Tara endangered, says
Smithsonian
By - PATRICK LOGUE.
ONE OF the most respected educational and research
institutes in the United States has listed the Hill of
Tara among the 15 must-see endangered cultural treasures
in the world.
The Tara complex in Co. Meath, the ancient seat of the
High Kings of Ireland, has been the subject of
controversy because of the nearby construction of the M3
motorway.
The March edition of the magazine published by
Washington's Smithsonian Institution says "the clang of
construction equipment" can be heard at the Co. Meath
site nowadays. The Smithsonian features 14 other
"precious historic and artistic sites" around the world
which, it says, "can be visited today, but might be gone
tomorrow".
"Each testifies to our urge to build and create; each
reminds us of how much we stand to lose", says the
Smithsonian.
Other sites listed include the reputed birthplace of
Jesus Christ, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem;
Chan Chan in Peru, the largest city in the Americas about
600 years ago; and the crumbling Route 66 across the
US.
Campaigners say the M3 will cut through one of Ireland's
most important historical sites, but the National Roads
Authority says the new motorway will be farther away from
the hill than the existing route. The motorway is
scheduled to be finished in the middle of next year.
Last month the Hill of Tara was listed among a number of
locations which have been nominated for inclusion on a
list of possible UNESCO world heritage sites.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, who is quoted in the
Smithsonian article, said it "should send a clear message
to both the Irish Government, and UNESCO, that they
cannot proceed with inscribing the Hill of Tara as a
world heritage site, unless the M3 is rerouted".
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum
complex and research organisation.
© The Irish Times, 28th. February 2009.
Related Articles:
Ireland's Endangered Cultural Site.
Smithsonian
puts Hill of Tara on list of endangered must-sees.
