International Expert Report Calls for Preservation of "Unique" Lismullin Amphitheatre

meath | history and heritage | news report

Tuesday August 21, 2007 11:59

by TaraWatch

info at tarawatch dot org

087-972-8603

NRA assessment contradicted

An international archaeological expert has issued an independent report which contradicts many NRA findings and recommendations regarding the newly discovered national monument in Lismullin, and calls for full preservation of the "unique" national monument.

Drawing of Lismullin remains from Deevy report

The report, entitled 'On the Significance of Lismullin', by Dr Ronald Hicks, will be submitted to Minister for the Environment, John Gormley;
the NRA; Meath County Council; and An Bord Pleanala, who are currently considering whether the demolition of the site will be in breach of planning permission.

The report is also being sent to the European Commission, who are currently examining whether the legal basis of the order to demolish
the site is in breach of EU law, as well as the World Monuments Fund, who are monitoring the situation now that tara is on their 100 Most Endangered Sites List for 2008.

TaraWatch is calling on the Minister to examine the independent report and halt any demolition works until An Bord Pleanala have reached a decision, which is due shortly.

Dr Ronald Hicks, Chairman of the Anthropology Department at Ball State University, Indiana, endorsed the TaraWatch nomination of the Hill of tara to the World Monuments Fund List. He recently inspected the Lismullin henge and has issued a report which states:

1. Rather than being a delicate wooden 'henge', which is extremely delicate, the site sits in a natural hollow to form an ancient amphitheater. That structure is very much intact, and could and should be preserved in situ.

2. The site is comparable to ceremonial enclosures found on the hilltop at tara and other royal sites in Ireland, but is twice as large as any other.

3. The site is part of a larger complex of monuments associated with tara, forming a single national monument, with many component parts, all of which are national monuments. The NRA have consistently denied that the site is part of a larger national monument.

FULLL REPORT - On the Significance of Lismullin, Dr Ron Hicks
http://tarawatch.org/?p=470

Profile of Dr Ron Hicks
http://www.bsu.edu/web/rhicks/research.htm

NRA Report on Lismullin by Mary Deevy
http://www.meath.ie/LocalAuthorities/Publications/Herit...n.pdf

World Monuments Fund
http://www.wmf.org

100 Most Endangered Sites List 2008
http://www.worldmonumentswatch.org/