NRA must learn from historic encounter

Irish Examiner - Letter to the Editor
31 May 2007

ON May 17, Fred Barry, chief executive of the National Roads Authority (NRA), wrote in a national newspaper that he wished to provide a road that would improve the quality of life and safety of residents of counties Meath and Cavan.

This is a wish that must be shared by beleaguered commuters. What ismore, one has to sympathise with Mr Barry’s frustration at the hold-ups that have delayed the project. However, given that many alternative routes were available, was it really good use of public money and wise of the NRA to press on with one which incorporates the Tara/Skryne valley when it was obvious that trouble lay ahead? Challenges in the courts were inevitable.

It was inevitable also that the richness of the archaeology of this valley would cause complications. Just how big these complications are has now been revealed.

The Government’s own experts, the archaeologists from the State-funded Discovery Programme who conducted a major study of Tara in the 1990s, said all along that the Tara/Skryne valley was an integral part of this ancient ritual landscape.

In this they were supported by the director of the National Museum and international scholars of the highest calibre. Yet they were ignored by the NRA, the Minister for the Environment and Meath County Council.

The discovery of the great ritual site at Lismullen, to say nothing of the other monuments along the route, now makes it impossible for anyone to say that Tara consists just of the monuments on the hill.

Running a motorway through this valley is equivalent to building a super highway through the Valley of the Kings. If it is built there will pressure for industrial development in this historic valley.

Developers, whose chief interest is short-term profit, may use geophysical surveys and test trenching to show there is no danger to ancient sites.

The fact that Lismullin was missed by such surveys should act as a warning against planning decisions based on evidence of this type.

Mr Barry’s wish to provide a safe route for the commuters of Meath and Cavan would be satisfied by an alternative route for this short section of the M3, preferably one without two tolls.

The next government should heed the call of Prof George Eogan, the great expert in the archaeology of the region, for an independent body to review the implications of recent archaeological work before proceeding.

Dr Niamh Whitfield
47 Faroe Road
London W14 0EL

WRITE TO letters@examiner.ie

TARA AND THE M3 MOTORWAY

Irish Times - Letter to the Editor
Saturday, 2 June 2007


Madam, - The recent election results suggest that a majority of the population wants to remain on the current economic course. However, the implications of this for the environment are quite serious.

I am thinking particularly of the Tara/Skryne valley, with its monuments and landscape, which are the oldest evidence on earth of humanity's intelligence, skill and sensitivity to a vastly bigger picture. In days gone by, if a British colonial government had tried to desecrate this landscape with such a road, there would have been hell to pay. But now people have lost touch with both the plough and the stars.

Many people cannot fathom why it is so important that this road should not go through this valley. What difference will it make? The difference is like that with a frog that is put in a pot of water. If it is boiling, the frog will struggle to get out. But if the heat is added only gradually, the frog will die before it realises there is danger. It is the same with a sacred landscape. Only after it is gradually eroded do people suddenly realise that something very important has been lost, and then it is too late.

The gradual erosion of an environment that connects us with the countless generations that have gone before us is a form of spiritual
famine. Its effects can be seen on those who live in highly urban environments, with no sense of a bigger picture. Addiction, violence and apathy abound.

This generation have the responsibility to see that such a fate is not inflicted on their children's children. Or are they too busy driving
around in their SUVs?

- Yours, etc,

THERESE HICKS,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co Wicklow.


DRIVING THE 'GREAT ROADS'

Irish Times - Letter to the Editor
Saturday, 2 June 2007

Madam, - I was appalled to stumble upon the "Great Roads" article in the motoring supplement of The Irish Times(May 30th). At a time when
many natural landscapes are under threat particularly in Ireland as a result of the greenhouse effect it seems barbarous to include an
article which may result in an influx of cars into fragile and beautiful areas of our countryside. The article in question focused on a road in the Comeragh mountains and sat alongside an article about New York exponentially increasing the number of hybrid taxi cabs that it
has on its streets in an effort to try and curb fuel emissions. It is revolting that anyone would consider visiting the wealth of scenic beauty that Ireland has to offer and view it only from their car.

- Yours, etc,

DANIEL JOYCE,
Airfield,
Dublin.
write to lettersed@irish-times.ie


Story behind a monument

Irish Independent - Letter to the Editor
Saturday June 02 2007

In condemning Ireland's plan to build the M3 roadway through Tara, Dr Sean Duffy, of the department of medieval history at TCD, is both
eloquent and passionate. He stated "No conquering army had ever attempted to destroy it. We will be the first generation in 5,000 years
to deface Tara. This motorway will cut us off from our past." (Letters, May 22).

Dr Duffy echoes the voice of Frank O'Connor who was scathingly critical of those who neglected Ireland's heritage and of the educational system which leaves the Irish in such ignorance of their rich history.

