Souterrian - Lismullin - under threat - please HELP
national |
environment |
news report 
Thursday February 21, 2008 12:24
by marcella - SaveTara
anitagreg at gmail dot com
tower street , Belfast
Tara
Digger and chainsaw gang near Souterrain at Lismullin.Tara ,Urgent callout
for people, experts, media.
Message from Carmel -
Digger and chainsaw gang near Souterrain at Lismullin. Urgent callout
for people, experts, media.
"The Elusive Iron Age:
a rare and exciting site type is uncovered at Lismullin, Co. Meath "
that is what even the Government Archaeologist says about it -
http://www.tarataratara.net/resources/Reports/NRA/Lismu...t.htm
this whole Valley is important
and this bit is unigue
- see link
...........in IMEDiate danger of destruction .....please Help
Comments (18 of 18)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18This makes me so angry! This Government is a disgrace to our Country. What is the story with the Court Case?
The medieval souterrain at Lismullin was demolished some weeks ago. Also, there are no more standing trees on the stretch of road- take between Lismullin and Soldiers Hill. But a coniferous Coillte plantation (Lismullin Woods) is bordering on the road- take zone. So can you please give more details as to what is going on at Lismullin?
Latest from Protesters on site:
Diggers and chain saw gang are working outside the planned road take. They are cutting down trees and preparing to move in to work near a completely unexcavated Souterrain. Protesters are worried that they dont even know what they are about to destroy. This is a very worrying development and help is needed FAST.
If they are working outside the planned road take then they are working illegally. The fact that they are endangering a Souterrain should be rewarded with a hefty prison sentence at the very Least. What are the Gardai doing about this?
Gardai were on site earlier and were informed of the illegality of the work by Protesters. They were uninterested. Fact is, it has been reported. It has also been reported to the National Museum.
THese are the "souterrain-like structures" hidden by trees in Lismullin Woods. THese structures were pointed out to archaeologists working on the Lismullin site during last Summer. The archaeologists weren't interested since these structures are located outside the road-take zone . If road construction work is carried out outside the set road-take zone, then it is highly illegal. The national museum should be contacted instantly, and so should Coillte, since they own the trees in Lismullin Woods
It has been reported to District Manager PJ Fitzpatrick at Coillte. He has assured me that it will be investigated. He knew nothing about it and is trying to establish the facts. I have given him my phone number to get back to me.
It has been reported to District Manager PJ Fitzpatrick at Coillte. He has assured me that it will be investigated. He knew nothing about it and is trying to establish the facts. I have given him my phone number to get back to me.
One of the Sousterrains at Lismullin on the banks of the Gabhra River is in immediate danger today. Construction workers are in the process of felling the trees on the mound above the sousterrain.
Conservationists and members of the public have been gathering at Lismullin Woods today in protest, trying to stop the work which has been deemed illegal by the EU Commission.
Alarmingly there has been no archaeology done on this sousterrain either by NRA or Independent Arcaheologists.
This is one of a possible 6 underground stone structures within 150m of the newly discovered Henge at Lismullin which was handed over to Siac/Ferrovial , the construction companies in late 2007.
This is yet another example of the underhand tactics being used to destroy the physical proof of why the Tara Valley should be protected.Without Archaeological documentation these monuments will never be understood as part of the Tara Landscape.
We call on all those who are opposed to the destruction of the Gabhra Valley to stand now and be counted. Activists and supporters needed URGENTLY henceforth.
Contact Rath Lugh:
0861537146
Vigil:
0861758557
Pics I took of the Sousterrain in question in Dec 07
I should also add that an Activist has excellent video footage of the inside of the Sousterrain.
It has been pointed out by Dr Muireann Ni Bhrolcain that the other half of the Lismullin Stone, displaying ancient rock art estimated to be 6000 yrs old could very well be in this endangered sousterrain. It is somewhere near the Henge, it could be here and there is NO Archaeologist on site!!!!
Megalithic Art on The Lismullin Stone
I'm sick to my stomach after reading this....I'm tied up until Monday and can't get there. I so wish I could be there to support you all today. Hoping against hope you can stop these bloody vandals.
Keep fighting the good fight a chairde....my thoughts are with yous
le grá agus solas, mars
(I'll be at camp early Monday morning...text me before that if you need anything brought out)
PJ Fitzpatrick has confirmed that to the best of his knowledge at this time , and as far as he can assertain, they are not Coillte trees but belong to the NRA.
Whether this be proved correct or not it is still only part of the problem.
John Gormleys office has been informed as well as the National Museum. Please make as many calls and emails as possible to them so that they take this seriously.
Here is a photo of the endangered souterrain-like structure in Lismullin Woods
Structure in Lismullin Woods
As of this morning: protesters stopped any work in the area of the souterrain. The archaeological company were on-site early and said that the souterrain should be 100m away from the planned slip road. It is only 7m away.
Work stopped but this is just the latest in a series of mistakes and cock ups.
The coordinates that they are using appear to be completely off.
That should add weight to the campaign against the destruction. Gormley You Listening?
Could someone please re-post the current phone numbers and email addresses for the above? (As well as those for anyone else we should be contacting.)
E-mail: minister@environ.ie
Phone: 01 888 2403
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