Tara's landscape - protest and destruction
national |
environment |
news report
Friday February 23, 2007 09:22
by M. Ni Bhrolchain - Save Tara
As the archaeologists move out - the diggers move in
A series of photographs of the activity in the Gabhra Valley over the last 6 weeks. The wonderful sites that are being exposed and explored are being prepared for the destruction. Bodies and artefacts are removed from huge sites that are so large that they now back one on the other.
Protests take place each Friday at 3pm on the N3 just after the entrance to Tara on the way to Navan in the Gabhra Valley where it meets the Hill of Tara.
Roestown aerial - ready for destruction
How the powers that be treat our most sensitive landscape - what hope for anywhere else in Ireland?
*Irish Independent, Letter - Battle of Tara not yet over*, *Saturday February 17th 2007*
MINISTER Roche recently launched a study of important battle sites and
vowed to amend the National Monuments Act to protect them saying:
"Battlefields can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous
events in Irish history" (Irish Times, January 18, 2007).
Tara, and the Gabhra Valley, has been the background of many battles and
¨momentous events", not least the legendary Battle of Gabhra and Achall
(Skreen) between the King of Tara, Cairpre Lifechair, son of Cormac mac
Airt, and the Fianna commemorated in saga and verse.
The king himself and many heroes are said to have perished in the
conflict and were buried in the area. One poem mentions a 'sad mound'
holding 'the long grave'.
Just over a thousand years ago, in 980, the Battle of Tara was fought
between the Irish King Malachy the second, and the Norse king of Dublin,
Olaf.
Presumably the battle casualties were buried in situ somewhere in the
valley. Are their bodies being dug up in advance of the construction of
the M3?
In 1798 there was another Battle of Tara between Irish rebels and crown
forces.
It was perhaps because of the extraordinary historical pedigree of Tara
and its association with battle in the past that Daniel O'Connell saw
fit to hold a monster meeting on the Hill in 1843, said to have been
attended by one million people.
Is Minister Roche's interest in battlefields too late to ensure the
preservation of the sites in the Gabhra Valley and Tara?
Can it possibly be true that battlefields before the early Middle Ages
will be excluded from this audit and will, therefore, not be eligible
for any equivalent protection?
Despite the vision of these recent initiatives, it is somewhat ironic
that this minister, along with former ministers for the Environment,
Dempsey and Cullen, choose this moment in history to do battle with
those Irish citizens who wish to see our heritage, and above all Tara,
granted a modest degree of legal protection.
The Battle of Tara is not yet over.
Dr Muireann Ni Bhrolcháin
School of Celtic Studies
NUI, Maynooth
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
**Irish Independent, Letter - Thursday February 22nd 2007
M3 as national monument
Julitta Clancy (Letters, February 16) highlights the glaring
inconsistencies of An Bord Pleanala's assessment of the impacts on the
archaeological landscape of Tara of the M3 motorway and of a buildings
materials recycling plant respectively (the former will have no impact,
the latter an injurious one).
She is, however, being overly pedantic: neither of these developments is
1,000 metres from the Hill of Tara, they are actually at the foot of the
Hill of Tara.
Though they may be about 1,000m from the State-owned land on the crown
of the hill, everyone knows this is manifestly not the full extent of
the Tara complex.
The landscape and archaeological sites that are being, or would have
been, destroyed by these developments are unique and irreplaceable
components of Tara.
Could it be that An Bord Pleanala is anticipating the prediction of the
Chief Archaeologist (DoE) that the M3 will one day be a national
monument, and that its intention is to protect the motorway from a
development that would detract from its historical significance?
CONOR NEWMAN
(DEPT. OF ARCHAEOLOGY,
NUI, GALWAY)
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Souterrain at Roestown
Builders compound at Roestown
Protest at N3
Work at Lismullin Wood in the Gabhra Valley
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38One of the high class finds from Roestown - photos courtesy of the NRA
Beads from Roestown
I recently viewed the text of the MEATH ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY's Petiton to the European Parliament (EU reference 546/2005), which relates to the planned M3 Toll Road at present scheduled to run thorough the Tara / Screen Valley, and which can seen at:
http://community.meath.ie/mahs/index.php?option=com_con...id=52
A quick look suggests to me that a lot of hard work went into that particular petition (dated June 1st 2005), and, on the face of it, and allowing for my own EU petition experience regarding the N6 Upgrade in East Galway, and the Turoe/Knocknadala situation, I'm a bit surprised the European Union did not put the MEATH ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY's petition to better use: for the purpose of protecting the ancient heritage sites in and around the Tara / Screen Valley.
