- of battle to save Tara
By - Con Doherty.
Hundreds of campaigners, including Hollywood
actors Stuart Townsend and Jonathan Rhys Meyers,
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 pressure the Government into re-routing the M3 motorway away from the historic site. Protesters, which included musicians, historians and harpists also formed the words "Save Tara Valley" as part of the stunt.
The event was directed by renowned aerial artist John Quigley, who has created similar art images in the Arctic and the Amazon.
Joanne Corbett, a spokeswoman for Campaign to Save Tara, said organisers were astounded by the number of people who arrived at the site. One thousand tickets had been prepared, but at least 1500 people turned up, she said.
"It was just amazing - the co-operation between everybody, the general positive spirit, positive vibe".
The assembly of participants into the shape of a harp was a symbolic one.
"Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument, the Harp, as its national emblem", said a spokesman for campaigners Tarawatch.
"Sites currently under threat are inextricably linked with the harping and bardic traditions".
Protests were held this weekend in New York, Chicago, Los Angles and Dublin. And on Saturday, harpists played outside Leinster House, and delivered a petition to Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
Earlier this year Tara was placed on the World Monument Fund list of the world's 100 most endangered sites.
© Metro, 24th. September 2007.
Photo: Paula Geraghty.
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