FROM THE ground the new M3 motorway looks, for the most part, finished. Sections are indeed complete, with motorists already using interchanges and bypass roads, particularly at the southern end, and it’s hard to believe that it won’t be open to traffic for almost another year.
From the air, though, it’s a different story. The Irish Times was yesterday taken on an aerial tour of the route, one of several helicopter flights taken by the National Roads Authority (NRA) each year to monitor the progress of the road.
Just over the Dublin-Meath border where the road begins at Clonee, it looks ready to use, with a black asphalt surface already laid in places. Moving north towards Kells, heavy machinery, diggers and cranes continue to work on long stretches on what appear to be the basic outlines of junctions and interchanges.
Certain features are identifiable along the route. At almost the mid-point, the Hill of Tara can be seen about 2km to west. A little closer to the east is the Hill of Skryne, on which the remains of a medieval church are clearly visible.
From ground level on top of the Hill of Tara, the new road cannot be discerned. The current N3 is visible, but the new motorway will be slightly further away and the NRA says it will not be visible from Tara. However, no cars currently travel the motorway and there is no lighting, which might in time make the road more apparent from the hill.
The proximity of the motorway to the Rath Lugh hill fort is far more stark. The road does not go through the fort, but skirts it incredibly closely, to the extent that a “crib wall” has been constructed against the fort wall to secure the earthen structure.
The road also skirts the national monument at Lismullin. As this site has already been preserved and covered by a farm access road, nothing remains to be seen.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label m3 motorway meath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label m3 motorway meath. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Contentious M3 is 90% complete, says NRA
THE CONTROVERSIAL M3 motorway in Co Meath, which has been the subject of several years of protests, is now almost 90 per cent complete, the National Roads Authority (NRA) has said.
At almost 60km of main motorway and a further 40km of link roads and interchanges, the it is one of the longest motorways under construction in Europe.
The M3 is not scheduled to open until July 2010. Work could still finish ahead of this scheduled date, but not before mid-spring next year, the NRA said.
Beginning at Clonee, north of the Dublin-Meath border, it runs to Kells where it switches to a motorway-grade dual carriageway for the last 10km to the Cavan border. It will have two toll booths, charging €1.40 for cars. Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells are bypassed along the route.
Controversially, the route runs just over 2km from the Hill of Tara, and adjacent to the Lismullin national monument and the hill fort of Rath Lugh.
Protesters have occupied these latter two sites, blocking the road’s construction at various times in recent years, most memorably in March last year when conservationist Lisa Feeney, known as “Squeak” shut herself inside a chamber at the bottom of a 33-foot tunnel at Rath Lugh for 60 hours.
No protesters are currently blocking or picketing any part of the motorway, and Vincent Salafia of Tarawatch said that such action is unlikely to recur. “The frontline part of the campaign is pretty much over. There are people still protesting in the area, but not on the front line of the road. At this stage any protest on the road would be a largely symbolic gesture, but that doesn’t mean the campaign is over.”
Recent changes to the criminal trespass laws had made such protests more difficult, Mr Salafia said, but he said Tarawatch was continuing to campaign against the road and hoped it might still be moved, even after its construction.
Moving the road would be a possibility particularly if the Hill of Tara received Unesco World Heritage designation, Mr Salafia said. Tarawatch was also continuing to bring complaints against the NRA to EU bodies in relation to the destruction of ancient archaeology and heritage.
Mr Salafia has criticised the cost to the taxpayer of the motorway. He said this will amount to €727.4 million over the life of the toll contract with Eurolink, which ends in 2052.
However, NRA spokesman Seán O’Neill said Mr Salafia’s claims were a distortion of the facts. The road would cost about €720 million if Eurolink had not been involved and the cost was borne entirely by the State. “In fact only €250 million is being paid up front; the rest of the cost is being borne by the contractor . . . Distorting the figures doesn’t benefit the public, what benefits the public is the construction of a new, safe, value for money motorway.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
At almost 60km of main motorway and a further 40km of link roads and interchanges, the it is one of the longest motorways under construction in Europe.
The M3 is not scheduled to open until July 2010. Work could still finish ahead of this scheduled date, but not before mid-spring next year, the NRA said.
Beginning at Clonee, north of the Dublin-Meath border, it runs to Kells where it switches to a motorway-grade dual carriageway for the last 10km to the Cavan border. It will have two toll booths, charging €1.40 for cars. Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells are bypassed along the route.
Controversially, the route runs just over 2km from the Hill of Tara, and adjacent to the Lismullin national monument and the hill fort of Rath Lugh.
Protesters have occupied these latter two sites, blocking the road’s construction at various times in recent years, most memorably in March last year when conservationist Lisa Feeney, known as “Squeak” shut herself inside a chamber at the bottom of a 33-foot tunnel at Rath Lugh for 60 hours.
No protesters are currently blocking or picketing any part of the motorway, and Vincent Salafia of Tarawatch said that such action is unlikely to recur. “The frontline part of the campaign is pretty much over. There are people still protesting in the area, but not on the front line of the road. At this stage any protest on the road would be a largely symbolic gesture, but that doesn’t mean the campaign is over.”
Recent changes to the criminal trespass laws had made such protests more difficult, Mr Salafia said, but he said Tarawatch was continuing to campaign against the road and hoped it might still be moved, even after its construction.
Moving the road would be a possibility particularly if the Hill of Tara received Unesco World Heritage designation, Mr Salafia said. Tarawatch was also continuing to bring complaints against the NRA to EU bodies in relation to the destruction of ancient archaeology and heritage.
Mr Salafia has criticised the cost to the taxpayer of the motorway. He said this will amount to €727.4 million over the life of the toll contract with Eurolink, which ends in 2052.
However, NRA spokesman Seán O’Neill said Mr Salafia’s claims were a distortion of the facts. The road would cost about €720 million if Eurolink had not been involved and the cost was borne entirely by the State. “In fact only €250 million is being paid up front; the rest of the cost is being borne by the contractor . . . Distorting the figures doesn’t benefit the public, what benefits the public is the construction of a new, safe, value for money motorway.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 19 July 2009
New rules to protect Tara area
NEW PROTECTIONS for the Tara-Skryne Valley, which would prevent the construction of retail parks and superstores along the route of the M3, have been announced by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
Mr Gormley said he could not prevent the construction of the motorway near the Hill of Tara, which continues to be the subject of protests by environmental and heritage groups, but he could protect the landscape to prevent inappropriate development.
In conjunction with Meath County Council, Mr Gormley proposed to designate the Tara-Skryne Valley a Special Conservation Area. This would protect the archeological and historic landscape and make it difficult for any construction to take place within the zone. However, Mr Gormley said it would in particular stop the type of large-scale development, such as shopping centres, or retail parks, which have been built along motorways in the past.
“This will ensure that the very negative sort of development associated with motorways will not impinge on the area . . . the sort of motorway development we’ve seen in the past, the BQs, that would not be acceptable.”
The plans for the designation, which has been allocated €50,000 funding from the Department of the Environment and the Heritage Council, will have to be submitted for public consultation and agreed by Meath county councillors before the designation is confirmed. It is likely that the protection will be in place by the middle of next year.
Mr Gormley said he also intended to increase the protection for national monuments in the new National Monument’s Act, which is currently at draft stage.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Gormley said he could not prevent the construction of the motorway near the Hill of Tara, which continues to be the subject of protests by environmental and heritage groups, but he could protect the landscape to prevent inappropriate development.
In conjunction with Meath County Council, Mr Gormley proposed to designate the Tara-Skryne Valley a Special Conservation Area. This would protect the archeological and historic landscape and make it difficult for any construction to take place within the zone. However, Mr Gormley said it would in particular stop the type of large-scale development, such as shopping centres, or retail parks, which have been built along motorways in the past.
“This will ensure that the very negative sort of development associated with motorways will not impinge on the area . . . the sort of motorway development we’ve seen in the past, the BQs, that would not be acceptable.”
The plans for the designation, which has been allocated €50,000 funding from the Department of the Environment and the Heritage Council, will have to be submitted for public consultation and agreed by Meath county councillors before the designation is confirmed. It is likely that the protection will be in place by the middle of next year.