However, when I remind myself that the planned M3 Toll Road is a billion Euros project (just for the road part alone apparently), and that there are numerous reports of outrageous corruption taking place in the European Union, perhaps I should not be too surprised by the apparent and so far unexplained "stubbornness" of our "elected representatives" to behave reasonably regarding the protection of ancient heritage sites in the Tara area.
To be honest, all of my experiences of recent years relating to "heritage protection" suggest that corrupt public officials and administrators in the Republic of Ireland are working hand in hand with corrupt public officials and administrators in the European Union, and that both groups are - in addition, and to make things many times more difficult to deal with - working hand in hand with corrupt public officials and administrators in the United States of America.
In support of this conclusion of mine, and by way of just one of a great many such examples I could provide, please note the following two quotes from an "independent" Member of the European Parliament (named Ashley Mote) which were made on September 24th 2004:
"Mr President, Dr Brüner, the Director General of OLAF, which is responsible for investigating European Union fraud and corruption, told the Committee on Budgetary Control at its last meeting that it was not his job to snoop. His annual report said not a word about the EU's own accounting system, which has been shown to be structurally fraudulent and lacks financial cohesion."
"Basic financial records are not being kept; double-entry bookkeeping is still not the norm; cash and bank balances are still not being reconciled, nor are budgets and expenses; advances are recorded as expenditure, which is fraudulent; loans which disappear are written off, which is both a loss of public funds and tax fraud; and records of assets and liabilities in past years are changed retrospectively, which is also fraudulent."
In so far as I can establish, and despite the best efforts of Mr Mote and his close associates over a lenghty period of time, nothing whatsoever of significance has been done to remedy the "banana republic" type of accounting flaws he has brought to the attention of the European Parliament. This of course has left many believing that the accounting "flaws" are no accident, and that they are in fact being very deliberately sustained. All the better to facilitate huge "backhanders" of various kinds it would seem?
With a general election just a few months away, I find myself wondering if the matter of corruption (generally) might somehow be made into a subject of public debate: with senior public officials (including MEPs) being invited to answer some serious questions on this issue in public?
Such debate might be a lot more useful than all the waffle and speculation about who is going to join up with who after the votes are counted, "rainbow coalitions", and so on. "Corruption coalitions" might be more be a much more accurate description of such arrangements?
"A rose by any other name is still a rose."
And, what for example, is the significance to voters of all the endless and fraudulent talk about "democracy" - if all (or almost all) of the so called "elected representatives" are secretly selling themselves off to the highest bidders (in "big business") behind the backs of the voters? Why also should so many of us keep on allowing ourselves to be fooled and hoodwinked into believing that the so called "rule of law" is anything other than the "rule of corruption and bullying" in reality? (Consider the case of the Rossport 5 for example.)
The above two quotes by Ashley Mote MEP have been copied from the following address:
http://www.ashleymote.co.uk/transcript.php?vid=12
A video on "Fraud and Corruption" in the European Union (featuring Asley Mote MEP) can also be viewed at:
http://www.ashleymote.co.uk/viewvideo.php?sec=view&vide...id=12
Changing the subject a little, and with the "the doctrine of the tripartite separation powers" in mind (between, government, legislature, and judiciary), which is deeply embedded into Bunreacht na hEireann (Constitution of the Republic of Ireland), and which all our so called "public servants" appear to me to have completely abandoned in the best interests of rampant corruption, a final thought from Thomas Jefferson (1742 - 1826), who was the third President of United States of America (1801-09):
" ...and the Banks and the Judges have been working like gravity by day and by night, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall render powerless the checks of one branch over the other and will become as venal and oppressive as the government (in England) from which we separated". (More on Thomas Jefferson can be found at http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Thomas+Jefferson%2...earch )
The unlawfully abandoned "doctrine of the tripartite separation powers" might be another good subject for public debate in the run-up to the General Election of 2007 ? - and a very good example of this outrageous legal abuse (in my view), which directly involves President Mary McAleese, and heritage protection, can be found at the following address:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm
More souterrains and beautiful finds.
