Who Loves Tara? - We Do!

international | history and heritage | news report

Sunday July 22, 2007 12:51

by Seán Ryan

Great turnout at the Love Tara March. Around a thousand from all over the country march and make their voices heard.

Environmental Impact Assesment for the whole M3 project unlawful.

Gormley chastised by Sinnott as he has failed to make the file on Tara public, thereby giving the NRA the excuse of ignorance with regard to the illegality of the project.

The weather stayed fine on Saturday the 21st of July as hundreds took to the Streets of Dublin to protest the desecration of one of the world’s oldest and dearest places of worship and heritage. Tara. Good people travelled from all over the country in an act of solidarity and outrage in what was one of this year’s largest protests at the capital.

The protest began at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square. One would have been forgiven for thinking that there had been a poor turnout as one approached the Garden, as hundreds had congregated in the Garden itself and were hidden from the view of those approaching.

The Garda presence was neither massive nor oppressive. Many accepted leaflets, engaged in conversation with their fellow Irish men and women and their mood was relaxed as evidenced by greetings offered and ready smiles. Gardaí in Rossport etc. take notice, this is how policing should be done.

The mood of the marchers was defiant yet exuberant. A carnival-like atmosphere was present. There were costumes, faces painted like the Celts did before battle (Woad), and flags from practically every county in Ireland. The colours alone were more than enough to capture the eye and breath of anyone in close proximity to the crowd rapidly swelling at the Remembrance Garden.

After some short and to the point work from Vincent Salafia on the microphone at the Garden the protesters began to make their way out onto the road. It was at this point that one began to have an appreciation of the turnout. The front of the march had made its way down to the Parnell Monument on O’Connell St. before the marchers had finished pouring out of the Garden of Remembrance. I’d estimate that somewhere between nine hundred and a thousand took part in this part of the protest. Cars honked and people cheered as the procession made its way to the Custom’s House. Folks were leafleted and petitions signed. The colourful crowd chanted slogans, hailed onlookers and informed Dublin in general of the Tara Four, who’ve been unjustly jailed for daring to love their heritage.

At the Custom’s House, speeches were given to a reactional and emotive audience. A letter addressed to John Gormley, leader of the turncoat Green Party, from Kathy Sinnott MEP, was read out. He has been officially called upon to make public the entire file on Tara. Gormley is castigated by Sinnott as she points out to him that the entire Environmental Impact Assessment for the M3 project is no longer valid and therefore unlawful and that the government has been put on notice of this fact by the European Commission. Sinnott goes on to say, that had the file been opened sooner as had been promised, that the citizens of Ireland would have been aware that the Government will be in Court this Autumn over the illegality of the M3 project and that the NRA would have been unable to claim ignorance of the illegality of the project as they are currently doing.

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Comments (27 of 27)

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More Photos

Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:54

County Flags and "Irishness"

by Aventis

Sun Jul 22, 2007 13:10

These monuments should be protected because they are very important to the history of that area and for history generally. Tara gives us an insight into the way in which the Celts and others ruled and lived. I fully support this protest and it was unfortunate that I could not make it to Dublin yesterday.

What's up with the County flags?! The people that built Tara had no Counties! It was the English administration from 1600s on that formed the counties. Furthermore, the people that built the various national monuments in Tara had no concept of being "Irish". This concept of being "Irish" is very young - from 1600s on. You won't find any link to "Irishness" etc at Tara. You are getting your historical epochs all wrong if you think that.

save the land

by true celt - earthfirst

Sun Jul 22, 2007 14:00

why do such numb heads react this way?. damnd english language...
oh! im so sorry mr, they wernt irish, wot was meant was they were celts as we 'irish' are all celts(mostly), O.K. then,, celts not irish does that make your we brain feel its all ok now. dah...LONG LIVE TARA. solidarity and never mind the trolls.

The Most Colourful Protest...

by Elaine O'Sullivan

Sun Jul 22, 2007 14:24

... I have been at in a while. Quite a hosting!

I take the point made above about the County flags but I assumed that they were to represent the people of today who care about the past. It was a good idea to bring them, whoever thought of it, as it gave the protest the feel of an All Ireland event.

Thankfully they didn't

Right so let's go!

Forming up, ready to go

And they're off...

One of our boys in blue

Damn Datestamp On The Photos

Sun Jul 22, 2007 14:31

and I have no cropping or photoshop tools where I am. So sorry about that but at least I now know that the time on my camera is an hour slow.

Alas poor Yorkie, I knew him well

Marching in the Woad

Leaving Parnell Square

Marching to the beat of a different drum

Me too!

Celts never came

by Thomas Paine

Ireland was more than likely never "invaded" by Celts or populated in a large scale by Celts. The historical myth that this Island was invaded or settled by celtic peoples is highly questioned. There is no archaeological eveidence of invasion around the time the celts dominated parts of Northern Europe. The evidence of this would be visible through a quick change in the material culture of the island to types associated with the celts. The evidence points to a slow evolutionary change where people alternate at times between the cultures. There is also no evidence of a sharp rise in social upheavel indicating an invasion either. We most likely are not "celtic people" what is certain is that the people who inhabited this island had at one time adopted aspects of what is known as Celtic Culture. This in no way argues against the validity of the case to preserve Tara.