Mr Gormley said he also intended to increase the protection for national monuments in the new National Monument’s Act, which is currently at draft stage.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
There's no light in sight for Gormley as M3 protesters cast a cloud over winter solstice
Hundreds of winter solstice watchers were left disappointed yesterday as the sun failed to shine on Newgrange.
Dull weather prevented the light shining into the 5,000-year-old burial chamber as dawn broke on the shortest day of the year.
Environment Minister John Gormley -- one of 19 VIPs and lottery winners allowed entry to the Neolithic chamber -- didn't get the blame for the sun failing to shine at the ancient Co Meath site.
But the Green Party leader was heckled over his failure to reroute the M3 motorway from historic cultural sites at the Tara and Skryne Valley.
"When you come out Minister John Gormley, will your hands be untied?" shouted Heather Buchanan, from Co Meath. "He talks about sacred land but he doesn't practise what he preaches. I want to know what his intentions are going into the chamber, what does he hope to achieve by entering the chamber? What does he feel coming out of the chamber, I'd love to know, I'm sure the whole nation would love to know that."
Others among the eclectic gathering, who were attempting to meditate before sunrise, accused Ms Buchanan of "ruining" the event.
"Later on, you could have had your chance, but now you've ruined the whole morning for me. Talk to him [John Gormley] afterwards. Don't ruin it for everybody else," said one woman.
When Mr Gormley emerged from the passage tomb, he was confronted for a second time by two protestors.
In response to their criticisms, he told the Irish Independent that he had "no problem" with them but added it was not the "right place".
"It's a day which requires people to meditate and that, I don't think, is actually appropriate. It's not the place to shout, that's my view," he said.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern was also among the chosen few to enter the monument. Although the ray of light failed to show, he said the experience was "fascinating".
It was Mr Ahern's first time inside the tomb, despite him living only 20 minutes away in Dundalk. "The last time I was here, I was a child and I didn't get in," he added.
Hundreds of people travelled from across the country to attend the event, which was also enjoyed by tourists from the US, England, France and the Netherlands.
Noirin Rooney "stayed up all night" to make the journey from Co Tipperary. "We're here to greet the new dawn, the return of the light," she said.
Christine Deady from Co Cork described the experience as "very special". "I'm pretty sure that this is a spiritual momentum, it's the vortex of the year. Also I know that it being the darkest day of the year, for a lot of healers, and people of that persuasion, it's the New Year. This is like New Year's Eve in the spiritual world. I think this means more than the 31st of December," she added.
It was a romantic occasion for one couple, Ed Lyne from Co Kerry and his fiancee Magda Kiarszys, who were celebrating their anniversary at the event. "We got engaged last year on the 21st. We thought we'd come down to see what it was like."
Eimear Ni Bhraonain
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Dull weather prevented the light shining into the 5,000-year-old burial chamber as dawn broke on the shortest day of the year.
Environment Minister John Gormley -- one of 19 VIPs and lottery winners allowed entry to the Neolithic chamber -- didn't get the blame for the sun failing to shine at the ancient Co Meath site.
But the Green Party leader was heckled over his failure to reroute the M3 motorway from historic cultural sites at the Tara and Skryne Valley.
"When you come out Minister John Gormley, will your hands be untied?" shouted Heather Buchanan, from Co Meath. "He talks about sacred land but he doesn't practise what he preaches. I want to know what his intentions are going into the chamber, what does he hope to achieve by entering the chamber? What does he feel coming out of the chamber, I'd love to know, I'm sure the whole nation would love to know that."
Others among the eclectic gathering, who were attempting to meditate before sunrise, accused Ms Buchanan of "ruining" the event.
"Later on, you could have had your chance, but now you've ruined the whole morning for me. Talk to him [John Gormley] afterwards. Don't ruin it for everybody else," said one woman.
When Mr Gormley emerged from the passage tomb, he was confronted for a second time by two protestors.
In response to their criticisms, he told the Irish Independent that he had "no problem" with them but added it was not the "right place".
"It's a day which requires people to meditate and that, I don't think, is actually appropriate. It's not the place to shout, that's my view," he said.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern was also among the chosen few to enter the monument. Although the ray of light failed to show, he said the experience was "fascinating".
It was Mr Ahern's first time inside the tomb, despite him living only 20 minutes away in Dundalk. "The last time I was here, I was a child and I didn't get in," he added.
Hundreds of people travelled from across the country to attend the event, which was also enjoyed by tourists from the US, England, France and the Netherlands.
Noirin Rooney "stayed up all night" to make the journey from Co Tipperary. "We're here to greet the new dawn, the return of the light," she said.
Christine Deady from Co Cork described the experience as "very special". "I'm pretty sure that this is a spiritual momentum, it's the vortex of the year. Also I know that it being the darkest day of the year, for a lot of healers, and people of that persuasion, it's the New Year. This is like New Year's Eve in the spiritual world. I think this means more than the 31st of December," she added.
It was a romantic occasion for one couple, Ed Lyne from Co Kerry and his fiancee Magda Kiarszys, who were celebrating their anniversary at the event. "We got engaged last year on the 21st. We thought we'd come down to see what it was like."
Eimear Ni Bhraonain
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 12 September 2008
Controversial M3 motorway through Tara may open early
THE CONTROVERSIAL M3 motorway is understood to be nearly a year ahead of schedule and it is hoped it may open to traffic in advance of the official completion date of June 2010.
The progress on the project has been welcomed by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, who is a TD for Co Meath.
However environmental group TaraWatch has repeated its call for the scheme to be cancelled and a heritage trail to be created, which, it said, would bring more benefit to the county.
The motorway passes through the rich archaeological landscape of the Tara-Skryne valley. Last year a national monument was discovered in the middle of one of the lanes of the motorway itself.
Mr Dempsey said: “I am acutely aware of the pressures that Meath- based commuters face day in, day out and I know what a difference this new motorway will make to their quality of life once it is completed. We all want to cut journey times and travel on safer roads. The M3 will deliver on both of these fronts.”
This was reiterated by the road safety officer for Meath County Council, Michael Finnegan, a retired Garda chief superintendent. “The sooner it is completed the better,” he said. “Motorways are acknowledged as being the safest type of roads and I welcome the progress made on the M3.”
However, Vincent Salafia, TaraWatch spokesman, said: “I believe this is spin and the motorway is not due to open until 2011. We are in uncertain times and this is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
He claimed the current economic climate meant the project was now “economically unviable”. Instead the group wanted a heritage trail or park developed, which, it said, would economically benefit the county more than the motorway.
Meath County Council has disagreed, saying the motorway would boost the county as a prime business location.
“The M3 will open up the heart of the county and Navan, Kells and north Meath should benefit greatly from improved access to the wider Dublin region and beyond,” the council’s director of economic development, Kevin Stewart, said.
A well-placed source close to the project said it was going “exceptionally well”. It is estimated that building works are at least 10 months ahead of schedule.
The National Roads Authority declined to comment.
The 60km motorway will link Clonee, in south Meath, with Kells, in the north of the county, and will bypass Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, with a toll at either end.
It will take traffic from the existing N3 Dublin-Cavan road, one of the principal routes linking Dublin to the northwest and one of the busiest primary routes in the country.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The progress on the project has been welcomed by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, who is a TD for Co Meath.
However environmental group TaraWatch has repeated its call for the scheme to be cancelled and a heritage trail to be created, which, it said, would bring more benefit to the county.
The motorway passes through the rich archaeological landscape of the Tara-Skryne valley. Last year a national monument was discovered in the middle of one of the lanes of the motorway itself.
Mr Dempsey said: “I am acutely aware of the pressures that Meath- based commuters face day in, day out and I know what a difference this new motorway will make to their quality of life once it is completed. We all want to cut journey times and travel on safer roads. The M3 will deliver on both of these fronts.”
This was reiterated by the road safety officer for Meath County Council, Michael Finnegan, a retired Garda chief superintendent. “The sooner it is completed the better,” he said. “Motorways are acknowledged as being the safest type of roads and I welcome the progress made on the M3.”
However, Vincent Salafia, TaraWatch spokesman, said: “I believe this is spin and the motorway is not due to open until 2011. We are in uncertain times and this is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
He claimed the current economic climate meant the project was now “economically unviable”. Instead the group wanted a heritage trail or park developed, which, it said, would economically benefit the county more than the motorway.
