Irish Republican News · January 3, 2008

Demos planned as dozers target new Tara find

TaraWatch, the group campaigning against the construction of the M3 motorway close to the archaeologicaly sensitive Hill of Tara in County Meath, has said it will hold international protests on January 8th.

The date was confirmed following a report that the prehistoric henge site at Lismullin was handed over to the motorway contractor last week, paving the way for the demolition of the recently designated national monument. The ceremonial site is believed to be a small element of the legendary capital of Tara, and was discovered as parts of the ancient city were being bulldozed to make way for the new motorway.

Archaeologists have dated the site to be at least 2,000 years old, along with defences dating from the 10th century, the era of the Viking invasions.

In a statement earlier this week, TaraWatch said: “The NRA were not supposed to hand over Lismullin until January 8th, but they have done it early to facilitate demolition over the holidays, when nobody is paying attention.

“We are going ahead with international protests planned for January 8th, and calling on our many supporters . . . to come out in support.”

On the day of action demonstrations are planned for Stormont and the Leinster House as well as pickets at Irish embassies in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US.

Pickets are also being organised in Australia, while a large demonstration is being planned for Bertie Ahern’s speech to the US Congress, expected to occur early in 2008.

The environment minister, Green Party leader John Gormley, has consistently maintained that he does not have the power to re-route the motorway.

Tarawatch spokesman Vincent Salafia described the Minister’s view as “absolute rubbish” and it was “completely misleading and false” to suggest Mr Gormley had no powers with regard to halting work at Lismullin.

Mr Salafia pointed out that the European Commission was taking a case against Ireland based on a claim that there should have been a new environmental impact assessment made before a decision was made with regard to Lismullin.

* Further information on the protests is available at https://www.tarawatch.org

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