Sun Jul 22, 2007 14:37

Nearly there

Speech on the steps

Love Tara

Free the Four

Tara Abu

Final Lot

Sun Jul 22, 2007 14:41

Artists for Tara

Bertie puts in an appearance

Don't ask, don't tell

Celtic Tiger and friends

It aint over till the last flag is waved

We're not Celts!

Sun Jul 22, 2007 15:32

Fair enough if the flags were there to represent the people of today that were present at that protest as the Counties do belong to the modern age.... as does the Irish tricolour that was invented in 1848 and only shot into public knowledge less than 100 years ago in 1916.

The point was made that we are "all Celts". Wrong. The Celts entered Ireland about 2000 years ago and imposed a system of government, a method of warfare and a language on the pre-Iron Age peoples that lived in Ireland. They actually came in small numbers and didn't have a massive impact on the "genetics" of the population of Ireland. Today's population of "Irish" people are in fact largely descended from the pre-Celtic peoples with a good mix of Celts, Normans, English, Scots etc thrown in for good measure. We're not a "Celtic Race" or a "Celtic People". To say we're a "Celtic Nation" is a contradiction in terms as the Celts did not have nation states! The fact there are about 10% of today's population that are recent immigrants should also not be forgotten when you digress into misty-eyed nationalism about "Celtic Nations".

Tara should be saved because it is historically significant when we want to study about human civilisation in the Iron Age period. I fully support this campaign. Just ease off on the pseudo-nationalism.

Question of Legality?

by Dave Michael - None

Sun Jul 22, 2007 15:40

Just viewed some Tara footage of building workers saying that protesters were breaching health and safety of site. I am aware that TD Synodd has been told by the EU commision that work on the site is illegal. Would like to know more about legal status. Surely UCATT-the builders union should be informed and an injunction put to stop the illegal building of this road. It is those workers who should be imformed of the law and not their interpretation of kangaroo law.

Irishness and all that jazz

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin

Sun Jul 22, 2007 16:03

Aventis: This concept of being "Irish" is very young - from 1600s on. You won't find any link to "Irishness" etc at Tara. You are getting your historical epochs all wrong if you think that.

There's a written record as far back as the early 11th century, where in the Book of Armagh Brian Boru is referenced as Imperator Scotorum, "Emperor of the Irish". Regardless of questions of nationalism and what it means to be Irish, there are old references to the national identity of the people of Ireland that don't sit easily with the mechanistic concept that nations are a bourgeois invention.

The Celts

Sun Jul 22, 2007 16:14

Aventis: To say we're a "Celtic Nation" is a contradiction in terms as the Celts did not have nation states! The fact there are about 10% of today's population that are recent immigrants should also not be forgotten when you digress into misty-eyed nationalism about "Celtic Nations"

"Celtic Nations" refer to ones in which a Celtic language is (or was) spoken, i.e. Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Ireland, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. There is no such thing as a Celtic Race, what binds Celtic people together is entirely lingual and cultural. That's pretty much universally accepted and no Celtic scholar worth their salt would argue that a Celtic race exists.

Apologies

by Eoghan O'Sionachain - LY (personal capacity)

Sun Jul 22, 2007 16:48

Sorry I couldn't be there. Was at the picket in Rossport. Fair play to all involved, great to see a large turnout for the demo. Was a pitty the two days clashed, considering the campaigns have so many links and could be supported by each other in numbers etc. Hope to get up there soon and show my solidarity with all involved. Best of luck

More images from protest

by formal

Sun Jul 22, 2007 17:13

Images

Try Again

Save Tara

The High King of Tara>

Shame on You

Reply to Ciarán

Sun Jul 22, 2007 19:30

Ciarán refers to an 11th cenutry quote about Brian Boru being considered King of the Irish. That is not proof of an Irish National identity that early. It is a reference to Boru having the alliegence of people all around the island. He would have been the main player politically at the time in the island of Ireland and people in Ireland would have had a notional alliegence to him. That does not make the peasant in the field think of himself as an Irishman. When I refer to a "nation" I refer to an imagined community that the bulk of people feel they belong to. In feudalism the vast majority of the people had no national consciousness. They were generally local in outlook and did not have the communications that developed under capitalism to make national consciousness possible. The earliest you can say there was an Irish nation was from in and around the 16th century when plantations occurred. Anyway, we can argue the ins and outs of it but even your quote comes from the 11th century which was over 1000 years after the Celts!

I take Ciarán's point about Celtic languages. The language of a people can greatly influence the development of national consciousness. The common linguistic past of the people living in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Mann, etc. is a reality. My first remarks did not give the Celts credit due to them on the influence they've left. The Celts did greatly influence government, language etc of Ireland right up to the plantations. Indeed Celtic languages are still spoken on an everyday basis in Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

by Siobhan - TaraWatch

Sun Jul 22, 2007 21:15

A Demo is being organised outside Navan Courthouse at Nine O' Clock this coming Wednesday. All support is welcome. FREE THE TARA FOUR!