Meath County Council has disagreed, saying the motorway would boost the county as a prime business location.
“The M3 will open up the heart of the county and Navan, Kells and north Meath should benefit greatly from improved access to the wider Dublin region and beyond,” the council’s director of economic development, Kevin Stewart, said.
A well-placed source close to the project said it was going “exceptionally well”. It is estimated that building works are at least 10 months ahead of schedule.
The National Roads Authority declined to comment.
The 60km motorway will link Clonee, in south Meath, with Kells, in the north of the county, and will bypass Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, with a toll at either end.
It will take traffic from the existing N3 Dublin-Cavan road, one of the principal routes linking Dublin to the northwest and one of the busiest primary routes in the country.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 15 August 2008
TaraWatch against UN heritage status
TARAWATCH, the group campaigning against the route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath, is to oppose efforts to establish Tara as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site.
The designation is being sought by Minister for the Environment John Gormley as a means to prevent future development in the vicinity of the Hill of Tara.
Mr Gormley has retained the services of a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the official advisory body to Unesco.
The decision to oppose his efforts was taken after members of TaraWatch attended a Unesco World Heritage convention in Canada recently.
The group said while Tara was "undoubtedly a site of outstanding universal value" worthy of inclusion as a world heritage site, the M3 motorway would "drastically diminish its integrity and value".
TaraWatch also said Ireland has been in breach of the Unesco World Heritage Convention since it signed the convention in 1992 because of the State's failure to nominate Tara before now.
The group is planning a number of activities to oppose the Minister's plan, and is hoping to use Heritage Week, which runs from August 24th to 31st, to highlight its campaign.
Members will also lobby Unesco to require a rerouting of the motorway before its inclusion in the list.
The group said efforts would also be made to rally international support from the World Museums Fund, the World Archaeological Congress and the European Association of Archaeologists, among others.
"We are going to take every possible action, with international support, to oppose the Minister's plan," said spokesman Vincent Salafia.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The designation is being sought by Minister for the Environment John Gormley as a means to prevent future development in the vicinity of the Hill of Tara.
Mr Gormley has retained the services of a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the official advisory body to Unesco.
The decision to oppose his efforts was taken after members of TaraWatch attended a Unesco World Heritage convention in Canada recently.
The group said while Tara was "undoubtedly a site of outstanding universal value" worthy of inclusion as a world heritage site, the M3 motorway would "drastically diminish its integrity and value".
TaraWatch also said Ireland has been in breach of the Unesco World Heritage Convention since it signed the convention in 1992 because of the State's failure to nominate Tara before now.
The group is planning a number of activities to oppose the Minister's plan, and is hoping to use Heritage Week, which runs from August 24th to 31st, to highlight its campaign.
Members will also lobby Unesco to require a rerouting of the motorway before its inclusion in the list.
The group said efforts would also be made to rally international support from the World Museums Fund, the World Archaeological Congress and the European Association of Archaeologists, among others.
"We are going to take every possible action, with international support, to oppose the Minister's plan," said spokesman Vincent Salafia.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 30 June 2008
Tara campaigners in bid to have M3 motorway ruling struck out
CAMPAIGNERS who lost a lengthy court battle to reroute the controversial M3 motorway are seeking legal advice over reports on the archaeological heritage in the area.
The TaraWatch group, led by Vincent Salafia, have asked lawyers to look into whether a High Court ruling backing the road may be struck out.
The Sixth World Archaeological Congress, which began in Dublin yesterday, is examining a report by an expert who assessed the significance of historical sites along the M3 route in Co Meath.
It has questioned archaeological findings which paved the way for work to begin on the road. "Legal advice is immediately being sought,'' Mr Salafia said. "There may be a possibility of vacating the judgment or, at a minimum, suing for damages."
The High Court ruled in 2005 that none of the 38 areas examined before construction on the road began were national monuments and that the wider area around the Hill of Tara could not be considered a single national monument.
TaraWatch will this week meet officials from the UNESCO group as it continues its campaign to have the Hill of Tara and surrounding lands declared a World Heritage Site.
Ed Carty
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The TaraWatch group, led by Vincent Salafia, have asked lawyers to look into whether a High Court ruling backing the road may be struck out.
The Sixth World Archaeological Congress, which began in Dublin yesterday, is examining a report by an expert who assessed the significance of historical sites along the M3 route in Co Meath.
It has questioned archaeological findings which paved the way for work to begin on the road. "Legal advice is immediately being sought,'' Mr Salafia said. "There may be a possibility of vacating the judgment or, at a minimum, suing for damages."
The High Court ruled in 2005 that none of the 38 areas examined before construction on the road began were national monuments and that the wider area around the Hill of Tara could not be considered a single national monument.
TaraWatch will this week meet officials from the UNESCO group as it continues its campaign to have the Hill of Tara and surrounding lands declared a World Heritage Site.
Ed Carty
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 20 April 2008
M3 protesters focus on Gormley's Unesco plan
RENEWED CALLS to reroute the M3 motorway from the valleys of Tara and Skryne in Co Meath have been made in response to Minister for the Environment John Gormley's recent comments on the site.
The Minister said last week he did not see the planned M3 motorway preventing the Hill of Tara from being nominated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site. He said he believed it would be possible to take a series of initiatives to preserve the Gabhra Valley between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne.
Campaigners believe Tara would struggle to achieve the status Mr Gormley desires because of the nature of the works.
Vincent Salafia of Tarawatch said the Minister's proposal had created an opportunity to revisit the whole issue. "We're calling on Unesco to designate the Tara site and to insist that the motorway be rerouted from the area."
Mr Salafia said the designation of Tara as a world heritage site could drum up international support. "International pressure is our best hope for saving Tara. If Ireland wants to use Unesco to help deliver tourists to world heritage sites in Ireland, they must enforce Unesco standards of preservation in those areas."
He also said there was a possibility that another legal challenge to try to reroute the motorway would take place.
His comments came yesterday on International Day for Monuments and Sites 2008, which was marked by a World Heritage Forum at Trinity College, Dublin. The theme for the forum, which focused heavily on the Hill of Tara situation, was "Religious Heritage and Sacred Places".
Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey, of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Trinity College, asked why the Minister had left it until this late stage to seek Unecso status for the Tara site when archaeological evidence of the site's historic wealth had been present for so long.
Speaking last week, Mr Gormley said his department had engaged Dr Jukka Jokilehto, a Finnish-born conservation expert, to visit Tara and the other sites on what is known as the "tentative list" for Unesco.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Minister said last week he did not see the planned M3 motorway preventing the Hill of Tara from being nominated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site. He said he believed it would be possible to take a series of initiatives to preserve the Gabhra Valley between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne.
Campaigners believe Tara would struggle to achieve the status Mr Gormley desires because of the nature of the works.
Vincent Salafia of Tarawatch said the Minister's proposal had created an opportunity to revisit the whole issue. "We're calling on Unesco to designate the Tara site and to insist that the motorway be rerouted from the area."
Mr Salafia said the designation of Tara as a world heritage site could drum up international support. "International pressure is our best hope for saving Tara. If Ireland wants to use Unesco to help deliver tourists to world heritage sites in Ireland, they must enforce Unesco standards of preservation in those areas."
He also said there was a possibility that another legal challenge to try to reroute the motorway would take place.
His comments came yesterday on International Day for Monuments and Sites 2008, which was marked by a World Heritage Forum at Trinity College, Dublin. The theme for the forum, which focused heavily on the Hill of Tara situation, was "Religious Heritage and Sacred Places".
Dr Sarah Alyn-Stacey, of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Trinity College, asked why the Minister had left it until this late stage to seek Unecso status for the Tara site when archaeological evidence of the site's historic wealth had been present for so long.
Speaking last week, Mr Gormley said his department had engaged Dr Jukka Jokilehto, a Finnish-born conservation expert, to visit Tara and the other sites on what is known as the "tentative list" for Unesco.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 13 April 2008
M3 not to stop Tara getting world status, says Gormley
MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley has said he does not see the planned M3 motorway in Co Meath preventing the Hill of Tara from being nominated as a world heritage site. Tim O'Brien reports.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the legal incorporation of the Irish branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Mr Gormley said that while he had "always been personally opposed to the route of the M3", he believed it would be possible to take a series of initiatives to preserve the Gabhra Valley between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne.
