The M3 heritage trail

Article by Joe Fenwick, archaeologist.

The M3 motorway continues to reveal new archaeological wonders as its broad corridor progresses relentlessly through Tara's Gabhra Valley. In the townland of Lismullin alone, in an attempt to steer a course to avoid a known Barrow, Souterrain, monastic site and the strategically placed fortification of Rath Lugh (recently subject to a Preservation Order), the motorway route has inadvertently impacted on several other previously unrecorded and equally significant archaeological remains. These include a Ring-Barrow, a complex of Souterrains and, of course, an Iron Age Temple. The Temple was declared a National Monument earlier this year, has since been "preserved by record" and awaits the Bulldozers Bucket.
Attention has now shifted to the nearby Souterrains, a subterranean complex of artificial passages and chambers dating to the Early Historic period (2nd. half of the 1st. millennium AD), which are currently being systematically dismantled.
During the course of recent work, a capstone bearing megalithic art has come to light. Megalithic art, like that at Newgrange, dates to the Neolithic Period (the fourth millennium BC) and so this stone is clearly not in it's original context. It must therefore have been acquired from a conveniently close at hand Passage Tomb.
Though this example, consisting of concentric circles, nested arcs and zig zags, bears similarity in style to the decorated stone in the Mound of the Hostages (on the summit of the Hill of Tara), it is unlikely to have come from this particular Monument. Perhaps one of the (as yet) unclassified Mounds to be found in the Gabhra Valley is the original source of this stone.
Sadly, but as forewarned, the course of the M3 motorway through the heart of Tara's royal demesne has struck an exceptionally rich archaeological seam.

© Village Magazine, January 2008.

Megalithic Art Found at Lismullen Souterrain, Tara

PRESS RELEASE – SAVE TARA CAMPAIGN
The Save Tara campaign has learned that a decorated stone bearing megalithic art similar to that at Newgrange and Knowth (of Neolithic date c.3000 B.C.) has been found incorporated into part of an Early Historic souterrain currently being dismantled as part of the M3 archaeological works in the vicinity of the henge at Lismullin, in the Gabhra Valley, County Meath. The nearest example of megalithic art is to be found in the passage tomb of the Mound of the Hostages on the summit of the Hill of Tara and in terms of style this example also bears a remarkable similarity to that found in this monument. The decorated stone was noticed on Friday (30 November) by campaigners who took the accompanying photographs over the weekend. It exhibits a series of motifs commonly found in passage tomb contexts - concentric circles, nested arcs and zig-zags. It is likely this stone was robbed from a nearby passage tomb during the construction of the souterrain in the early centuries AD. Indeed, it has been suggested that the large mound in the grounds of LismullIn house may be that of a passage tomb. The promontory fort of Rath Lugh (under temporary preservation order) overlooks the henge (a declared national monument) and the souterrain complex that have been unearthed at Lismullin and the discovery of the stone is further evidence of the importance of this area and its continued use through the millennia of Irish history. The excavation of the henge and the souterrain continues and will probably be completed before Christmas. This will allow the NRA to begin the construction phase of the motorway in this delicate and sensitive area of the Gabhra Valley. The motorway will pass within 20/30m of the huge monument of Rath Lugh despite NRA assurances that it would be 110m away from it. The EU is taking Ireland to the European Court of Justice because of their ongoing breaches of various environmental directives in particularly in relation to Environmental Impact Statements. EU Environment Commissioner Dimas said in a recent press release:
"I am disappointed that Ireland has not accepted the Commission view that improvements are needed in its legislation on impact assessments in order to better safeguard, and give the public more say in decisions affecting, its rich archaeological heritage, and to better guarantee that industrial projects will be comprehensively assessed".
Save Tara campaigners are asking the EU and the Commissioner to take an injunction against the Irish Government to stop all attempts at construction in the short disputed section of the M3 in the GabhraValley until the ECJ has completed its deliberations on this case. Photographs available here:
http://service.gmx.net/de/cgi/derefer?TYPE=3&DEST=http%3A%2F%2Fs168.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu167%2Fmuireanntemair%2FSouterrain%2520stone%25201%2520Dec%252007%2F

Please write to EU Commissioner Dimas

In light of Kathy Sinnott's open letter below, please write to Commissioner Dimas, firstly thanking him for the great interest he has shown in Tara so far, and urging him to continue to do his utmost to prevent the Irish government from illegally destroying our priceless European and world heritage at Tara.
The Commissioner's email address is
stavros.dimas@ec.europa.eu

Mr Dimas is European Union Commissioner responsible for the environment.

With thanks,
Fionnuala Devlin,
Protect Tara International Campaign

Open letter from Kathy Sinnott, MEP

Dear Friends,

I spoke with Commissioner Dimas today in relation to the ongoing destruction of Tara. He seemed surprised when I told him that the buldozers are active everyday. He said that to continue to destroy Tara would be "stupid" and that "the minister had told me...." He didn't finish that question but looked distressed.