History of Celts

by TOC

Sun Jul 22, 2007 22:01

See at http://www.handofhistory.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=1 for information on history of Celts in Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Free the Tara Four

by Mick Egan - None

Mon Jul 23, 2007 00:57

Any demonstration, other than a dignified one, would not be welcomed and must be discouraged.
You might thing you are doing good by those arrested. In fact you will only make their situation worse.

Any ranting and raving outside the Court will only result in more severe sentences for the defendants.

These are your friends. They are not "Martyrs to the cause". They are more useful to the "Cause" on the "outside" then in Jail.

by Barrister - Trim - None

Mon Jul 23, 2007 01:05

Actually there are seven!

There is little point in being there at 9am as the case is listed for Wednesday but its scheduled to be heard at approx. 3pm - depends on other cases.

FAO AVENTIS

by Atlantean

Mon Jul 23, 2007 09:05

If you are going to be pedantic then understand that the term Celtic to describe the Irish, Scots, Welsh and associated cultures was introduced in the 1700's by a welsh man.

Silent, dignified protest

by The spaceman went travelling - none

Mon Jul 23, 2007 09:34

This is from the Save Tara yahoo list -

The next court appearance of the 7 arrested will be in Navan court
house, the square, across the road from the shopping centre, on
Wednesday 25th July at 10.30am.
If people wish to stand with those appearing, it will be a peaceful,
completely silent protest and if you wish dress in black. This is
intended as a dignified show of solidarity.
If people wish to be in court, no interruption, no noise, no banners, no
aggrevation of any kind. Please. No shouting Save Tara in the courtroom
or anything like that - this is the best way to support those who
appear. The Campaign to Save Tara will stage a silent and peaceful
presence. Go raibh maith agaibh.

Navan Court

by 7

Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:44

There are seven people facing criminal charges.

4+3=7

3 on bail.
4 in jail.

all face charges on Wednesday. there are multiple references in this thread to the Tara four...

http://www.savetara.com

Open letter from Kathy Sinnott MEP to John Gormley TD

Mon Jul 23, 2007 16:01

This letter begs that a very simple question be asked of Mr. Gormley. That question is: Whose interests did Mr. Gormley represent by not making this file public; Fianna Fáil, who allowed him into government or those who elected him and gave him their mandate to represent them?

Does Mr. Gormley love Tara?

EMERGENCY CALL !

by Observer

Mon Jul 23, 2007 16:09

Emergency Call !

3 Conservationists are at Barrenstown where machines have moved in heading for Rath Lugh.

Anyone in the area is asked to give their immediate support.

Thank You

Diggers moving towards Rath Lugh

by Michael Martin - TaraWatch

Mon Jul 23, 2007 17:13

The first reports are coming in that heavy earth-removal machinery is moving towards the rear of Rath Lugh from the Baronstown site entrance. People encamped on Rath Lugh should be able to hold them off for a short while till re-enforcement arrives. Henge and souterrain at Lismullin is all we have left to mount a new high court challenge on. The time has now come for the people still encamped in / near the tipi on the Hill of Tara to break camp, move down to Rath Lugh and set up an additional defensive camp between Soldiers Hill and Lismullin on the other side of the Gabhra river.. Defensive action simply is no longer sustainable if people have to travel to and from the Hill of Tara all the time.

The most wanted man in Ireland

by Thomas - none

Tue Jul 24, 2007 01:11

none

I attended the march on Saturday and enjoyed the colourful procession as it made its way to the custom house. However I have to say that I found the manners of one demonstrator rather irritating.
As I snapped a shot of the march as it wound its way towards the custom house, a parinoid idiot wrongly assumed though I was trying to get a photo of him.
(maybe he thought I was an undercover cop )
When this plonker spotted me with my camra, he threw his hands up to cover his face, then as he passed he stoopped down and pulled his hoody over his stupid grinning face.
Is this man a fugitive from the law ?
Is he just camra shy ?
He behaved like someone who had somthing to hide. His actions do not do the save Tara campaign any good.
This type of behaviour puts people off getting invovled, its adds a kind of criminality to the protest.
Maybe the next time we have a march, this sensitive clown could stay in the trees and hold the forth,
Anyone marching to save Tara, should hold their head high with pride, not skulk behind a hoody.
Hey bozo, Wiseup and ditch the hoody

Re: The most wanted man in ireland

by Bleepy

Tue Jul 24, 2007 15:46

Not that this campaign has time for internal bickering amongst the common support for saving Tara, but the person who posted the paragraph about the " parinoid idiot " (its spelt PARANOID man) really shouldn’t have wasted his time.
While he is sitting there, slagging off a complete stranger whom he never even engaged in conversation with, the man he is talking about is actually down at tara at this very moment throwing himself on front of machines - fighting for the same cause we all believe in. If someone doesn’t want there photo taken man then that’s their choice... "plonker", "fugitive", "clown"?? ... what the fuck man? Ease up and vent all your anger and frustration towards the enemy.. not one of our OWN warriors.

Thanks

Shane

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Who Loves Tara? - We Do!

Comments (27 of 27)