The initiatives - which are to be a series of national rather than county-based preservation orders - would prevent "commercial spread" alongside the motorway, the Minister said. He also said a directive would be put in place to provide landscape protection.
Mr Gormley commented that with these measures in place Tara could still meet the strict criteria for incorporation on the list of UN world heritage sites. Such criteria rely heavily on natural or man-made heritage being well preserved.
Mr Gormley said he was conscious that the International Council on Monuments and Sites counted among its number about 7,600 heritage conservation professionals from 106 countries around the world.
The Irish branch numbers about 100 and Mr Gormley said he was particularly grateful for their assistance and support to his department in its heritage role.
Referring to the review of the tentative list of proposed world heritage sites, Mr Gormley spoke of his desire to include the Hill of Tara national monument in particular.
He said his department had engaged Dr Jukka Jokilehto, a Finnish-born conservation expert, to visit Tara and the other sites currently on what is known as the "tentative list" for inclusion.
Mr Gormley said Dr Jokilehto had "concluded that the Hill of Tara National monument has strong merit for inclusion in an application to Unesco for consideration as a world heritage site.
"He did not see the proposed new road as being an obstacle to making this recommendation," the Minister said.
Mr Gormley also said the formulation of a National Landscape Strategy was a "key commitment for me within the programme for government, and I am eager to kick-start a broad consultative process to drive forward the preparation of this strategy."
He said he would be asking a steering group to propose that the Tara Skryne area be designated as a landscape conservation area. His department had already held discussions with Meath County Council about this.
Meath County Council has previously given a commitment that land around the motorway in the sensitive area of the Gabhra Valley would not be rezoned for industrial or commercial uses.
However, opponents of the road said this would be particularly difficult to apply in the vicinity of motorway junctions and they pointed out that the Tara Na Ri interchange at Blundlestown is about one mile from the hill itself.
World class: our outstanding sites
Ireland has three Unesco world heritage sites:
The main prehistoric sites of the Brú na Bóinne complex, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, which are situated on the north bank of the river Boyne 50km north of Dublin.
The monastic complex at Skellig Michael , Co Kerry. This monastic complex, perched on the steep sides of a rocky island, dates from the seventh century. Because of its location about 12km off the coast the site is well preserved.
The Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast , Co Antrim. The Giant's Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. Geological studies over the last 300 years show the striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity some 50-60 million years ago.
In addition the department has prepared a "tentative list" of another eight candidate sites. The list includes: the Burren; the Rock of Cashel; the Ceide Fields; Clara Bog in Co Offaly; the Monastic settlement at Clonmacnoise; Killarney National Park; Northwest Mayo Boglands; Western Stone Forts.
To be included on the world heritage list, sites must be of outstanding universal value in either man-made or natural heritage terms.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the legal incorporation of the Irish branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Mr Gormley said that while he had "always been personally opposed to the route of the M3", he believed it would be possible to take a series of initiatives to preserve the Gabhra Valley between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne.
The initiatives - which are to be a series of national rather than county-based preservation orders - would prevent "commercial spread" alongside the motorway, the Minister said. He also said a directive would be put in place to provide landscape protection.
Mr Gormley commented that with these measures in place Tara could still meet the strict criteria for incorporation on the list of UN world heritage sites. Such criteria rely heavily on natural or man-made heritage being well preserved.
Mr Gormley said he was conscious that the International Council on Monuments and Sites counted among its number about 7,600 heritage conservation professionals from 106 countries around the world.
The Irish branch numbers about 100 and Mr Gormley said he was particularly grateful for their assistance and support to his department in its heritage role.
Referring to the review of the tentative list of proposed world heritage sites, Mr Gormley spoke of his desire to include the Hill of Tara national monument in particular.
He said his department had engaged Dr Jukka Jokilehto, a Finnish-born conservation expert, to visit Tara and the other sites currently on what is known as the "tentative list" for inclusion.
Mr Gormley said Dr Jokilehto had "concluded that the Hill of Tara National monument has strong merit for inclusion in an application to Unesco for consideration as a world heritage site.
"He did not see the proposed new road as being an obstacle to making this recommendation," the Minister said.
Mr Gormley also said the formulation of a National Landscape Strategy was a "key commitment for me within the programme for government, and I am eager to kick-start a broad consultative process to drive forward the preparation of this strategy."
He said he would be asking a steering group to propose that the Tara Skryne area be designated as a landscape conservation area. His department had already held discussions with Meath County Council about this.
Meath County Council has previously given a commitment that land around the motorway in the sensitive area of the Gabhra Valley would not be rezoned for industrial or commercial uses.
However, opponents of the road said this would be particularly difficult to apply in the vicinity of motorway junctions and they pointed out that the Tara Na Ri interchange at Blundlestown is about one mile from the hill itself.
World class: our outstanding sites
Ireland has three Unesco world heritage sites:
The main prehistoric sites of the Brú na Bóinne complex, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, which are situated on the north bank of the river Boyne 50km north of Dublin.
The monastic complex at Skellig Michael , Co Kerry. This monastic complex, perched on the steep sides of a rocky island, dates from the seventh century. Because of its location about 12km off the coast the site is well preserved.
The Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast , Co Antrim. The Giant's Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. Geological studies over the last 300 years show the striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity some 50-60 million years ago.
In addition the department has prepared a "tentative list" of another eight candidate sites. The list includes: the Burren; the Rock of Cashel; the Ceide Fields; Clara Bog in Co Offaly; the Monastic settlement at Clonmacnoise; Killarney National Park; Northwest Mayo Boglands; Western Stone Forts.
To be included on the world heritage list, sites must be of outstanding universal value in either man-made or natural heritage terms.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Landowners secure €120m windfall from controversial M3
ALMOST €120m has been spent on land to build the controversial M3 motorway linking Dublin with the north east.
The cost makes the motorway among the most expensive road-building projects undertaken here, and represents a windfall for landowners who received an average of almost €69,000 per acre.
Yesterday Meath County Council, which is buying land on behalf of the National Roads Authority, said it had spent €117m buying the 1,700 acres needed to build the 47km carriageway which has been bitterly opposed by campaigners and archaeologists.
A contentious section between Dunshaughlin and Navan runs through the heart of the Tara/Skryne Valley and it is claimed that it has already resulted in a national monument being destroyed to make way for the road.
Campaigners claim irreparable damage will be caused to archaeology in the area to facilitate construction works.
A council spokesman said yesterday that although a "small number" of landowners were in dispute with the council over the amount paid, it did not expect the total spend to rise.
If the M3 opens on schedule in July 2010, almost 23,000 vehicles a day are expected to use it. This will lead to toll payments of at least €13m a year.
The cost of building the road is expected to be between €800m and €1bn.
It will bypass the towns of Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.
Campaigners yesterday conceded that, given the amount spent, it would be a brave politician who decided to halt construction.
But they said the land purchases represented an opportunity for the State to build a heritage park along the controversial section of the road, between Dunshaughlin and Navan, which could provide employment in the local area and be a major draw for tourists.
"I don't think Brian Cowen's the man to stop it [construction]," Michael Canney from the Campaign to Save Tara said.
"The money is spent but we would always have advocated a heritage and tourism resource, and it's about time the land was in public ownership.
"If people decide it's better to use it as a tourism resource, it's almost an opportunity."
Laura Grealish from Tarawatch added there was "room for manoeuvre" as other uses could be made of the land.
"I'm sure they could find another use for that land such as turning the area into a tourism centre," she said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The cost makes the motorway among the most expensive road-building projects undertaken here, and represents a windfall for landowners who received an average of almost €69,000 per acre.
Yesterday Meath County Council, which is buying land on behalf of the National Roads Authority, said it had spent €117m buying the 1,700 acres needed to build the 47km carriageway which has been bitterly opposed by campaigners and archaeologists.
A contentious section between Dunshaughlin and Navan runs through the heart of the Tara/Skryne Valley and it is claimed that it has already resulted in a national monument being destroyed to make way for the road.
Campaigners claim irreparable damage will be caused to archaeology in the area to facilitate construction works.
A council spokesman said yesterday that although a "small number" of landowners were in dispute with the council over the amount paid, it did not expect the total spend to rise.