Bone motif piece from Roestown
Bone pin from Roestown
Decorated comb from Roestown
Beginnings of destruction
Part of souterrain at Roestown
Tá na seoda seo ar áilleacht!
Roestown, Baronstown and Collierstown - they could be national monuments. Lismullin Wood should have an archaeologist on site at all times. They now say that they are there.
If this is how they treat the most sacred landscape. What would stop them? The so-called "show stopper"? Another Newgrange apparently is the only thing that will stop them.
Souterrains again Roestown
Work at Lismullin
Work in the Gabhra Valley
Lismullin Wood
Lismullin Wood again
More photos of the areas that the M3 attacks.
Possible important find at Lismullin
Interesting feature
Closer view
And closer again
And again
The road is pointed to destroy all these areas - over graves, burials and the living spaces of our ancestors.
Baronstown
Deep cut at Baronstown
From Baronstown
Bring child to work day?
Collierstown
These are just a few of the sites in the Valley. These are the sites that emerged from the random test-trenching. We don't know what else lies beneath the ground. That is why is was and is essential that there are archaeologists monitoring each and every move that is made when they are ruining the forest.
There is also a need for accuracy in the photographs taken.
Even the NRA have recognised the importance of the area in giving it its own dedicated website - see link with this.
Have a look and then email them and tell them to stop the road.
A few more photos please bear with me but the record of this destruction needs to be kept.
Builders moving into Roestown
Collierstown again
Digging at Collierstown
Vigil life
We don't need to be tolled twiced
This was where the people who worshipped Tara actually lived.
But for how long?
Entrance to Baronstown looking towards Rath Lugh
Archaeologists at work at Baronstown
The outer boundary at Baronstown
The different boundaries at Baronstown
Trench cutting of the outer boundary at Baronstown
This is where the possible important find emerged in early February.
Flint arrowhead at Baronstown
Kiln at Baronstown
Lismullin early January 2007
Extent of Lismullin site Jan 5 2007
Possible burn pit Lismullin Jan 5 2007
Did we ever have a chance with Tara?
THE merits of the decision to route the M3 motorway through the
Tara-Skryne landscape must once again be called into question in the
light of a recent (and welcome) decision of An Bord Pleanála (NA60204,
12th February) refusing permission for a 'new construction and
demolition waste recycling facility at Philpotstown, Garlow Cross.
The site is adjacent to the proposed 26-acre Blundelstown M3 interchange
and located c.1km from the northern end of the Hill of Tara.
Three reasons were given for the Board's decision in this instance: 1.
'traffic hazard'; 2. adverse impact on the 'archaeological, heritage and
visual amenities of the area' detracting from the 'interpretative
experience of the region' (this is the longest paragraph of the
decision), and 3. impact on the amenities of adjoining property,
contrary to 'the proper planning and sustainable development of the area'.
The decision notes that the site is 'located within the Tara and Dunsany
District Area of Visual Quality' in the current Development Plan, an
area 'considered to be extremely sensitive to all categories of
development insofar as it would detract from the character, appearance
and interpretative experience of the region'.
The decision further notes that one of the objectives of the Development
Plan is 'to protect the Hills of Tara and Skreen from visually damaging
development or proposals that would cumulatively erode landscape quality'.
Now this same Development Plan, containing the same specific objectives,
was the very plan which governed the situation at the time when the M3
was being pushed through the planning process, and at the time (August
2003) when the Board made its decision to approve the controversial
routing of one section of this 64km tolled motorway through the
Tara-Skreen archaeological and historical landscape. In the light of
such clear objectives in the Plan, the question must again be asked: how
is it that a 4-lane motorway and a massive lighted interchange were
deemed acceptable development in this 'extremely sensitive' area,
particularly when clear workable alternatives were available but never
properly examined?
One can only suppose that it was not the 'proper planning and
sustainable development of the area' which governed the Board's decision
on the M3, but rather the fact that the M3 was included in the National
Development Plan and the Board was obliged to follow Government guidelines.
So, it would appear that the groups who, like ourselves, opposed the
routing in this area and who expended considerable energy and time
arguing the case for the protection of the national heritage through all
the stages of the planning process and beyond, never had a 'snowball's
chance in hell' of having any effect at all.
