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<< News >> Campaign To Save Tara

Submitted by coldrum on Sunday, 18 March 2007  Page Views: 4408

Site WatchCountry: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Meath
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St Patrick and Tara - No Place for Heritage and Tradition in the New Ireland. Legend records that St. Patrick lit his Pascal Fire on the Hill of Slane, just as the pagan fire was to be lit on Tara. The druids at Tara warn the king, Loegaire son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, that unless they put out the fire it will outlive their pagan fire forever. Loegaire is feasting in the banqueting hall when Patrick enters and confronts the ‘great, fierce, pagan emperor of the barbarians reigning in Tara, which was the capital of the Irish’. In one version of the story Loegaire refuses baptism and insists on being buried in pagan fashion – that is upright and fully armed in the ramparts of Tara facing his hereditary enemy, the king of Leinster. This is the landscape targeted by the proposed M3 motorway.

Irish Ministers will travel the world this weekend, presenting shamrocks to Mr Bush and marketing the bright, shiny new Emerald Isle in cities far and wide; from New York to Toronto, Savannah to Rome, London to Japan. A new found concern for the environment, and the traditional focus on a green and unspoilt landscape, is central to the marketing effort. Meanwhile back at home … the contracts for the M3 motorway have been signed. The present route for this motorway is destined to destroy Tara’s landscape; the Gabhra Valley, between the Hills of Tara and Skryne. The proposed road itself is a four lane, tolled motorway that cuts a swathe through the richest archaeological landscape in Europe. A huge interchange is planned within 1500m of the top of the Hill, and cultural and environmental activists predict the motorway will inevitably be followed by all kinds of commercial and ancillary development. The Green and Emerald Isle is quickly becoming the Concrete Isle.

During the preparatory archaeological excavations 38 sites have been uncovered in the Valley. The archaeological richness of the Valley has proved to be such that the sites have been expanded and now back onto one another, forming one large archaeological dig-site in this section of the proposed route. At least 13 contained burials and dozens of ancient corpses are being dug from their resting places and placed in warehouses for future examination. Such is the fate of the ancestors in the new Ireland.

Future tourists are sure to be confused by what they encounter in Co. Meath and indeed throughout the country, particularly the most scenic areas. Rampant development, much of it facilitated by corrupt officials has been a by-product of Ireland’s breakneck economic expansion over the last decade.

Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, Campaign to Save Tara, said today: “The Irish diaspora abroad have an opportunity over the next week to impress upon the Irish Government that this decision affects all of us; that Tara belongs to Irish people all over the world, it is part of our cultural and national identity.”

She added: “We call on everyone who cares about the heritage of Ireland to take this chance to express their personal abhorrence in whatever way they can on St. Patrick’s Day. And if you happen to meet one of our smiling politicians at your St Patrick’s Day celebrations tell them exactly what you think of their plans to destroy Tara. Our campaign is calling on the Government to abandon this cultural vandalism, and instead seek UNESCO World Heritage Status for the Tara Complex. It is only by doing this that Tara can be preserved for this and future generations.”

savetara.


archaeology.eu.

Note: Further articles in comments.

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"Campaign To Save Tara" | Login/Create an Account | 7 News and Comments
  
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Archaeological find on N9 by coldrum on Monday, 04 January 2010
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CERAMIC beads dating back 3,500 years and described as being of great significance have been discovered on the route of the new N9/N10 Athy Link Road.
The series of 25 small ceramic beads, the only ones of their kind from the Bronze Age and a major coup for Irish archaeology, were discovered along with the cremated remains of a human body on the route.

The cremated remains were discovered recently in a shallow pit adjacent to the site of a Bronze Age burial mound or barrow, which was discovered in the summer of 2007.

As part of a routine process of sieving soil associated with human burials, technicians from Headland Archaeology, the firm contracted to carry out the archaeological dig, uncovered the precious beads.

They were passed to a leading expert in prehistoric ceramics who confirmed that the beads belonged to a necklace or bracelet for which he could find no comparison.

Further study into the archaeology associated with the beads produced some intriguing information, according to a spokesperson for Headland Archeology.

"Although the fragmentary nature of the cremated bone made analysis very difficult, it was possible to determine that the individual was an adult rather than a child, and probably female. A sample of the burnt bone was sent to the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre where it was subjected to radiocarbon dating. This confirmed that the individual was cremated around 3,500 years ago, and it would appear the body was cremated while wearing the beads."

There have been significant finds of Bronze Age jewellery from Ireland, notably the gold collection in the National Museum; however these ceramic beads are a unique discovery for Irish archaeology.

A total of 87 cremation burials were identified on the sections of the N9/N10 investigated by Headland Archaeology, and although this particular find was one of many cremations recovered dating to the Bronze Age along the route of the proposed new road, processing of samples taken from the burial revealed that this was by no means a normal burial.