If the M3 opens on schedule in July 2010, almost 23,000 vehicles a day are expected to use it. This will lead to toll payments of at least €13m a year.
The cost of building the road is expected to be between €800m and €1bn.
It will bypass the towns of Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.
Campaigners yesterday conceded that, given the amount spent, it would be a brave politician who decided to halt construction.
But they said the land purchases represented an opportunity for the State to build a heritage park along the controversial section of the road, between Dunshaughlin and Navan, which could provide employment in the local area and be a major draw for tourists.
"I don't think Brian Cowen's the man to stop it [construction]," Michael Canney from the Campaign to Save Tara said.
"The money is spent but we would always have advocated a heritage and tourism resource, and it's about time the land was in public ownership.
"If people decide it's better to use it as a tourism resource, it's almost an opportunity."
Laura Grealish from Tarawatch added there was "room for manoeuvre" as other uses could be made of the land.
"I'm sure they could find another use for that land such as turning the area into a tourism centre," she said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 17 March 2008
Protesters vow to step up M3 campaign after deal struck
PROTESTERS opposed to the M3 Meath motorway route yesterday pledged to escalate their campaign.
Campaigners protecting the Rath Lugh national monument at the Tara/Skryne valley said they were prepared to repeat the actions of psychology graduate Lisa Feeney who dug herself into a tunnel for several days.
Ms Feeney finally emerged from the seven-metre shaft late on Saturday night after pleas from her family as well as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
She had "booby trapped" the tunnel to collapse if workers tried to dig her out and she was prepared to stay underground for up to two months.
Her father Jim Feeney met her as she climbed out of the tunnel after 11pm on Saturday amid rounds of applause from fellow campaigners after having spent three days underground.
Protesters say Ms Feeney only agreed to come out of the tunnel after a deal was struck with the National Roads Authority to halt work at the monument for a month.
This will give protesters enough time to progress a legal challenge to the construction works in the courts.
In the meantime though, objectors to the M3 route will be asked to mount protests outside building sites nationwide operated by SIAC, a construction firm involved in the motorway project.
Protestor spokesman Derek Berrill explained: "We've only started. The tunnel is a minor thing as far as we're concerned.
"If people are willing to be in solidarity [with us], it's up to them to protest outside sites next week,"
Mr Berrill said protesters were "absolutely willing" to repeat Ms Feeney's actions if necessary.
Campaigners are officially expected to call for the building site protests on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Ms Feeney was said to be in good spirits yesterday while recovering from her time spent in the tunnel.
She visited two Garda stations after leaving the protesters' site over the weekend, where campaigners say documents were left with gardaí relating to her agreement with the NRA concerning the building stoppage.
It could not be clarified last night exactly what role gardaí had played in reaching the agreement.
Last week, a High Court bid to halt work on the M3 Dublin to Navan motorway failed.
The court application for an injunction to stop the work claimed a national monument on the site was in danger of being damaged because of the building work.
The NRA denied the claim and said any delay in the project would cost the taxpayer €330,000 per week.
The NRA did not return calls yesterday.
Local delight as fight against housing plan pays off
A PLANNING application for about 100 houses in Killorglin, Co Kerry, has been refused by An Bord Pleanála. Local residents have successfully appealed against a decision of Kerry County Council last June, to grant planning to Glenloc Consulting Ltd for the development.
The proposal was to build 97 houses and apartments, with a creche, on a 4.7 hectare site about a half-kilometre from Killorglin, off the Iveragh Road.
Reasons for the refusal include the creation of traffic problems close to two bends and that the development would be in breach of the local area plan for Killorglin.
Senior planning inspector Ruairi Somers said the development would give rise to a "serious traffic hazard" especially in the absence of a footpath in the area.
Meanwhile, as controversy about planning for one-off houses in Kerry continues, a top planning officer said people were being refused permission for three reasons mainly.
They included effluent treatment, traffic safety and how a house could be integrated into the landscape, according to the county council's director of planning services Michael McMahon.
However, he said all three areas could be dealt with during a pre-planning consultation service made available by the council.
Mr McMahon said many people were either not availing of the service, or ignoring its recommendations.
"While following recommendations is no guarantee of getting planning, people who engage in consultation and follow the recommendations are more likely to get permission," he said.
Mr McMahon said people were spending a lot of money on applications that were turned down because they did not engage in consultations. He pointed out Kerry was the only county where on-site consultations were being offered to the sons and daughters of landowners looking to build on family land.
Councillors in Kerry claim planners' interpretation of laws and guidelines is too restrictive and making it virtually impossible for young couples to get planning in the countryside.
But planning officials said more than 80% of applications in Kerry were granted - roughly in line with the national trend.
The Kerry branch of the Irish Rural Dwellers' Association, however, said the policy now was to try to locate as many people as possible in estates in towns around the county.
The association is to stage a protest outside a Kerry County Council meeting on April 21 next.
Juno McEnroe
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Campaigners protecting the Rath Lugh national monument at the Tara/Skryne valley said they were prepared to repeat the actions of psychology graduate Lisa Feeney who dug herself into a tunnel for several days.
Ms Feeney finally emerged from the seven-metre shaft late on Saturday night after pleas from her family as well as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
She had "booby trapped" the tunnel to collapse if workers tried to dig her out and she was prepared to stay underground for up to two months.
Her father Jim Feeney met her as she climbed out of the tunnel after 11pm on Saturday amid rounds of applause from fellow campaigners after having spent three days underground.
Protesters say Ms Feeney only agreed to come out of the tunnel after a deal was struck with the National Roads Authority to halt work at the monument for a month.
This will give protesters enough time to progress a legal challenge to the construction works in the courts.
In the meantime though, objectors to the M3 route will be asked to mount protests outside building sites nationwide operated by SIAC, a construction firm involved in the motorway project.
Protestor spokesman Derek Berrill explained: "We've only started. The tunnel is a minor thing as far as we're concerned.
"If people are willing to be in solidarity [with us], it's up to them to protest outside sites next week,"
Mr Berrill said protesters were "absolutely willing" to repeat Ms Feeney's actions if necessary.
Campaigners are officially expected to call for the building site protests on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Ms Feeney was said to be in good spirits yesterday while recovering from her time spent in the tunnel.
She visited two Garda stations after leaving the protesters' site over the weekend, where campaigners say documents were left with gardaí relating to her agreement with the NRA concerning the building stoppage.
It could not be clarified last night exactly what role gardaí had played in reaching the agreement.
Last week, a High Court bid to halt work on the M3 Dublin to Navan motorway failed.
The court application for an injunction to stop the work claimed a national monument on the site was in danger of being damaged because of the building work.
The NRA denied the claim and said any delay in the project would cost the taxpayer €330,000 per week.
The NRA did not return calls yesterday.
Local delight as fight against housing plan pays off
A PLANNING application for about 100 houses in Killorglin, Co Kerry, has been refused by An Bord Pleanála. Local residents have successfully appealed against a decision of Kerry County Council last June, to grant planning to Glenloc Consulting Ltd for the development.
The proposal was to build 97 houses and apartments, with a creche, on a 4.7 hectare site about a half-kilometre from Killorglin, off the Iveragh Road.
Reasons for the refusal include the creation of traffic problems close to two bends and that the development would be in breach of the local area plan for Killorglin.
Senior planning inspector Ruairi Somers said the development would give rise to a "serious traffic hazard" especially in the absence of a footpath in the area.
Meanwhile, as controversy about planning for one-off houses in Kerry continues, a top planning officer said people were being refused permission for three reasons mainly.
They included effluent treatment, traffic safety and how a house could be integrated into the landscape, according to the county council's director of planning services Michael McMahon.
However, he said all three areas could be dealt with during a pre-planning consultation service made available by the council.
Mr McMahon said many people were either not availing of the service, or ignoring its recommendations.
"While following recommendations is no guarantee of getting planning, people who engage in consultation and follow the recommendations are more likely to get permission," he said.
Mr McMahon said people were spending a lot of money on applications that were turned down because they did not engage in consultations. He pointed out Kerry was the only county where on-site consultations were being offered to the sons and daughters of landowners looking to build on family land.
Councillors in Kerry claim planners' interpretation of laws and guidelines is too restrictive and making it virtually impossible for young couples to get planning in the countryside.
