Response to development on Tara and the M3

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE TARA:

STATEMENT Friday 6th July 2007 3pm - response to development on Tara and the M3

Today's publication of documents relating to the Lismullen National Monument is a welcome indication that there will be a degree of transparency relating to heritage matters under this new coalition government. However, the failure of the Minister to release all materials relating to all the sites which have been uncovered so far is baffling and requires explanation.

The documents released today prove that the National Museum recommended the designation of other sites as National Monuments. The documents make clear that Baronstown, the site destroyed under cover of darkness during the early hours of Tuesday morning, was considered a National Monument by Pat Wallace, the Director of the National Museum.

Other sites such as Dowdstown and Collierstown in particular are of national and international significance. We believe their non-designation is based, not on sound archaeological judgment, but on political expediency and the desire not to interfere with powerful local and national vested interests. The willful ignoring and downplaying of expert advice from the National Museum is further proof that we are witnessing what amounts to nothing less than a scandal.

We call on Minister Gormley to review and make public all documentation relating to all archaeology in the Valley. These documents should be assessed from a heritage standpoint and not in relation to infrastructural development. Preservation in-situ of these monuments should be first option to be considered, as there are benefits to the community of continued existence of archaeological monuments with visible above ground features. The above sites all have impressive and visible above ground features.

The vast majority of the people of this country want this road re-routed away from the Valley and it is only a small but powerful minority who support the present proposed route. Tara and its environs belong to the people of this country and are too precious to be destroyed for short-term gain. Our archaeological heritage is a unique and non-renewable cultural and scientific resource that must be cherished and protected.

Minister Gormley's ‘landscape preservation’ initiative contains nothing that will prevent wholesale development within the Valley. He simply assures us that he will review all planning applications, his predecessor Dick Roche promised exactly the same thing. If the Government believes that this initiative will make the route more acceptable they are mistaken.

The prospect of a four-lane tolled motorway, including a 26 acre interchange, through the richest archaeological and cultural landscape in Ireland is unacceptable, and no assurances as to the future use of land in its vicinity will change this.

ENDS

An aerial photo of Baronstown here:
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/April%20aerial%20shots/
Also see photographs of previous damage.
Feel free to use the photographs - if using aerial shots please credit Paula Geraghty

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