Conservationists opposed to the construction of the M3 through the Tara-Skryne valley in Co Meath have again occupied a section of the site following the discovery of what they say are significant underground archeological remains.
Members of the Campaign to Save Tara and the Tara Solidarity Vigil said the man-made structure, which appears to be about nine metres (30ft) long, was revealed when construction workers were using heavy machinery for stripping topsoil on the Collierstown to Roestown section of the site last Saturday.
Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, of the department of medieval Irish studies at NUI Maynooth, said the conservationists would occupy the site until staff from the National Museum of Ireland arrived to assess the find. Its discovery highlighted the "inadequacy of the preliminary investigations" on the route, she said.
The site was the scene of clashes between protesters and construction workers last week.
"Perhaps this discovery explains why construction workers were so heavy-handed with the conservationists. . . Did the NRA [ National Roads Authority] and the contractors realise that there was something to hide here?", Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said.
Olivia Kelly
© 2007 The Irish Times
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