O'Connor wrote: "No one who does not love the sense of the past should ever come near us . . . there is a story behind the monuments which you will see on every hand" (Holiday Magazine, December, 1949). He denounced the modern despoilers and "businessmen with an eye to the main chance."

O'Connor recounted the verse of a 9th century poet who wrote from the quiet valley of Tara:

"Tonight at least the wind is high,
The sea's white mane a fury,
I need not fear the hordes of hell
'cross the Irish Channel."

As Bertie Ahern seeks to form a new coalition to govern Ireland, he might seriously reflect that there is indeed a "story behind the
monuments" before bulldozers plow up the quiet valley of Tara. The hordes of hell to be feared today are the despoilers from Dublin, no
longer those across the Irish Channel. The temporary halt of bulldozing must be made as permanent as the Hill of Tara itself.

ROBERT F LYONS,
KENNEBUNKPORR,
MAINE USA 04043


WRITE TO independent.letters@unison.independent.ie

TARA AND THE M3 MOTORWAY

Irish Times - Letter to the Editor
Thursday, May 31, 2007


Madam, - In 1699, after the battle of the Boyne, Charles Campbell was given land north of the Boyne. He needed to build walls for his new
estate so he sent his workmen to dig a quarry nearby.

The men started to dig and soon found a large stone covered in carvings and patterns. The foreman sent for Campbell who realised that this was an important discovery, called a halt to the digging and went elsewhere for his stone.

He did not know what the stone meant or what it signified but he had the vision to recognise its value. He acknowledged that maybe future
generations might discover its true meaning. The stone is the kerbstone of Newgrange and is recognised internationally as a symbol of Ireland, the jewel in the crown of Irish heritage.

In recent weeks a ritual site has been uncovered during the construction work on the M3. Will we learn from history and the vision
of one man who was humble enough to realise he did not have the information or the right to destroy something just because it was "his"
and convenient for his purpose? Will future generations thank the powers-that-be for their decisions?

With all our education and knowledge we would do well to learn from Campbell's example. Ireland without Newgrange would be a poorer place. We are not learning from our history we are ignoring it and making a huge mistake.

We should re-route the M3 now and allow our children the richness of their heritage.

- Yours, etc,

DOMINIC GRYSON,
Baile Mhae,
Teamhair,
Contae na Mí.

TARA AND THE M3 MOTORWAY

Irish Times - Letter to the Editor
Wednesday, May 30, 2007


Madam, - The recent discovery of the ancient Lismullin ritual site and other antiquities proves once and for all that Tara consists of more
than just the monuments on the hill. Reversing the planning decision to run a short section of the M3 through the Tara/Skryne valley would
preserve Ireland's greatest ancient monument.

In the short term this might be seen as a sacrifice of economic benefit in favour of heritage. But in the longer term this may not be the case.
To borrow a phrase from the American vernacular, "They ain't making it any more". With proper management, the recent discoveries by NRA
archaeologists could turn the site into a far greater tourist attraction than it now is.

Tourism is one of the few industries that cannot be moved offshore. Ireland's unique antiquities, and the beauty of its unspoilt landscape
can only become more important economically as world prosperity grows and tourism increases.

The new Minister for the Environment should have the courage and foresight to divert this short section of the M3 before a unique and
irreplaceable archaeological landscape is damaged forever. - Yours,
etc,

NIAMH WHITFIELD,
Faroe Road,
London W14.




Madam, - I wonder what percentage of Fianna Fáil members and supporters know the origin of the party's name. I suspect very few do.

It is often translated as "Soldiers of Destiny", but this is more a slogan which was deemed appropriate rather than the original meaning.
The word "Fáil" comes from "Liath Fáil", the High King's inauguration stone on the Hill of Tara. It represents the nation; hence the term
"Fir Fáil" effectively meaning men of Ireland.

The "Fianna", most will know, was the army of the High King but most will not know that they fought and lost their last battle in the Gowra
(Gabhra) valley - yes, the one that's having a motorway built through it. The road will cover the Gowra stream which is the most mentioned
waterway in Irish-language literature.

Finally, for information, the location where this "Henge" has been found is where King Cormac had a huge corn mill built, hence the name
Lismullin (Lios an Mhuillinn - Fort of the Mill). It is documented as the first mill in Ireland. Given the devastation around Tara, Dev must
be turning in his grave.

- Is mise,

CIARÁN MAC SAMHRÁIN,
Kilmainham,
Dublin 8.

Thanks PSI for posting these updates - I really appreciate your efforts!

Go raibh maith agat agus mise le meas

Trasa Ni Shiochan

If you're not pissed off, you haven't been paying attention.