But planning officials said more than 80% of applications in Kerry were granted - roughly in line with the national trend.
The Kerry branch of the Irish Rural Dwellers' Association, however, said the policy now was to try to locate as many people as possible in estates in towns around the county.
The association is to stage a protest outside a Kerry County Council meeting on April 21 next.
Juno McEnroe
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 27 January 2008
M3 route likely to open ahead of 2010 deadline
The controversial M3 motorway in Co Meath is more than one-third complete and likely to open well in advance of its autumn 2010 deadline, the National Roads Authority (NRA) said yesterday.
Speaking at the announcement of NRA spending provisions for 2008, authority chairman Peter Malone revealed construction of the 60km motorway had been divided into four distinct projects by builders the Eurolink consortium. Each of the projects was bidding against the others to be the first to deliver a completed section of motorway, said Mr Malone.
While Mr Malone declined to say exactly when the €900 million M3 was now expected to be completed, he said he had been told this week that 36 per cent of the work had been done.
Construction contracts were signed last March and work began in earnest almost immediately. Extrapolating only on the basis that 36 per cent had been completed in 10 months, construction would take about 27 months altogether, leaving the motorway complete sometime in mid- to late 2009.
However, opponents of the route of the M3 said the battle was far from over yesterday. Vincent Salafia, who took a High Court challenge in a bid to stop the road going ahead, accused the NRA of engaging in "propaganda" instead of addressing the ongoing issues with regard to national monuments and an EU case against Ireland.
"It seems they are basically admitting they have rushed ahead when there is one case before the courts, the serious prospect of a second case and pressure on [Minister for Environment] Mr Gormley to intervene."
Mr Salafia referred to a case being taken against Ireland in the European Court of Justice claiming that a new environmental impact assessment should have been undertaken when the Lismullin archaeological site was discovered.
The motorway will have two tolls and will link Clonee on the Dublin and Meath border with Lisduff on the Cavan side of the Meath/Cavan border. It will include 50km of ancillary roads at a construction cost of €650 million. Funding is provided by the Eurolink shareholders which includes Irish firm SIAC and Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte SA (Cintra). Cintra is a subsidiary of Grupo Ferrovial which was involved in building the N4 motorway, which opened about one year ahead of schedule.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Speaking at the announcement of NRA spending provisions for 2008, authority chairman Peter Malone revealed construction of the 60km motorway had been divided into four distinct projects by builders the Eurolink consortium. Each of the projects was bidding against the others to be the first to deliver a completed section of motorway, said Mr Malone.
While Mr Malone declined to say exactly when the €900 million M3 was now expected to be completed, he said he had been told this week that 36 per cent of the work had been done.
Construction contracts were signed last March and work began in earnest almost immediately. Extrapolating only on the basis that 36 per cent had been completed in 10 months, construction would take about 27 months altogether, leaving the motorway complete sometime in mid- to late 2009.
However, opponents of the route of the M3 said the battle was far from over yesterday. Vincent Salafia, who took a High Court challenge in a bid to stop the road going ahead, accused the NRA of engaging in "propaganda" instead of addressing the ongoing issues with regard to national monuments and an EU case against Ireland.
"It seems they are basically admitting they have rushed ahead when there is one case before the courts, the serious prospect of a second case and pressure on [Minister for Environment] Mr Gormley to intervene."
Mr Salafia referred to a case being taken against Ireland in the European Court of Justice claiming that a new environmental impact assessment should have been undertaken when the Lismullin archaeological site was discovered.
The motorway will have two tolls and will link Clonee on the Dublin and Meath border with Lisduff on the Cavan side of the Meath/Cavan border. It will include 50km of ancillary roads at a construction cost of €650 million. Funding is provided by the Eurolink shareholders which includes Irish firm SIAC and Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte SA (Cintra). Cintra is a subsidiary of Grupo Ferrovial which was involved in building the N4 motorway, which opened about one year ahead of schedule.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 28 December 2007
Expert claims road authority ignored advice on Tara
AN EXPERT in charge of ensuring a national monument, discovered on the route of the controversial M3 motorway was properly excavated, has launched a blistering attack on the State and its agents.
Dr Conor Newman, who stepped aside from the advisory committee on November 20 last, accused the Government of ignoring expert advice about the significance of a 2,500-year-old monument found at Lismullin in Co Meath.
And he said the road builders, the National Roads Authority, had "wrecked" the monument, which will be covered by a road in the coming weeks.
He said the NRA had ignored expert advice that anything discovered in the Tara Skryne Valley was associated with the Hill of Tara, widely acknowledged since early last century.
Earlier this year, a pagan ritual site was discovered along the route, and former environment minister Dick Roche ordered that the road be built over it following its excavation.
"I went up to give some advice on the monument. I wasn't going to play politics, but I felt I could stay on the committee to advise on the excavation," Dr Newman said.
"When it got to the point where the excavation was nearing completion, I felt it was time to go.
"In spite of all the advice, they still forged ahead. We had a ridiculous situation of no willingness to adjust the road even slightly. The casualty has been the truth, and the objective assessment of the truth."
Environment Minister John Gormley said last night he was "sad" to hear of the decision, but it was something he "understood fully".
"I was conscious in asking him to serve on the committee that I was potentially putting him in an uncomfortable position because of his long-standing principled opposition to the road proposal," the minister said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Dr Conor Newman, who stepped aside from the advisory committee on November 20 last, accused the Government of ignoring expert advice about the significance of a 2,500-year-old monument found at Lismullin in Co Meath.
And he said the road builders, the National Roads Authority, had "wrecked" the monument, which will be covered by a road in the coming weeks.
He said the NRA had ignored expert advice that anything discovered in the Tara Skryne Valley was associated with the Hill of Tara, widely acknowledged since early last century.
Earlier this year, a pagan ritual site was discovered along the route, and former environment minister Dick Roche ordered that the road be built over it following its excavation.
"I went up to give some advice on the monument. I wasn't going to play politics, but I felt I could stay on the committee to advise on the excavation," Dr Newman said.
"When it got to the point where the excavation was nearing completion, I felt it was time to go.
"In spite of all the advice, they still forged ahead. We had a ridiculous situation of no willingness to adjust the road even slightly. The casualty has been the truth, and the objective assessment of the truth."
Environment Minister John Gormley said last night he was "sad" to hear of the decision, but it was something he "understood fully".
"I was conscious in asking him to serve on the committee that I was potentially putting him in an uncomfortable position because of his long-standing principled opposition to the road proposal," the minister said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Tara album adds voice to protest
A new album featuring artists protesting against the building of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara in Co Meath has been launched to coincide with the winter solstice.
The double album called Gather The Mighty In features artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí in collaboration with Steve Cooney, Kila, Mercury Music Prize nominee Lou Rhodes and the harpist Laoise Kelly, among 45 different contributors.
The album contains contributions from Nobel Prize winning laureate Seamus Heaney, actor Stuart Townsend and environmentalist and television presenter Duncan Stewart. It also contains details of an alternative to the M3 proposals put forward by environmentalists which would see the proposed motorway being replaced by a 2+1 road system which would be routed away from the Hill of Tara.
The album has been compiled over the last nine months by performance poet and environmentalist Seano Braonain.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The double album called Gather The Mighty In features artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí in collaboration with Steve Cooney, Kila, Mercury Music Prize nominee Lou Rhodes and the harpist Laoise Kelly, among 45 different contributors.
The album contains contributions from Nobel Prize winning laureate Seamus Heaney, actor Stuart Townsend and environmentalist and television presenter Duncan Stewart. It also contains details of an alternative to the M3 proposals put forward by environmentalists which would see the proposed motorway being replaced by a 2+1 road system which would be routed away from the Hill of Tara.
The album has been compiled over the last nine months by performance poet and environmentalist Seano Braonain.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Protesters take fight to the EU as Gormley feels heat
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is now under pressure to reveal what the EU has told him it thinks of building new roads over monuments.
Campaigners against the M3 motorway route want to keep the pressure on the Green Party, given their objections in the past to proposed roads.
Opponents of the highly controversial M3 motorway are vowing to continue their fight against the routing of the road through the archeological site at Lismullen.
In a major setback to the campaigners, An Bord Pleanala gave the green light for the road without demanding a new environmental impact assessment.