Indeed one would wonder what was the point of the much-quoted 'public
consultations' at the route selection stage, particularly as the results
of these never affected the ultimate decision?
Like the majority of groups and individuals concerned about the motorway
and Tara, we are not opposed to development per se, but surely we have
the right to expect proper, informed, consistent and sustainable
planning decisions and proper and effective safeguards for our rich but
rapidly diminishing heritage?
Julitta Clancy
Asst Secretary, Meath
Archaeological and Historical Society
Parsonstown, Batterstown
Co Meath
Here are more high class finds from Roestown. This must have been a royal dwelling by the quality of finds coming out and I imagine that this may be just the tip of the iceberg.
Further are the original burials at Collierstown 1 that are now gone of course.
Removed for examination - check out the publications on the NRA site below - there are plenty more photos there that i cannot take as they are a PDF document.
Bronze ringed pin shaft Roestown
Decorated bronze strip Roestown
Stone lamp Roestown
Long cist burial Collierstown 1
Stone lined cist burial Collierstown 1
This is an extraordinary series of photographs showing the removal of the cremation pot at Ardsallagh 2.
I saw these at the test trenching stage (thanks to a student from Navan who told me about them after a class in College. I got photos at the time.)
There were actual burials in the area at the time, small faces looked up at me - I'm not used to seeing skeletons - never mind those that are thousands or hundreds of years old.
There is little mention of the skeletal remains in the reports.
Of the 38 sites in the Valley, 13 at the moment include burials but many reports are not in yet and the term "burnt pit" or "burnt remains" can indicate cremation.
Cremation pot Ardsallagh 2
Removal of cremation burial Ardsallagh 2 - cling film
Resin bandages Ardsallagh 2
Pedestal supported
Board under pedestal
The cremation goes to the lab.
How many bodies have been taken from the ground in the last 10 years with all this road building? In one site alone there were 1,000, in another 600, beside me here in Maynooth 55.
When is ok to lift bodies out of the ground? When is it grave snatching?
These sites outlined above may be the dwelling places of the kings and queens of Tara. As Conor Newman said in his submission to the An Bord Pleanála Hearing:
For the most part people did not live on Tara; they buried their dead there and built temples. They lived, instead, in the immediate hinterland, in the shadow of their sacred mountain… “ Conor Newman, former director, Discovery Programme
And he has been proven 110% right - most of the sites are either burials and/or living spaces of the people who venerated Tara through the centuries.
Burials going to the lab Ardsallagh 2
Beauty before the beastly Baronstown before excavation
Comment from NRA M3 site on the cremation removal etc.
From the M3 site on Ardsallagh 2
Archaeological excavation at Ardsallagh 2 was carried out by ACS Ltd and is now complete. The archaeological excavations revealed two circular structures, measuring c. 8m in diameter, one of which was initially identified during testing. The two structures each enclosed a cremation pit, with a further six cremation pits located outside of the structures. These circular structures are currently interpreted as Bronze Age roundhouses. A ring-ditch was also uncovered, measuring c. 20m diameter and enclosing two pits.
Cremation Burials
Cremation was a predominant burial rite in Ireland in the Bronze Age. Occasionally the cremated bone and part of the funeral pyre were buried in a pit inside a ringditch or in the ditch itself. Other times the cremated remains were placed in a pottery vessel and buried in the ground. Two pits, each containing a pottery vessel in which was contained cremated (burnt) bone and charcoal, were removed by professional conservator Susannah Kelly in February and March 2006. The urns will be excavated under laboratory conditions.
Even more important - a stone game board. The game of kings only. The law text on fosterage states that the training for a king's son included the learning of the games of Brandub (dark black) and Fidchell (wood sense) - what we call chess. Competitions between kings could be settled by playing fidchell - the goddess Etaín Echraide (horse riding) was won by her former husband, Midir, by a chess game. They escaped from Tara in the shape of swans.
A wonderful chess board was found in Ballinderry and a poet called Blathmac used the imagery of the board in his poety:
He owns the extent that he marks out
of the seven heavens about the kingly seat;
it is his hand that has scattered in them
the gaming-board of beautiful stars.
Blathmac must have played such a board and perhaps he held it to the light and saw the points of light that came through the surface and this reminded him of a starry sky – the starry sky becomes the gaming-board of the Deity.
