Lismullin site handed over
- to road contractors
By - Unknown.

The Lismullin archaeological site in Co. Meath has been handed over to the contractor building the M3 motorway, the National Roads Authority (NRA) has confirmed. The move means the controversial roadworks may begin on site immediately.

NRA archaeologists have already studied the site, which includes a number of stake holes forming an enclosure. Carbon dating suggested they were likely to be at least 2,000 years old.

A souterrain from about the 10th. century was also discovered on the site. Archaeologists said it was possibly used for defence during the Viking invasion.

The archaeology had also been the subject of a study by an expert group set up by Minister for the Environment John Gormley to determine how best to proceed, once the prehistoric nature of the site had been determined.

The expert group which included Conor Newman, the State's foremost archaeological expert on Tara, and Dr. Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum, advised that the archaeological remains were in a "very vulnerable condition". This meant they could not withstand preservation in situ and, therefore, "excavation is desirable and in the best interests of the archaeological remains".

Efforts to contact Mr. Newman and Dr. Wallace were not successful yesterday, but the department's website noted the 2,000- year-old remains were "too fragile to remain in situ and must be recorded and removed".

It added that "preservation in situ of Lismullin is not an option".

A spokesman for Mr. Gormley said the department was not in a position to answer detailed questions on Lismullin yesterday, given the holiday season.

Mr. Gormley has consistently maintained that he does not have the power to re-route the motorway and has accused critics of confusing preservation orders with directions that the route be changed.

However, campaign group Tara Watch has expressed its dismay at the news that the site has now been legally handed over to the contractor.

Spokesman Vincent Salafia told The Irish Times the move had been anticipated for January 8th. next, and demonstrations in Dublin and Belfast had been planned.

He said the Minister's view was "absolute rubbish" and it was "completely misleading and false" to suggest Mr. Gormley had no powers with regard to halting work at Lismullin.

Mr. Salafia pointed out that the European Commission was taking a case against Ireland based on a claim that there should have been a new environmental impact assessment made before a decision was made with regard to Lismullin.

© The Irish Times, 27th. December 2007.