The struggle to save over 150 ancient sites surrounding the complex of tara in ireland continues as activists unite to share skills and experiences to build defences in an attempt to save one of the most   more...important places on Earth from the destruction of another massive motorway development.  less

http://www.tarawatch.org:80/
(Help save TARA sign the petition)

The Tara landscape is one of Ireland's and Europe's most precious historical archaeological sites, but it is now in the process of being destroyed   more...to facilitate the construction of a motorway.

The European Commission has warned the Irish Government that its plans to build the M3 four-lane motorway through the archaeologically rich Tara-Skryne valley are illegal within European law. The commission is taking proceedings against the Government.

The Tara landscape has been placed on the World Monuments Fund of most endangered sites.

We are also aware of a joint letter signed internationally by more than 300 academics stating that the royal estate of Tara is not just a central part of Irish heritage, but is of significant importance on a world heritage scale.

We, the undersigned members of the European Parliament, are alarmed at the Irish Government's destruction in July 2007 of the large early medieval settlement site at Baronstown in the Tara-Skryne valley. Most shockingly, this important archaeological site was demolished by motorway construction workers in the middle of the night.

We also wish to express our deep concern about the future of the Celtic temple at Lismullin - a site with national monument status which is also planned to be demolished by the Irish Government.

Urgent action is needed to urge the Irish Government to prevent the destruction of more of our common European heritage.

As was the case at Baronstown, and as is planned for Lismullin, thousands of years of our shared European culture can be wiped out in a few hours, and once gone, can never be replaced.

Given that the path of the planned M3 motorway is so rich in important archaeological monuments, we strongly urge the Irish Government to alter the current motorway route and to choose from the other available routes and viable options for the M3 motorway instead, thereby balancing progress with conservation.

It is of the utmost importance that steps be taken to prevent the destruction of any further ancient monuments which are part of our shared European heritage. We believe the Tara landscape should be preserved fully intact as the European cultural and heritage treasure that it so clearly is.

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Stephen Cooney Born in Melbourne, Australia, Steve started his professional musical career at the age of 17, playing for a while in the US before returning home, where he was in a number of rock bands, (Bushwackers, Fruitcake) and the successful folk/rock band, Red Gum. In 1981 he bought a one-way ticket to Ireland, from where his ancestors had come, where he busked and worked odd jobs for a few months, before joining Stockton's Wing as bassist with whom he stayed until 1981. Since then he has popped up all over the place, with a major contribution to Sharon Shannon's first album, and performances and recordings with Dermot Byrne, Altan, Martin Hayes and others. While guitar, and rock guitarists have raised eyebrows in trad Irish music in the past, Cooney is no noise machine. His technique is excellent, and his understanding of traditional music and accompaniment is attested to by the number of traditional groups and albums he has contributed to.  less

On Monday September 24th, thirty brave cultural conservationists donned face paints and headed off on a route walk from the Rath Lugh direct action camp. Film director and actor Stuart Townsend, fresh   more...from the highly successful aerial photograph on the hill attended by an estimated 3,000 people on Sunday, arrived with four massive bags of shopping for Tara’s soldiers before everyone set off. Stuart’s continuing support is massively appreciated!
Once on route activists erected barricades along the paths of the diggers and bulldozers to slow destruction work. Activists proceeded to Baronstown where seven to eight diggers were occupied, climbed and danced upon. The walk continued as our merry band arrived at Collierstown, an ancient Fenian graveyard. The two diggers working when we arrived were quickly halted with people climbing into buckets of diggers, onto roofs and onto their tracks. Songs were sung and people danced. Work was halted for half an hour before scouts indicated that machinery was working up ahead at Trevet. We headed there and on the way occupied another digger. The driver of this digger refused to turn off his engine despite the fact that activists occupied his machine, a clear violation of health and safety laws and a sackable offense.
Our next stop was Trevet, where one bulldozer was prevented from working by activists. It was then that the Gardai made their appearance. Taking some of our group aside, names were taken and no further action occurred. As our walk was slightly behind schedule, when Garda officers approached we decided to pick up the pace, keeping twenty to forty feet between ourselves and the law. Officers continued to follow us for another 100 metres before heading back the way they came. Having stopped work for hours it was near dinner time so we headed back to base camp. Throughout the day as we passed the sacred sites in the path of the proposed motorway short talks were given about the historical and archaeological significance of each site. No one was arrested and a great day was had by all. The campaign to protect Tara from the money mad mile continues picking up pace after the phenomenal success of the international Harpists for Tara event and John Quigley's stunning aerial photography. Every Monday route walks will continue. Completion of the M3 through the Tara Valley is years away and there is everything to play for! Be at the Tara Solidarity Vigil camp on the hill by 9.30 am or at Rath Lugh by 10.00am. Please come, please support and network!  less

