Dancing at an N3
crossroads
Michael Hogan begs us not to believe the hype over the M3
Motorway from the "anti-M3 lobby". (Letters, December
20). It's a humorous piece of hokum, inspired by
deValera's cailins dancing at the crossroads. Of course,
poking fun at the green-trousered brigade from the States
is not much of a challenge, unlike the problems we face
today. Here, Mr Hogan misses the point.
Let us clear up his first misconception. The critical
point of the proposed new tolled motorway is where it
swings back to the north of Tara, at Blundelstown. Here
it is closer to Tara than the old road, at a massive
interchange, lit throughout the night.
What is this interchange for? Whom does it serve?
We have been the custodians of Tara and other ancient
monuments for centuries and in the blink of an eye we're
destroying them, one by one. This interchange will spawn
a rash of development, as happens at all major motorway
junctions.
There is no "anti-M3 lobby" either.
What there is, if you look beyond the NRA spin, is a
concerted and well-researched campaign to protect our
heritage whilst simultaneously developing a rail network
so we can all go about our business. That would include
upgrading the roads too.
If our intellectual capacity to shape our future is
dictated by nothing more than a desire to get from A to
B, then we will never get beyond the illusion that growth
is good, no matter what. There are more letters in the
alphabet - even the Irish one.
We all know Tir na nOg was a myth. If there ever was land
suspended in time where all was youth and beauty, it is
certainly not the one we live in today. But to continue
that cheesy analogy, we ARE dancing at the crossroads.
But the direction we go in from here will have serious
repercussions for us all.
DECLAN KENNY,
Black Lodge,
Leixlip,
Co. Kildare.
© The Irish Independent, 27th. December 2006.
