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Protests at Hill of Tara pass off peacefully Demonstrations
at the Hill of Tara passed peacefully as construction workers moved in
for the first time to excavate the ancient site.
Campaigners initially blocked archaeologists and workmen from entering
the newly-discovered 2,000-year-old site at Lismullen before ending the
stand-off as gardaí and security staff arrived.
Controversy has surrounded the site since the ruins were uncovered by
workers on the M3 motorway last April.
The royal ceremonial enclosure which lies across the northbound
lane of the proposed motorway was declared a national monument
by former environment minister Dick Roche. He controversially signed an
order of preservation by record for the site meaning the prehistoric
henge would be photographed, sketched and measured before being razed
to make way for the motorway.
Current Minister for the Environment John Gormley maintains he does not
have the authority to revoke his predecessor’s decision without
a material change in circumstance despite EU officials calling-on the
Irish Government to halt work.
And TaraWatch which last month handed a petition with 50,000 signatures
opposing the plans to the government are demanding that the excavations
do not commence. |