A stone board game - game of kings
Additional heritage and historical information relating to the Hill of Tara, which I don't think there was any mention of in the MEATH ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Petition to European Parliament Petitions Committee (i.e. Petition 546/2005 sent by letter and email and dated 1 June 2005), was yesterday sent to a selection of senior public officials in the Republic of Ireland and the European Union.
Very strong evidence of corruption, which is apparently taking place on a MASSIVE scale in the European Union, was also mentioned.
Details of the information sent, and the people it was sent to, can now be viewed at:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm
The copy of the e-mail reproduced at the above address includes all of the original YAHOO "message identification" and "tracking information", and this has been done - very deliberately - for the purpose of making it as difficult as possible for the senior public officials in question to later make claims in public such as: "I knew nothing about the heritage protection problems relating to the proposed M3 route which is at present scheduled to take this planned new toll road through the middle of the Tara / Screen Valley".
Some may be interested to know that, for future reference purposes, "printouts" can easily be made of all the information now at the new page address provided above, and that there are no copyright restrictions of any kind: provided the copies made are personal use only, and that they are not used for commercial gain.
This has just gone out. Note that Trevor Sargent is the key speaker
PRESS RELEASE – TARA DAY AT MAYNOOTH COLLEGE
(Sent on behalf of and at the request of the organisers)
The Young Green Party are hosting a "Tara Day" at NUI Maynooth on
Wednesday 28th. February. This is in response to the beginning of
preparatory work on the proposed route of the M3 that includes whole
scale tree felling throughout the Gabhra Valley. The general public are
welcome and invited to visit during the day and attend the various talks
that evening.
During the day, members of the various campaigns dedicated to saving
Tara from the present route of the M3 will be available to give out
information to the student body and the general public. There will be an
information stall with leaflets, advice on what the public can do, a
petition, photos of the campaign over the past 4 years as well as videos
etc.They will be joined by a number of other environmental groups who have taken the
opportunity to join in solidarity with the Save Tara cause.
Members of the Solidarity Vigil, who are living on the Hill at present,
will also be in attendance during the day.
The Young Greens are delighted to announce that Trevor Sargent will be
among the speakers on that evening. These will begin at 6.30pm with a
talk by Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin on the importance of Tara and the
Gabhra Valley in history and literature. There will also be a talk by
Heather Buchannan on the history of the campaign, Brian Guckian will
give his Multiway Alternative Vision for Meath including the rail
option. Martin Hogan who is an independent candidate for the NUI Senate
will also speak followed by Trevor Sargent. These talks will take place
in the John Hume Building, North Campus, Lecture Hall 2.
A Wine Reception will follow, and the evening will finish with music by
the Trad Soc from the College.
"This invitation has been sent around the country, so we hope to have
lots of members of the public and press in attendance, as well as
students and staff of NUI," said Lou McManmon of the organising committee.
Further information is available from Lou on 086 3600478, or email
gorm@cluas.com .
Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin
Photographs of the sites and the work that is being carried out at present available at
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/
Motion
This Ard-Fheis believes that the currently planned M3 motorway that is
due to pass through the Tara/Gabhra Valley should be halted immediately.
We believe that this road is unacceptable from a sustainable planning,
environmental, and archaeological perspective. We believe that at the
very least, this motorway should be immediately halted and that in its
place the rebuilding of the rail-link from Dublin to Navan and
improvements in bus services should be prioritised over the development
of new roads that may be planned.
The above motion was passed unanimously at the Green Party Conference.
It was tabled by Seán O Buachalla the Meath East Green Candidate.
This certainly makes Tara's future somewhat more positive.
the level of capitalist greed that underpins planning developments in ireland is sickening, we need to respect our heritage, it's amazing, unique and the only one we'll ever have. how dare fat cat politicans and develpers steal it away from us!! ireland relentless direct action to match growing greed awaits you. learn from the blatent mistakes made by our capitalist neighbours instead of emulating them!
This is an excellent article, and it shows the actuality of what's being done up there. When you see the photos to brings home what exactly is being lost, not some abstract possibile finds but real and important sites, destroyed.
