Steer well clear of Tara, say
MEPs
THE Tara landscape is one of Ireland's and Europe's most
precious historical archaeological sites, but it is now
in the process of being destroyed to facilitate the
construction of a motorway.
The European Commission has warned the Irish Government
that its plans to build the M3 four-lane motorway through
the archaeologically rich Tara-Skryne valley are illegal
within European law. The commission is taking proceedings
against the Government.
The Tara landscape has been placed on the World Monuments
Fund of most endangered sites.
We are also aware of a joint letter signed
internationally by more than 300 academics stating that
the royal estate of Tara is not just a central part of
Irish heritage, but is of significant importance on a
world heritage scale.
We, the undersigned members of the European Parliament,
are alarmed at the Irish Government's destruction in July
2007 of the large early medieval settlement site at
Baronstown in the Tara-Skryne valley. Most shockingly,
this important archaeological site was demolished by
motorway construction workers in the middle of the
night.
We also wish to express our deep concern about the future
of the Celtic temple at Lismullin - a site with national
monument status which is also planned to be demolished by
the Irish Government.
Urgent action is needed to urge the Irish Government to
prevent the destruction of more of our common European
heritage.
As was the case at Baronstown, and as is planned for
Lismullin, thousands of years of our shared European
culture can be wiped out in a few hours, and once gone,
can never be replaced.
Given that the path of the planned M3 motorway is so rich
in important archaeological monuments, we strongly urge
the Irish Government to alter the current motorway route
and to choose from the other available routes and viable
options for the M3 motorway instead, thereby balancing
progress with conservation.
It is of the utmost importance that steps be taken to
prevent the destruction of any further ancient monuments
which are part of our shared European heritage. We
believe the Tara landscape should be preserved fully
intact as the European cultural and heritage treasure
that it so clearly is.
Kathy Sinnott, Mary Lou McDonald,
Marian Harkin, Bairbre de Brún,
Ireland.
Nirj Deva, Roger Helmer, Sarah Ludford,
Edward McMillan Scott, Den Dover, Timothy Kirkhope,
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Britain.
Bas Belder, Johannes Blokland,
Netherlands.
Carlos José, Iturgaiz
Angulo, Spain.
Witold Tomczak, Poland.
Marios Matsakis, Cyprus.
Raymond Langendries,
Belgium.
Margrete Aukenn, Jens Peter, Bonde,
Mogens NJ Cambre, Denmark.
Hiltrud Breyer, Helmuth Markov,
Feleknas Uca, Sahra Wagenknecht, Germany.
Miroslav Mikolasik, Sweden.
Maria Carlshamre, Slovakia.
© The Irish Examiner, 10th. January 2008.