Hill of Tara Car Park 01-09-07 - JP talks about his visit by the Garda.

This is a short video showing the ongoing destruction on this beautiful woodland within the rath at Rath Lugh, a national monument in the Tara Skryne Valley. It is important to highlight that the whole   more...structure including glacial slide is under severe threat if the dozers take the side of this monument.  less

Here is a drama that took place at Ardsallagh "excuse the spelling" around the 11th of July.
This clever action delayed the work on the site for 4 hours and by the time the drama was over,   more...the workers were not bothered going back to work.  less

The Tigger Trap - 18th to 20th September 2007

Events at Rathlugh - 15th September 2007

Events at Lismulin 12th September 2007

22 September protest

Here is the video of Tigger on the Tripod. This action took place at the edge of the remaining tree line protecting the glacial esker where sits Rathlugh, a world heritage sight in danger of being   more...destroyed by the NRA. I am sure this was the same day as the Collierstown action but a lot happened that day and I will have to clarify the date to put everyone wise.  less

Campaign to Save Tara Press Conference - "The Campaign to Save Tara today announced details of a legal challenge to the proposed M3 Motorway through the Tara/Skryne Valley in Co. Meath. The Campaign   more...claims that this case is being taken in the public interest and only after all other democratic avenues have been exhausted."  less

8 Minute Clip of the events at Rathlugh on 27th August 2007.

A concerned active citizen, Danny, climbed onto the jib of a digger at approx 6.30am this morning on the M3 construction site off the N3, just opposite Soldier's Hill at Garlow Cross, Dublin Road going   more...into Navan. He had an Irish tricolour flag with him, covered his face with a tshirt, and he wore his own hard hat, high visibilty jacket and site boots. At the same time approx 8 supporters gathered around the entrance of the site, bearing banners and placards. A lot of the rush hour traffic beeped support as they drove down the N3. Then, Sword security arrived, along with Wills Bros and SlAC Ferrovial workers as per their usual working day. Security surrounded the digger, along with construction workers. The Gardaí arrived, and spoke to the protester, taking his personal details. 2 dump trucks parked in front of the digger, and tilted their earth mover, so the digger was not visible to us, or the general public. We expressed our concern about Danny's welfare to the Garda, and he said he didn't personally want to be present, he was just doing his job, and it was his job to get Danny down safely. A cherry picker was was made out of a forklift and a palate and was placed on one side of the digger arm. A real cherry picker was placed on the other side of the digger, a Garda and a worker (one of whom we can confirm is Marcus Hargraves) was placed in each cherry picker. They proceeded to drag Danny off the arm of the digger by force, first taking his Irish tricolour from him. Once in the cherry picker, they lowered him down to the ground, where the Gardai then linked him, handcuffed him, and escorted him off site in the squad car. The Garda station in Navan is unable to answer our questions satisfactorily, and in fact have tried to prevent us finding out all the details relating to this case. All we know is Danny has now been taken by the Gardai to some court in Dublin 7. We have phoned our solicitor on his behalf.
086 1758 557
086 3600 478  less

Save Tara
Thursday 16 August 2007
Route Walk
Direct Action

TARA

save palestin now!!

with tara lipinski

the 3rd

spors

Footage taken of a underground Beahive dwelling at the site of the Wooden Henge at Lismullen. As you can see from the video the complex of passages and Chainbers span for some distance in either direction.   more... More footage and photos to follow.  less

Protest at the Gresham Hotel - NRA Conference - 30th August 2007

While Tigger was balancing the tripod a group of us went over to Collierstown to stop on going work on the proposed M3 motorway.

The Meath Master Plan Press Conference - 29/08/07