"Personal adornment was important in the Bronze Age. It is thought that beads would have been worn by both sexes and jewellery was not gender specific. The beads could signify that the individual was of a higher status, simply because such objects are generally not found associated with cremations. However, it is possible that less durable materials /or combustible materials were used for personal adornment and simply didn't survive the thousands of years in the ground or were burnt on the pyre," the spokesperson added.

Colm Moloney MD of Headland Archaeology said the find was a great reward for all those people who invest so much time in the less glamorous side of archaeology such as processing soil samples.


http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Archaeological-find-on-N9.5922139.jp
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Re: Campaign To Save Tara by Anonymous on Tuesday, 27 March 2007
The Campaign to Save Tara intends to mount a political campaign for the upcoming General Election in Ireland that is due in May/June 2007. We consider this to be the final opportunity to Save Tara. With that in mind, the Campaign is mounting a fundraising effort to finance this endeavour.

Just to explain the background of this particular grouping - the Campaign to Save Tara is a voluntary group who have come together to raise the issue of the route of the M3 through the Gabhra (Tara-Skryne) Valley during the general election, which is scheduled to take place in May of this year. This body is an amalgam of many disparate groups, some have been involved for a very long time and others have only just joined the campaign – myself, many members of the old Save the TaraSkryne Valley Group, those involved in the Vigil on the Hill since June 2006 and the newer Save Tara Valley Group. The organisation that is run by Vincent Salafia, Tarawatch, has withdrawn from this wider umbrella grouping.

We will be using a number of methods to raise awareness over the next few months. We believe a majority of the people of Co. Meath want the motorway re-routed and should to be offered the opportunity to express this view in a democratic way. The only independent survey carried out on this issue, by RedC, showed that 2 out of 3 people wanted the motorway rerouted out of the Gabhra Valley. The re-routing option has been supported by Sinn Féin and the Labour Party with the Green Party proposing to abandon the M3 entirely.

We also intend that all issues relating to the motorway, such as transport problems, lack of proper planning, car dependency, lack of local employment and environmental concerns are at the top of the local political agenda. We will be dropping leaflets into as many houses as possible in the two Meath constituencies. Allied with this we hope to set up a stall and/or talks in the evening in the town in which we drop the leaflets. Education and information on the history and stories of Tara allied with the possible alternatives would be the focus of these talks.

Now, we need to raise an election fund to help us to carry out this campaign and I am turning to you again in the hope that you can find a way to help. Any donation, no matter how small, is very welcome. If you are uncomfortable donating cash to the campaign, perhaps you would be willing to pay some of our printing costs. We can arrange to put you in direct contact with our printers.

I am giving the banking details but also you can simply send any donations to me personally as many of you know me. I will acknowledge your donations personally and with your permission we can mention your name as a subscriber and supporter of our campaign.
In the last number of days it appears that a significant cemetery site has been discovered at Lismullin and this awaits official confirmation. It would be appalling if this were to be destroyed as has been the case with the well-publicised site at Roestown. So now we know that the road will destroy the ancient, historic character of the area. Commercial developments will mushroom along the road and at the massive interchanges. Any chance of World Heritage Site status will be lost and with it a unique opportunity to develop sustainable local employment. If this road goes ahead it cannot be reversed. It must be re-routed away from the Valley.

You can now understand the urgency of our request to fund our political campaign. This General Election is the last realistic opportunity for Tara. All other options have been exhausted. The estimated cost of printing for flyers etc. is €10,000 and we will require €3,000 shortly as a deposit for the printer who is doing us an excellent deal and cutting costs to the bare minimum as a measure of his support for the cause of Tara. Perhaps you could pass this message on to your friends and colleagues in your University and ask them for a contribution as well, no matter how small or large.
Again, I want to thank you for your support.
Yours
Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin

For Irish deposits, a deposit may be made in
any Bank of Ireland by quoting:
Account Name: Campaign to Save Tara
Branch: (Dunshaughlin)
Sort Code: 90-34-37
Account No: 42869724

All other transfers should detail:
Campaign to Save Tara CURRENT ACCOUNT
BIC BOFIIE2D
IBAN IE12 BOFI 90-34-37 42869724

The Post Box address:
Campaign to Save Tara
PO Box 30, Navan, Co Meath, Ireland

Or it can be sent to me personally (as many people did before)
Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin
School of Celtic Studies
National University of Ireland
Maynooth
Co Kildare
Ireland

More information on the official Campaign to Save Tara on our website: http://www.savetara.com
http://www.savetara.com/help.html
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Roestown national monument at Tara removed by coldrum on Monday, 19 March 2007
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The NRA and Meath County Council have removed an incredible underground souterrain complex

In the last few days one of the most important newly discovered sites along the path of the M3 motorway was removed completely, and 'preserved' by record.

What is going on at Tara?

The complex of beehive souterrains, triple and double, interconnected, has been removed.

Details of the site from the NRA web site can be found at:

http://m3motorway.ie/Archaeology/Section2/Roestown1/
http://m3motorway.ie/Archaeology/Section2/Roestown2
http://m3motorway.ie/Archaeology/Section2/Roestown3

Here's a recent article about the site, and efforts to protect it.