Campaigners of the road want the Green Party Minister to release a European Commission report on the law allowing road building to proceed -- even when a national monument is found on the route.
The Tarawatch group says it is appealing directly to the European Commission over the latest Bord Pleanala decision.
Opinion
The group says it wants Minister Gormley to publish a so-called reasoned opinion from the Commission on the National Monuments Act 2004. The law is possibly in breach of EU environmental directives.
Last night, the Department of the Environment said that such documents are never published because it forms part of potential legal proceedings by the European Commission against the Government.
Tarawatch's Vincent Salafia said the decision of An Bord Pleanala was made without any public consultation or opportunity for independent assessment to be given.
"That is exactly why the EU is saying the decision to demolish the site is illegal," he explained.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the National Roads Authority is to blame for the delays in the project because it only conducted an Environment Impact Assessment on one route.
"We could have had this road finished by now without all these problems. We've created a terrible dilemma," she said.
Sinn Fein MEP Mary-Lou McDonald said the decision to allow the M3 motorway to proceed along its original route is a blow to Irish heritage.
"The commuters of Meath need and deserve an immediate transport solution. However, it has been proved that this does not have to be at the expense of our heritage," she argued.
Irish Independent
Campaigners against the M3 motorway route want to keep the pressure on the Green Party, given their objections in the past to proposed roads.
Opponents of the highly controversial M3 motorway are vowing to continue their fight against the routing of the road through the archeological site at Lismullen.
In a major setback to the campaigners, An Bord Pleanala gave the green light for the road without demanding a new environmental impact assessment.
Campaigners of the road want the Green Party Minister to release a European Commission report on the law allowing road building to proceed -- even when a national monument is found on the route.
The Tarawatch group says it is appealing directly to the European Commission over the latest Bord Pleanala decision.
Opinion
The group says it wants Minister Gormley to publish a so-called reasoned opinion from the Commission on the National Monuments Act 2004. The law is possibly in breach of EU environmental directives.
Last night, the Department of the Environment said that such documents are never published because it forms part of potential legal proceedings by the European Commission against the Government.
Tarawatch's Vincent Salafia said the decision of An Bord Pleanala was made without any public consultation or opportunity for independent assessment to be given.
"That is exactly why the EU is saying the decision to demolish the site is illegal," he explained.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the National Roads Authority is to blame for the delays in the project because it only conducted an Environment Impact Assessment on one route.
"We could have had this road finished by now without all these problems. We've created a terrible dilemma," she said.
Sinn Fein MEP Mary-Lou McDonald said the decision to allow the M3 motorway to proceed along its original route is a blow to Irish heritage.
"The commuters of Meath need and deserve an immediate transport solution. However, it has been proved that this does not have to be at the expense of our heritage," she argued.
Irish Independent
Tara group fury as M3 is finally given green light
RELIEF is finally coming down the road for thousands of urban sprawl commuters stuck in horrendous gridlock between Meath and Dublin.
But the decision yesterday to allow the controversial €800m M3 tolled motorway be built over a national monument has angered objectors who vowed to continue their battle in Irish courts and at EU level.
The National Roads Authority welcomed the Bord Pleanala decision, pointing out that the existing N3 road has one of the highest crash death records in the country, more than 50pc higher than the average main national route.
The new motorway would be far safer, the NRA said. There will be a toll of €1.30 for car drivers.
An NRA spokesman also said the motorway, work on which has already started at the northern and southern ends, passes further from the Hill of Tara that the existing road.
The M3, which has been delayed for several years because of legal challenges, will run 60km from Clonee to Kells and is due to be completed by 2011. The motorway will bypass the towns of Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.
However, the TaraWatch action group said it planned to make an immediate appeal to the European Commission over the decision of An Bord Pleanala to allow the M3 motorway to be built over the newly discovered Lismullin national monument.
The decision means that the site, close to the Hill of Tara, will be examined and recorded by archaeologists before the road is constructed on top of it.
The Lismullin site consists of two circular enclosures, the largest 80m in diameter, and dates from somewhere between 1000BC to 400AD. Last month, the NRA submitted its plans to preserve the site 'by record' to Bord Pleanala. This means the NRA archaeologists will examine it in detail and then build the M3 over it.
The decision was approved by the outgoing Environment Minister Dick Roche and his successor John Gormley, the Green Party leader, said his hands were tied as the decision had been taken.
An Bord Pleanala approved the Lismullin action yesterday on the grounds that the plan did not constitute a material alteration to the M3 scheme which it had already approved. The authority said it took account of the order by the Environment Minister that the site would be fully excavated and recorded.
This was the last planning obstacle to the construction of the road which has been dogged by delays lasting several years because of legal challenges.
TaraWatch said it was taking legal advice on how to make a direct application to the EU, and ask them to step in and bring the demolition works to a halt. Members are also taking legal advice on whether it will be possible to get an injunction in the Irish courts, to give time to the EU to pursue their legal action.
Spokesman Vincent Salafia said: "The decision of the Bord was made without any public consultation or opportunity for independent assessment to be given.
"That is exactly why the EU is saying the decision to demolish the site is illegal."
Irish Independent
But the decision yesterday to allow the controversial €800m M3 tolled motorway be built over a national monument has angered objectors who vowed to continue their battle in Irish courts and at EU level.
The National Roads Authority welcomed the Bord Pleanala decision, pointing out that the existing N3 road has one of the highest crash death records in the country, more than 50pc higher than the average main national route.
The new motorway would be far safer, the NRA said. There will be a toll of €1.30 for car drivers.
An NRA spokesman also said the motorway, work on which has already started at the northern and southern ends, passes further from the Hill of Tara that the existing road.
The M3, which has been delayed for several years because of legal challenges, will run 60km from Clonee to Kells and is due to be completed by 2011. The motorway will bypass the towns of Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.
However, the TaraWatch action group said it planned to make an immediate appeal to the European Commission over the decision of An Bord Pleanala to allow the M3 motorway to be built over the newly discovered Lismullin national monument.
The decision means that the site, close to the Hill of Tara, will be examined and recorded by archaeologists before the road is constructed on top of it.
The Lismullin site consists of two circular enclosures, the largest 80m in diameter, and dates from somewhere between 1000BC to 400AD. Last month, the NRA submitted its plans to preserve the site 'by record' to Bord Pleanala. This means the NRA archaeologists will examine it in detail and then build the M3 over it.
The decision was approved by the outgoing Environment Minister Dick Roche and his successor John Gormley, the Green Party leader, said his hands were tied as the decision had been taken.
An Bord Pleanala approved the Lismullin action yesterday on the grounds that the plan did not constitute a material alteration to the M3 scheme which it had already approved. The authority said it took account of the order by the Environment Minister that the site would be fully excavated and recorded.
This was the last planning obstacle to the construction of the road which has been dogged by delays lasting several years because of legal challenges.
TaraWatch said it was taking legal advice on how to make a direct application to the EU, and ask them to step in and bring the demolition works to a halt. Members are also taking legal advice on whether it will be possible to get an injunction in the Irish courts, to give time to the EU to pursue their legal action.
Spokesman Vincent Salafia said: "The decision of the Bord was made without any public consultation or opportunity for independent assessment to be given.
"That is exactly why the EU is saying the decision to demolish the site is illegal."
Irish Independent
Thursday, 19 July 2007
M3 protesters jailed after refusing bail
FOUR of the five people who were arrested yesterday during a demonstration against the controversial M3 motorway being routed close to the historic Hill of Tara were detained in prison last night.
The protesters were jailed after refusing to accept bail conditions imposed at Navan District Court.
Yesterday, seven protesters appeared in court, charged with public order offences. Four were remanded in custody after refusing to accept the conditions of bail, which included not interfering or entering a construction site associated with the M3. Three others were remanded on bail to appear again at the next sitting of Navan District Court next Wednesday.
The 60 protesters tried to block machinery from carrying out demolition works at an archaeological site called Soldier Hill on the northern slope of the Hill of Tara when the arrests were made.
The demonstrators said that around 20 diggers and bulldozers moved onto the hill early yesterday to carry our preliminary works on the controversial road.
Laura Grealish of TaraWatch argued the gardaí had arrested the wrong people.
“This is a trespass issue which is covered by civil law,” she said.