A reminder
TARA DAY AT MAYNOOTH COLLEGE
(Sent on behalf of and at the request of the organisers)
The Young Green Party are hosting a "Tara Day" at NUI Maynooth on
Wednesday 28th. February. This is in response to the beginning of
preparatory work on the proposed route of the M3 that includes whole
scale tree felling throughout the Gabhra Valley. The general public are
welcome and invited to visit during the day and attend the various talks
that evening.
During the day, members of the various campaigns dedicated to saving
Tara from the present route of the M3 will be available to give out
information to the student body and the general public. There will be an
information stall with leaflets, advice on what the public can do, a
petition, photos of the campaign over the past 4 years as well as videos
etc.They will be joined by a number of other environmental groups who
have taken the
opportunity to join in solidarity with the Save Tara cause.
Members of the Solidarity Vigil, who are living on the Hill at present,
will also be in attendance during the day.
The Young Greens are delighted to announce that Trevor Sargent will be
among the speakers on that evening. These will begin at 6.30pm with a
talk by Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin on the importance of Tara and the
Gabhra Valley in history and literature. There will also be a talk by
Heather Buchannan on the history of the campaign, Brian Guckian will
give his Multiway Alternative Vision for Meath including the rail
option. Martin Hogan who is an independent candidate for the NUI Senate
will also speak followed by Trevor Sargent. These talks will take place
in the John Hume Building, North Campus, Lecture Hall 2.
A Wine Reception will follow, and the evening will finish with music by
the Trad Soc from the College.
"This invitation has been sent around the country, so we hope to have
lots of members of the public and press in attendance, as well as
students and staff of NUI," said Lou McManmon of the organising committee.
Further information is available from Lou on 086 3600478, or email
gorm@cluas.com
Great to see the anti-M3 Resolution of the Greens National Conference protecting the Tara Valley, also to see anti-M3 Pro Tara candidates, Cllr. Dominic Hannigan of Meath East and Sinn Fein Cllr. Joe Reilly of Meath West poised to take seats in the General Election.
The Pro-M3 anti-Tara Government is now struggling from day to day, on its knees.
It seems that the so-called political strategist Bertie Ahern wasn't so clever after all in hanging on to power for so long, as, day in day out new political crises erupt in his face.
An unwritten political "law" for any government - never dare go the full five years, but like a rank idiot he did. What political stupidity, and as a result Ahern is really showing nerves now.
He should have been driving to the Park on Budget Night when he might even have got an overall majority for his FF/PD government.
Now prices are rising non-stop, food, electricity and gas.
E.S.B. BILL FRAUD.
BTW examine your ESB Bills - the ESB are fraudulently transferring your old units from 2006 into 2007, past the 1st January 2007 Price increase start date , so that they can hammer the new price increase per unit on to your present bill. This deserves a whole new thread of its own - and for the Opposition to hammer the Government for encouraging E.S.B. Fraud, in the Dail !
PRESS RELEASE - WE’LL STOP THE M3 says Trevor Sargent Green Party
(Sent on behalf of the Young Greens – organisers)
In his speech at Maynooth for Tara Day held by the Young Greens in the College, Trevor Sargent replied to Minister McDowell’s accusations that the Green Party would stop all motorway projects by saying: “We’ll stop the M3” and again he reiterated that: “we’re not going to build the M3”. When pushed on how to stop the signing of the PPP contract the Green Deputy said that going to court was the best option. He also thanked Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin for bring the campaign to an international level. Minister Dempsey’s part in the planning of this road was criticised by a number of speakers as well.
Members of the Solidarity Vigil and campaigners to save Tara were present all day in the University to give information, show photographs of the sites and the finds and to chat to the students and staff who visited the stands in great numbers.
A transport researcher, Brian Guckian, outlined his alternative vision for Meath, the Meath Multiway, a transport corridor including a 2+1 and the re-opening of the railway line that would both be toll free. He also outlined his EU petition and complaint based on the fact that no alternative was examined when the motorway option was chosen.
Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, a long time campaigner against the chosen route, emphasised the fact that the only independent survey on the issue, carried out by RedC, showed that 2 out 3 people wanted the road moved out of the Valley. She outlined the importance of the Gabhra Valley in Irish literature as the last battle-ground of the Fianna and said that this area itself should be seen as a National Monument. The extraordinary sites being excavated show that they were the dwellings and burial grounds of high status people.
