Report from Rathlugh

by TaraWatch Sun Mar 23, 2008 00:03

Interview with professor George Eogan on Rath Lugh national monument, Hill of Tara.

March 21 2008.

The National Roads Authority have just erected a metal fence, to keep protesters from interfering with M3 motorway construction works, which are directly impacting the Rath Lugh national monument, and severing the archaeological complex.

Professor George Eogan

Director of Knowth Research Project and Professor Emeritus of Archaeology, University College, DublinGeorge Eogan (Ph.D., Trinity College, Dublin) is a leading expert in the archaeology of Ireland, with particular interest in the Neolithic and Late Bronze Ages. He is the Director of the Knowth Research Project and has been excavating at Knowth for more than 40 years as part of his investigation of the Passage Tomb builders in Ireland and Western Europe. Professor Eogan is a native of Ireland and has taught and lectured extensively on the country’s archaeology. Now Professor Emeritus of Archaeology, University College, Dublin, his archaeological research has led to approximately 90 papers and nine books, including The Accomplished Art: Gold and Gold-working in Britain and Ireland During the Bronze Age (Oxbow Books, 1994), Knowth and the Passage Tombs of Ireland (Thames and Hudson, 1986), and (with M. Herity) Ireland in Prehistory (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1977).

by And what about Sun Mar 23, 2008 16:11

with Tara expert Conor Newman, recorded last year

http://www.livevideo.com/video/D77F025400244D1EAB1B48D5....aspx

by none Mon Mar 24, 2008 21:15

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/73337

Brian Duffy, chief archaeologist of the Department of the Environment, was
appointed to his post even though he has only a general BA degree in archaeology
and no track record of archaeological excavations or publications, The Irish
Times has established.

"He has never directed an archaeological excavation and has no experience in
that area whatsoever, though he might have participated in one as a student 30
years ago. He also got his BA long before landscape archaeology became an
important area of research."

Prof Waddell said Mr Duffy's "incomprehensible lack of knowledge of what
constitutes an archaeological landscape" was evident in the advice he gave
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche on the plan to route the M3 motorway
through the Tara-Skryne valley in Co Meath. "In failing to address the question
that the Tara landscape constitutes an archaeological area . . . the chief
archaeologist, the department and the Minister failed in their duty of care in
respect of the country's heritage," he said in an affidavit for the High Court
case on the M3.

by TaraTaraTara Tue Mar 25, 2008 16:46

Very moving interview with Prof. George Eogan. I happened to be present during another interview with him at Lismullin by an Independent Film Maker ( Documentary yet to be aired) at the time of the discovery of the Lismullin Stone. At the time he was quite happy with the Archaeology and had no particular comment against the NRA or Govt Policy.

Good to see he has changed his mind.

The Lismullin Stone

by none Tue Mar 25, 2008 19:08

so that's not true what you said he may have been happy with how the preservation by record/dismantling of lismullin was being carried out but he never wanted the road to go through their in the first place. http://seanharnett.blogspot.com/2007/05/more-about-tara....html

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Wed Mar 26, 2008 00:09

He also signed the statement in 2005
See
http://www.savetara.com/statements/academicstmt.html
under E.
Of course he was against this route - just that the media interest was not quite the same back then ...

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Wed Mar 26, 2008 00:34

See here:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/archaeology/Tara_Irish-Times_CN....html

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Wed Mar 26, 2008 00:36

Just to show what happened in the past:
http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0178/S.0178.200411240007.html

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Wed Mar 26, 2008 00:40

So much has gone on since this first was proposed in 2000. Most of the opposition has gone unnoticed by the media, and as a result, those more recently involved.

http://www.emigrant.ie/article.asp?iCategoryID=177&iArt...39755
January 24, 2005
Keep scrolling down - and you will reach this little piece.

* On Wednesday the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment heard from eminent archaeologists who were very unhappy with the proposed route of the M3 near the Hill of Tara. Professor George Eogan, the man who carried out the major excavation at Newgrange, considered the choice of route a very odd decision and Dr Edel Breathnach, one of three academics who had been researching Tara for the last 14 years, claimed that the road will "destroy this immensely important landscape". She also argued that this particular route will lead to protracted delays and significant extra costs due to archaeological work and court actions.

Ed

by TaraTaraTara Wed Mar 26, 2008 17:50

I didnt say he was pro the route going through the Valley, what I said was that he wouldnt comment for the Independent Film interview that day. He also feigned ignorance of the fact that it was the Rath Lugh protesters who brought the Lismullin Stone to Public attention. He "seemed " unaware of the protest at all that day , or at least that was the impression he wanted to leave us with. It's on film and there are other witnesses. I do not detract from his expertise or his committment to Archaeology , that is there in evidence with decades. Indeed he is a lovely man whom I would never wish to insult and I am also well aware of his stance from previous reports.

That is why I am glad he has spoken out in the above interview, from the heart, standing on Rath Lugh surveying the destruction. It is a moving piece of film. Sorry if I was misunderstood or unclear in my expression. Thanks.