I asked the Commissioner for an injunction to stop the destruction and that it would be too late if the case is pursued in the normal way. He told me that only yesterday he and the Commission had been discussing Tara and that he was dealing with the issue because he was embarrassed to think they would destroy an important heritage site. He promised that he will discuss Tara tomorrow.

He looked so genuinely upset that I kissed his hand.

Kathy

Kathy Sinnott, MEP for Ireland South.
Vice President Petitions Committee

Text of a parliamentary question to the European Commission by Kathy Sinnott MEP

Nov. 9th 2007
Question Title: European Commission's injunction on desecration of historical monuments along M3.

Last June, the Commission sent a final warning to Ireland indicating that it had failed to adopt proper legislation to account for the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC) and was pursuing legal action. The case suggests that (1) Ireland's approach to decisions involving the removal of historic structures and archaeological monuments is in contravention of the directive and (2) that the weaknesses in Irish legislation splits decision-making between Irish planning authorities and Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency and result in outcomes not permitted by the directive. The Commission particularly cites the case of Lismullen, Co Meath in this warning.In late July, European Parliaments Petitions committee called for a halt on construction of the M3 motorway, pending a decision on the legality of the project. It was felt that at the very least, demolition of Tara should cease until a decision is reached. Currently in Ireland, demolition of historic and archaeological sites at Tara continues at a rapid pace and blatant disregard for European Community law and Commission warnings only intensifies. This destruction can even take place after dark in order to avoid investigation and further attention.
This is not in accordance with EU law and is also illegal according to the excavation contracts of those involved.We wish to know, (1) If the Commission can legally demand a temporary halt? If it is willing to do so? If so, when is the earliest it will impose such a halt?(2) If the Commission can not or will not impose a halt, what does the Commission hope to achieve through a court case, if the monuments will be long since destroyed by the time a judgement is passed?

Excellent new film about Tara

Please be sure to see the short film -
"TARA: Voices from Our Past - a recent discovery."
A film by Maireid Sullivan.
http://www.globalartscollective.org/acf/about.htm

'Meath Master Plan' Press Release - Campaigners seek International support for new Tara motorway solution

Sustainable and innovative economic and heritage plan provides way out for legal, environmental and archaeological Issues

A recently-launched breakthrough by promoters of sustainable development and archaeological and cultural heritage involved in the campaign to save the Tara-Skryne (Gabhra) Valley in Ireland represents a "win-win" solution for all sides, they say.

The Meath MASTER Plan - standing for Model Archaeological and Sustainable Economic Region - is an advanced development plan that would be a model for sustainable economic development in Ireland, would deliver a state-of-the-art transport network for County Meath, and would preserve and develop heritage in the region and facilitate greatly increased tourist activity.

The Plan solves the current legal issues around the controversial Tara M3 motorway, preserves the Tara Landscape, provides much-needed bypasses of the nearby towns of Dunshaughlin and Navan, cuts CO2 emissions and avoids any re-routing. It would also permit the designation of the region as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with all the economic and developmental benefits that this would bring.

A key element of the Plan is conversion of part of the "footprint" of the motorway to the "2+1" road format and the replacement of the section through the Tara-Skryne Valley with the 2+1 design on the parallel N3 primary road. These modifications would save substantial costs that would then be used to buy out the project's toll scheme and bring forward re-construction of a nearby rail link that has been delayed indefinitely due to competition from the double-tolled motorway.

Other sustainable transport features would include upgraded high-capacity and high-frequency coach services, and the environmental benefits of the transport element of the Plan have been estimated at € 114 million per annum.

The land within the Tara Valley purchased for the M3 would be held in state ownership and designated for heritage interpretation and protection. The extent of the World Heritage site area would also encompass the five major centres of Navan, Kells, Trim, Dunshaughlin and Slane, bringing a major tourist and economic dividend for the region, the promoters say.

The Meath MASTER Plan has been researched and developed by independent transport researcher Brian Guckian and environmental campaigner Tadhg Crowley, who have been involved in ongoing efforts to save the Tara-Skryne Valley. They stress that the development framework draws upon the ideas of local and national groups over the last number of years, as well as the very latest concepts in sustainable planning and development.

The campaigners have secured an upcoming meeting with the Irish Department of Transport and are now seeking additional international backing for the proposal from all parts of the political and public spectrum. "The Tara region in Ireland is greatly valued for its archaeological and cultural heritage internationally", they said. "We are reaching out to concerned people around the world and telling them that there is now an exciting and creative solution available that all sides can sign up to. We want people to study the Plan and to make Representations on it to the Irish government without delay".

Mr. Guckian and Mr. Crowley welcomed broad support for the project including endorsement from Hollywood actor Stuart Townsend and artist John Quigley, who were behind the recent spectacular aerial art event that featured an image of a huge symbolic Harp made by hundreds of people on the Hill of Tara.

The Plan has been circulated to Irish Premier Bertie Ahern and to most Irish government Ministers as it covers several different administrative portfolios. It has also been sent to Meath County Council and is available to the public online.