Heather Buchannan of SaveTaraValley spoke of the importance of the campaign, the Vigil holders and of Tara while Martin Hogan, an independent Green Party endorsed candidate for the NUI Senate, spoke of his commitment to the cause and said that it was “insane that we are here at all” to try to stop the destruction of a place so important to Ireland. He drew attention to the fact that Seán Haughey called the route “cultural vandalism”. He said that the present route bends around Tara unnecessarily and an alternative route would cost about €60m less.
The motion passed at the Green Party conference was read out and Seán Ó Buachalla addressed the meeting briefly. “This Ard-Fheis believes that the currently planned M3 motorway that is due to pass through the Tara/Gabhra Valley should be halted immediately. We believe that this road is unacceptable from a sustainable planning, environmental, and archaeological perspective. We believe that at the very least, this motorway should be immediately halted and that in its place the rebuilding of the rail-link from Dublin to Navan and improvements in bus services should be prioritised over the development of new roads that may be planned.”
Photographs of the sites and the work that is being carried out at present available at
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/
The speakers at Maynooth
The audience at Maynooth
Tara Day at Maynooth
Treise leat, a Mhuireann,
as bheith ar éadán catha ar son na Teamhrach.
I heard a radio report that construction work on the M3 has actually started in the vicinity of Dunshaughlin and other points. Has the PPP already been signed ? We have the Tara Clearances already with a build up of construction machinery there.
AND put not your faith in Trevor Sargent - it is well-known that his colleague John Gormley will agree to ANYTHING for ministerial office - and Trevor won't go against John !
AND to repeat, according to the 2004 Local Election returns in County Meath no Green candidate has a dog's hope of being elected in either of the two Meath constituencies, East or West.
AND the Big Question - should the voters trust the Green Party which is a capitalist party supported mostly by well-off people? I don't think so.
TO REPEAT: the only two candidates, according to past election returns who have any hope of being elected in the General Election are; Dominic Hannigan, Labour, Meath East, and Joe Reilly, Sinn Fein, Meath West.
The Green Party is basically a group of middle-class Independents living The Good Life - they will not rock the boat !
They do not have a Social Policy worth the paper it is written on.
And, Yes, Gormley is capable of agreeing to almost anything to achieve his ambition of a ministerial seat.
Just look at his record as Lord Mayor of Dublin, wheeling about the city on a bike as a gimmick and doing absolutely nothing for the deprived working class and social welfare class of the Capital - except supporting the Refuse Charges against them !
I fear that if the Green Party gets a whiff of government there will be carbon taxes, fast food taxes, even an Obesity Tax if you go over a certain weight.
Trust the Greens - you must be joking !
That idea the Green Party have about a tax on fast foods could be dangerous, would they expand that tax into a tax on all foods that they the Green Party considers "unhealthy" according to the Food Faddists running the Green Party ?
Would this in turn lead to a Food Tax, applied to all foods except organic food, approved by the Green Party, that the average person could not possibly afford ?
Would this in turn lead to near starvation for large families, the working class and the social welfare class ?
This is really scary, Ireland has had enough of starvation and indeed famine - hunger while the tables of Sargent and Gormless Gormley overflow?
The Green Party is the most dangerous political party around !
Yes, I agree that the policies of the Green Party on Fuel and Food Taxes could mean hunger and cold for many of Ireland's Poor.
Whoever first put out the idea that the Green Party is a left-wing party would want their head examined - they're more right-wing than the PDs.
And now the Greens sit on the fence waiting to see which side will give them the most ministerial seats.
Cold-blooded opportunists !
They are now in here on the Save Tara bandwagon, on any bandwagon, with any gimmick that will disguise their real intent in government, their hidden agenda which has the most right-wing economic and social policies of any party in Ireland.
The Left must unite to fight this latest right-wing threat to Ireland's Poor.
I told you yesterday that I suspected I that the PPP for the construction of the M3 through Tara was signed - I wasn't far off. The NRA announced today that they're signing it next week, and proceeding to assemble construction machinery around Dunshaughlin in advance.
And where the Hell are Trevor Sargent and the Greens, Sargent announcing last Wednesday night at Maynooth that "we'll stop the M3" - Oh Yeah, Trevor ?
Then where is the Green Party Motion in Dail Eireann to stop the M3 - it's certainly not on the Order of Business !
