IRISH FREEDOM COMMITTEE ACTION ALERT |
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| SAVE THE HILL OF TARA | |
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photo source: TaraWatch.org |
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The ancient Hill of Tara, one of Ireland's most revered and treasured historical sites, is set for bulldozing to make way for the M3 motorway under plans by the Irish Free State government. |
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In letters to Ireland's daily newspapers recently, Irish historians and archaeologists wrote: "The Hill of Tara constitutes the heart and Soul of Ireland. Its very name invokes the spirit and mystique of our people and is instantly recognisable worldwide. The plan approved recently by An Bord Pleanála for the M3 motorway to dissect the Tara-Skryne valley, Ireland's premier national monument, spells out a massive national and international tragedy that must be averted." The importance of the Hill of Tara to Irish people everywhere, to world history, and to the generations to come after us, cannot be underscored. From TaraWatch.org: "Nowhere else in Ireland is there a landscape that can claim the Tuatha de Danann, Celtic Gods and Goddesses, St. Patrick, Daniel O'Connell, Thomas Moore, heroes and High Kings from Fionn MacCumhail to Brian Boru, an archaeological complex of temples, tombs, enclosures and henges spanning five millennia, and a continuous place at the centre of Irish spiritual, cultural, political and literary history, as part of it's fabric." Please act today to make your voice heard to the Irish Free State government in demanding the bulldozing must not commence at the ancient Hill of Tara. The vandalization of a national and world treasure is not acceptable! An alternative route for the M3 motorway, accepted by 70% of the Irish people, exists and must be pursued. Please go to the petition link below and sign your name today - http://www.petition
Please also consider writing to the Irish Free State government
officials below with a printed copy of the text of the online petition
or words of your own. |
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----------- FREE STATE GOVERNMENT CONTACT INFO: 1. Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach Department of the Taoiseach Government Buildings Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 Ireland. taoiseach@taoiseach 2. Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Customs House, Dublin 1 Ireland. minister@environ. 3. Sean Haughey, TD Chairman, Environment Committee Dáil Éireann, Dublin 1 Ireland. Sean_haughey@ ------------ For more information on the Irish Free State government's plans to destroy the ancient monument at Tara go to http://www.tarawatc SIGN PETITION http://www.petition SAVE THE HILL OF TARA! The Irish Freedom Committee http://www.irishfre |
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****************************************** Tara ‘henge’ will be destroyed - claim Irish Times - Thursday, May 3, 2007 Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has already issued draft directions that would allow for the destruction of the recently discovered “henge” along the route of the M3 in Co Meath, it was claimed yesterday. The environmental group TaraWatch said Mr Roche had sent draft directions to the National Museum to preserve the henge “by record”, a process that would facilitate photographs and written records being made before the henge is removed. Under Section 14A of the National Monuments Act 2004, if a national monument is discovered, the Minister is required to consult the director of the National Museum before deciding on what action to take. Mr Roche told The Irish Times yesterday that he was in consultation with the National Museum, but he declined to elaborate on the nature of that consultation. Asked if he had sent draft directions to the museum to preserve the monument by record, as claimed by TaraWatch, Mr Roche repeated that he was “in consultation with the National Museum” and referred to his department’s previously issued comments on the discovery. On Tuesday the department said: “The Minister has consulted with the director of the museum on the directions that would be most appropriate in this instance from the point of view of best archaeological practice. Directions will issue as soon as possible after the Minister receives the director’s response. “The Minister is advised that the surviving elements of the monument are extremely fragile, underlining the need for an early decision on how to proceed.” TaraWatch spokesman Vincent Salafia said the group had “well-placed sources within the National Museum” who were aware of draft directions that had been sent, which instructed that the monument be preserved by record. Dr Mark Clinton, chairman of An Taisce’s national monuments and antiquities committee, said: “The discovery of what could be called a temple, after the fashion of a comparable discovery at Emain Macha, seat of the kings of Ulster, is of obvious major significance. Such sites are extremely rare.” He called for full scientific excavation to be followed by reconstruction. Labour Party environment spokesman Éamon Gilmore said the issue could have been avoided if the Government had accepted a November 2004 proposal that the M3 be developed immediately in three sections, “and that the controversial section, running through the Skryne Valley, be rerouted”. Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell has said she was “stunned” to learn that “more than 500 archaeologists, hired at a cost of €30 million, managed to miss a four-acre historical site while excavating for the new M3 motorway”. Tim O’Brien. write to: lettersed@irish-times.ie ************************************* |
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