Tara, an attempt was made to drawn attention to this point by gently including "G8" in the subject title of the e-mail.

Today's e-mail to Europa Nostra was also copied to a number of world leaders and observers, and they included the person who is thought to probably be the most influential world leader in the G8 Group: President George W. Bush.

For anyone wishing to view today's e-mail, a full copy (including Yahoo message identification and tracking information) can be seen at the following address:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

by Robyn Sun Sep 17, 2006 00:49 peacefulwarriorprincess at yahoo dot com dot au South Australia

Greetings all,

I am a little confused here downunder about which of all those fine Irish academic archaeologists whose names I have seen on various open letters and pro-Tara websites have volunteered to prepare the application for Europa Nostra protection for Tara, which I believe has to be submitted by January 15.

I've downloaded the application questionaire and it seems quite comprehensive and very technical (I can find the link again and post here if anyone is remotely interested).

I can only cross my fingers and hope that a team is already hard at work on the application.

I'd be happy to help in any way I could, but I am so far away and only a humble scientist. Nobody listens to us with our gloom and doom environmental predictions anyhow, just look at David Suzuki. I went to a talk by him the other day and he was very inspiring but oh so sad that governments are still hell bent on destroying the environment in service of the mythical god of Economic Expansion. One day we are going to run out of planet, and there wont be any nature or heritage left to put a motorway on. (He also very clearly articulated that nuclear power is no solution to climate change or the energy crisis, an issue I believe is of concern to Irish citizens with the location of Britain's Sellafield nuclear plant and probable radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea.)

What will the Irish government find to do once Ireland is totally covered by a network of motorways?

Ireland used to be known as the Emerald Isle, soon we must change that to the Blue-Grey Motorway Isle.

I am fervently hoping somebody will post here and enlighten me about the Europa Nostra project, or contact me by email.

Cheers,
Robyn
South Australia