Such a motion could at least delay the signing of the M3 until the change of government (hopefully) after the election, esp if supported by Sinn Fein, Labour and the Independents.
Put not your faith in politicians !
Certainly not the Green Party !
Another recent series of photographs of the Gabhra Valley (between Tara and Skryne) - the most sensitive archaeological landscape in the country probably being the Irish Valley of the Kings. Here are the dwelling places of those peoples who venerated Tara through the centuries. Here are the forts of those who were crowned as kings of Tara - the most important king in Ireland.
If this is how this landscape is allowed to be treated by the Government, in particular by Minister Dick Roche, what hope for your area when they decide to build a road there?
Lismullin 28 Feb 2007
Lismullin again 28 Feb 2007
M3 route looking NW from Rath Lugh Feb 28 2007
Rath Lugh 1 Feb 28 07
Rath Lugh2 Feb 28 07
What can I say?
Rath Lugh3 Feb 28 07
Rath Lugh4 Feb 28 2007
Rath Lugh/Gabhra River Feb 28 2007
Tara/Skryne1 Feb 28 07
Tara/Skryne2 Feb 28 07
And more photographs
Tara/Skryne2 Feb 28 2007
Tara/Skryne3 Feb 28 2007
Tara/Skryne4 Feb 28 2007
Tara/Skryne5 Feb 28 2007
Tara/Skryne6 Feb 28 2007
Finally for this series. There will be many more by the looks of things ...
Tara/Skryne7 Feb 28 2007
Tara1 Feb 28 2007
Tara2 Feb 28 2007
Tara3 Feb 28 2007
really, what is all the fuss about. i believe the so called gaels were invaders to these islands
and now project themselves as protectors of the land of the pre gaelic cruthin. yet
thousands of our pre christian and pre gaelic venerated sites have been misused for centuries
and no one protested. do not over estimate the hill of tara and i am sure my ancestors
would be most pleased to see a nice motorway financed by those saxons in england
and germany to add to the trillions given already to prop up the so called celtic tiger.
thouands of irish lorries thunder across england to use our channel tunnel and
historic sites from angelsey to dover were carved up in the process of making the
motorway and tunnel. yet in a thousand years time even they will be site of historic interest
that some people will want to protect. if we followed that logic ireland would still be
a banana republic as it was before the trillions from the eec changed matters but
then this is all just my without prejudiced opinion and for the use of this web page only.
sur' lets dismantle the pyramids so and use the blocks to improve the sewage system of cairo - what an insight you have to preservation and the beauty of history - i think people in thousand years time. people won't be admiring the mystical charm of the road networks but they may have learned at that stage that our lack of foresight was the actual downfall of our so called culture! is amadán ceart tú mo chara bocht!
sur' lets dismantle the pyramids so and use the blocks to improve the sewage system of cairo - what an insight you have to preservation and the beauty of history - i think people in thousand years time.won't be admiring the mystical charm of the road networks but they may have learned at that stage that our lack of foresight was the actual downfall of our so called culture! is amadán ceart tú mo chara bocht!
i believe..yes the pyramids have been great for egypt. the time and effort wasted by those with egos to leave their mark on the landscape
could have been spent better elsewhere and the brown nosers who fly to egypt to gawp and leave their carbone footprint in the sky
then complain about global warming. irelands so called heritage cant be eaten and it done nothing to help the irish during the famine.
better build houses on tara so the hundreds of thousands of elderly irish left dumped here in england can return home but then they
have sent their monies to the fat bhoyos back in the bog who have no hesitation in speaking english to recite those well cherished words 'lets apply for funding from the eec'. and while they slobber about heritage and culture they cannot make themselves english enough fast enough so that ireland is now no more than an english cricket and rugby playing county with new houses galore with thousands empty sitting on what may well be disputed land maybe an inheritance taken from the quiet descent elderly irish here in england many alone who have more respect from the english then the wannabebrits back in the bog! who just love english televison and gawp at our soaps as if they were pyramids with mouths open and their bowells blocked even there accents are becoming most english a people who cant wait to dump their culture. who are those strangers moving into that new empty house ? is it aged bridie back from london oh no its guaranteed income residents whos rent is paid by the brirish tax payer. and all is well back in the bog - for now! but then this is just my own without prejudiced opinion for this web page only.