Harp that once...
- music and protests at M3 site
By - Unknown.
Hundreds of campaigners yesterday created a giant human
Harp in Co. Meath to mark Tara Heritage Day.
The protest was the latest in a string of high profile
moves to pressurise the Government into rerouting the M3
motorway away from the historic site.
Protesters joined to form the words "Save Tara Valley"
and the shape of the Harp - associated with the burial
place of the High Kings and the centre of early historic
Ireland - as part of the day of action.
Hollywood actors Stuart Townsend and Jonathan Rhys Myers
took part in yesterday's protests, as well as historians
and musicians, including many of Ireland's harpists.
Renowned aerial artist John Quigley, who has created
similar art images in the Arctic and the Amazon, directed
the event.
"Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument, the
Harp, as it's national emblem", said a spokesman for the
Tarawatch campaign group.
"This indicates the primacy of the Harp in Irish
culture".
"The sites currently under threat are inextricably linked
with the harping and bardic traditions for more than
2,500 years".
Protest against the plan to plough a motorway through the
rich archaeological area were also held this weekend in
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Dublin.
On Saturday, harpists played outside Leinster House, in a
symbolic gesture of Irish heritage, and delivered a
petition to Minister for the Environment John
Gormley.
Earlier this year Tara was placed on the World Monuments
Fund list of the world's most endangered sites.
The planned upgrade of the N3 to make the M3 motorway
would include 49km of new motorway running from Clones in
Monaghan to Kells near the Cavan border, bypassing
Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells
© Herald.AM, 24th. September 2007.
Related Articles:
Demonstration at Tara against M3 route.
Protesters
play same sad tune.
Stars pull strings to try to protect historic
Tara.
Celebs join forces to protest over M3 at historic
site.
Protesters
form human Harp to save Tara.
The Hill is alive with the sound of protest.
Human Harp symbolic of battle to save Tara.
Hollywood stars return to harp on about Hill of
Tara.
M3 protestors to create human harp for photo on Hill of
Tara.
Photos from Aerial Art event.
Photos from Harpists event.
