Press Release. Campaign to Save Tara,
12th. September 2007, 16:50.

Diggers close to the new national monument of Lismullin

The Campaign to Save Tara has learned that there is an attempt at construction by the NRA at Rath Lugh and Lismullin on the route of the M3.

This afternoon, diggers and lorries moved in at both ends of the new national monument and at Rath Lugh, a promontory fort and outpost of the Tara landscape. There are attempts being made to re-route the Gabhra River. Protesters have stopped the work by mounting the diggers. It is reported that the machines are within 50 metres of the national monument.

This is happening as the Petitions Committee is to meet tomorrow (13th. September) and as the Government is due to respond to the EU's reasoned opinion (final warning). The EU maintains that the Irish Government should have carried out another Environmental Impact Assessment when the new monument was discovered. This was not done.

The NRA and the Department of Transport are acting in advance of what may happen in Europe. Ireland cannot cherry pick the EU laws that they wish to adhere to. There is a history of such premature activity in the past as when trees were cut down in the dark in January. The monument at Baronstown was destroyed in the middle of the night in July just before documents released by Minister Gormley revealed that Dr. Pat Wallace of the National Museum believed that it was as important as the monument at Lismullin.

ENDS

Media queries:
Dr. Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin
Tel: 087-9249510
E-Mail: info@savetara.com
Web site: http://www.savetara.com