Ancient Tara site to be buried under concrete

Irish Independent
Mon, Jan 15 07

Protesters are holding a vigil in an effort to prevent the building of the M3 motorway over a 6th century underground passage, at Roestown, Co Meath

IT's probably 1,500 years old, and it has survived Viking raids and the ravages of time, but in just a few years it will be buried under tonnes of concrete.

Archaeologists excavating the route of the M3 motorway from Dublin to Navan have unearthed a 6th century souterrain, or underground passage, in near-perfect condition at Roestown, Co Meath.

Built over

The souterrain, which was used to store food and valuables and as a place of refuge, will not be preserved for future generations and as a tourist site.

Instead its location and condition will be recorded before it is capped and the motorway built over it.

It is just one of dozens of sites of archaeological interest in the Tara Skryne valley - where Ireland's High Kings were based, according
to tradition - that will be treated similarly, to allow construction of the road.

Since last June, a group of protesters has camped on the Hill of Tara in an attempt to save the Valley of the Kings from being bisected by
the road.

While hard-pressed commuters want the new road, those against it question why the motorway has to be built through the middle of the
country's most important archaeological site.

The National Museum has also expressed concerns about the routing of the motorway.

Since June 21, a fire has continuously burned at the Tara Solidarity camp, tended by the thousands of protesters who have made the trip in an attempt to stop the motorway from going ahead.

The protesters include conservationists, local people and archaeologists, united in their intention to make the road an election
issue and have the motorway rerouted.

"We're hoping to get it to the top of the agenda locally and nationally," Michael Canney said yesterday.

"We're getting a fund together, and there will be a lot of political work done in the next three months.

"The protests will continue right throughout the election."

Heather Buchanan, the Navan-based chairwoman of the Save Tara Skryne Valley campaign, said "One of our concerns is that the National Roads Authority is employing archaeologists who only have a year to do their work."

One of the protesters, Debbie Reilly from Navan, said yesterday: "I'm an artist and I've camped on the hill since I was a child.

Intrusive

"I'd draw on the riverbank, and for me this is the source of my inspiration. This road will be so intrusive, there will be a rift in
the valley.

"In Navan, there's a tradition to get a car on your 18th birthday because the buses are so poor.

"It's not difficult to see this road will not solve the commuter problems."

Paul Melia

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81529
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Re: March 8th 2007 - International Women's Day by Condros on Monday, 19 March 2007
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I can remember a time, when the Department of Public Works were charged with the responsibility of overseeing ancient monuments, and when there was damage and destruction of these monuments, we heard the excuse, that "Ireland is too poor to maintain surveillance of them all", i.e. no one was fined or jailed, Today the Government itself is wilfully destroying the national heritage-for the sake of saving a few minutes in transit from one place to another-and sacrificing the very soul of Ireland, which has grown fat and greedy on the euros-and it would seem without a soul or conscience. Maybe Mr. Roche and his companions can tell their children-to come and see the Mc Donalds restaurant that sits atop Tara Hill -"Would you like fries with that" ??
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Re: March 8th 2007 - International Women's Day by cropredy on Sunday, 18 March 2007
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The M3 h,mmmmmm
I find nine lines to all leylines, in groups of three threes.
This is the basis of the trinity, and you ( whoever wants to destroy Tara ) want to mess with this?.
beware you philostines.
kevin, very human, and very annoyed
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March 8th 2007 - International Women's Day by coldrum on Sunday, 18 March 2007
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The three goddesses of sovereignty of Ireland, Ériu, Fótla and Banba, were represented by three women who walked to the Dáil as part of the Campaign to Save Tara. This was International women's day and was intended to draw attention to the relationship between women, the land and its sovereignty in early Ireland.

On Thursday 8th March three women walked to the Dáil, where a Proclamation was read out. The Proclamation asserts the rights of the people of Ireland to their heritage and historical places, and the duty of the Government to protect that heritage. The demonstration is organized by the Campaign to Save Tara to protest at the routing of the proposed M3 tolled motorway through the Tara/ Skryne Valley in Co. Meath.
The three women represent the three ancient Goddesses of Ireland; Ériu, Banbha, and Fódhla, who traditionally stand for Sovereignty, Wisdom and Justice. The protesters claim that these three principles are being breached by the proposed motorway.
The Proclamatio...

Read the rest of this post...
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Fundraising drive for professional archaeological report on Tara / M3 by coldrum on Sunday, 18 March 2007
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TaraWatch has opened a PayPal account for the sole purpose of raising money to pay for an archaeological consultancy company to assess the 38 sites being excavated between Navan and Dunshaughlin and generate a report. This report wil be used for complaints to the European Union, World Monuments Fund, and other bodies. This is an emergency situation, and time is of the essence. Please make a one time donation, of an amount of your choosing.

More information here:

http://tarawatch.org/?p=342

Article here:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81168

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