“If the construction company wants to prevent trespass they should go to the High Court and seek an injunction.”
“What happened this morning is unacceptable and cannot be condoned by anyone,” said José Tamariz, managing director of Eurolink, the company carrying out the work.
“We recognise the protesters’ right to protest peacefully and legally but workers should be allowed to do their work without interference.”
He said the company fears the situation on the M3 construction site is becoming “more and more dangerous every day”.
Tarawatch called for a moratorium on all work on the M3 until a full investigation of the route was undertaken by the European Commission.
The National Roads Authority has said the route is the only one feasible and is aimed at reducing congestion on the N3.
Irish Examiner
The protesters were jailed after refusing to accept bail conditions imposed at Navan District Court.
Yesterday, seven protesters appeared in court, charged with public order offences. Four were remanded in custody after refusing to accept the conditions of bail, which included not interfering or entering a construction site associated with the M3. Three others were remanded on bail to appear again at the next sitting of Navan District Court next Wednesday.
The 60 protesters tried to block machinery from carrying out demolition works at an archaeological site called Soldier Hill on the northern slope of the Hill of Tara when the arrests were made.
The demonstrators said that around 20 diggers and bulldozers moved onto the hill early yesterday to carry our preliminary works on the controversial road.
Laura Grealish of TaraWatch argued the gardaí had arrested the wrong people.
“This is a trespass issue which is covered by civil law,” she said.
“If the construction company wants to prevent trespass they should go to the High Court and seek an injunction.”
“What happened this morning is unacceptable and cannot be condoned by anyone,” said José Tamariz, managing director of Eurolink, the company carrying out the work.
“We recognise the protesters’ right to protest peacefully and legally but workers should be allowed to do their work without interference.”
He said the company fears the situation on the M3 construction site is becoming “more and more dangerous every day”.
Tarawatch called for a moratorium on all work on the M3 until a full investigation of the route was undertaken by the European Commission.
The National Roads Authority has said the route is the only one feasible and is aimed at reducing congestion on the N3.
Irish Examiner
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Gormley 'cannot reverse' Roche's motorway
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley last night said he did not have the power to overturn his predecessor Dick Roche's controversial decision to proceed with a motorway near the Hill of Tara.
On his first day in the job, the Green minister spent the day at the centre of a bitter row as tensions heightened between his party and Fianna Fail.
But after consultations with a number of parties including the Attorney General, Mr Gormley eventually conceded that, despite his commitment to protecting the Irish heritage, he could not revoke Mr Roche's order.
Just before clearing his desk, Mr Roche signed an order allowing a national monument near Tara to be studied and then destroyed to make way for the new M3.
In a statement, Mr Gormley outlined the consultations pursued by Mr Roche before he gave the go-ahead to the motorway, including expert archaeological advice that the alternative of leaving the monument in place would result in its destruction by the elements.
Given what had taken place prior to the order being made, Mr Gormley said: "It is not open to me to set aside the recent directions.
"Without a change in material circumstances affecting this case, there is no basis for amending the quasi-judicial determination recently made. I have consulted with the Office of the Attorney General who confirm this position."
Earlier in the day, Mr Roche claimed he had done Mr Gormley a favour by giving the green light to the motorway route. "Any minister sitting in my office in the Custom House looking at that file and having to make a decision would have made the decision I have made. I did the man some service by not passing the buck," he said.
But Green Party acting leader Trevor Sargent laughed at Mr Roche's claim, saying he thought that "many archaeologists would disagree with that".
He added: "Unfortunately, some habits die hard and who knows what the dying days of administrations are festooned with - appointments and decisions that seem to be rushed, whether or not they are - but that's certainly the perception."
Important
Mr Sargent described the outgoing minister's decision as "unfortunate".
"The Green Party has made very clear that it was unfortunate that the minister chose to take action just as he was leaving office on an issue which he knows is important to supporters of the Green Party."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday backed Mr Roche's decision but said he had not known about it or discussed it when he told the minister he was being dropped from the department.
Fine Gael and Labour immediately rounded on the Greens and Mr Gormley.
Labour's Eamon Gilmore said Mr Gormley did have the power to reverse the decision under a section of the National Monuments Act.
"If Mr Gormley takes the time to seek legal advice he will be told this."
Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd said Mr Gormley had to rule on the M3 decision of his "Fianna Fail political masters".
Fionnan Sheahan and Senan Molony
Irish Independent
On his first day in the job, the Green minister spent the day at the centre of a bitter row as tensions heightened between his party and Fianna Fail.
But after consultations with a number of parties including the Attorney General, Mr Gormley eventually conceded that, despite his commitment to protecting the Irish heritage, he could not revoke Mr Roche's order.
Just before clearing his desk, Mr Roche signed an order allowing a national monument near Tara to be studied and then destroyed to make way for the new M3.
In a statement, Mr Gormley outlined the consultations pursued by Mr Roche before he gave the go-ahead to the motorway, including expert archaeological advice that the alternative of leaving the monument in place would result in its destruction by the elements.
Given what had taken place prior to the order being made, Mr Gormley said: "It is not open to me to set aside the recent directions.
"Without a change in material circumstances affecting this case, there is no basis for amending the quasi-judicial determination recently made. I have consulted with the Office of the Attorney General who confirm this position."
Earlier in the day, Mr Roche claimed he had done Mr Gormley a favour by giving the green light to the motorway route. "Any minister sitting in my office in the Custom House looking at that file and having to make a decision would have made the decision I have made. I did the man some service by not passing the buck," he said.
But Green Party acting leader Trevor Sargent laughed at Mr Roche's claim, saying he thought that "many archaeologists would disagree with that".
He added: "Unfortunately, some habits die hard and who knows what the dying days of administrations are festooned with - appointments and decisions that seem to be rushed, whether or not they are - but that's certainly the perception."
Important
Mr Sargent described the outgoing minister's decision as "unfortunate".
"The Green Party has made very clear that it was unfortunate that the minister chose to take action just as he was leaving office on an issue which he knows is important to supporters of the Green Party."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday backed Mr Roche's decision but said he had not known about it or discussed it when he told the minister he was being dropped from the department.
Fine Gael and Labour immediately rounded on the Greens and Mr Gormley.
Labour's Eamon Gilmore said Mr Gormley did have the power to reverse the decision under a section of the National Monuments Act.
"If Mr Gormley takes the time to seek legal advice he will be told this."
Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd said Mr Gormley had to rule on the M3 decision of his "Fianna Fail political masters".
Fionnan Sheahan and Senan Molony
Irish Independent
Sunday, 27 May 2007
M3 protesters claim bones visible
Conservationists protesting at the site of the proposed M3 motorway in Co Meath yesterday claimed ancient gravestones have been dumped in piles of topsoil and bones were visible in excavated spoil from the route of the motorway.
The claims were rejected by the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Six conservationists, some of whom are part of a vigil camp near Dunshaughlin yesterday postponed their blockade of a construction compound, concentrating instead on a known ancient burial ground at Collierstown. A conservationist who did not want to be identified said she had been "trying for a week to get the NRA to do something about the gravestones".
She said human and animal bones have been identified at the Collierstown cemetery as part of the archaeological excavations. But she insisted that stones which had been used to line the graves were now visible piled in heaps beside hard core, in spoil and lying about exposed to the elements.
She also maintained "bones are visible in the topsoil, in spoil and around the graves. She said she had removed a number of bones to give to the National Museum.
However, the NRA chief archaeologist Mary Deevey said the claims represented typical "misinformation".
She said the excavation had identified the burial ground as far back as 2004 and excavations began in earnest in 2005. Some 50 burials had been
identified in circular enclosures. The entire site had been hand excavated and all human bones were removed. She said there were no headstones and the gravestones referred to by the conservationist would have been stones used to line the graves. While these were recorded through photography and drawing, and any decorated stones saved, "ordinary" stones were simply set aside if they were not wanted by the National Museum.
Regarding bones she said they were most likely animal bones. She maintained any field in Ireland would yield animal bones "But this site was excavated by hand. The human bones were removed. I think what the conservationist was seeing was simply animal bones."
Ms Deevey said the site was thought to be early Christian, dating from the sixth or seventh centuries and in use for about 150 years. "The burials were laid on their backs and aligned east- west, which suggests a Christian burial", she said.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
The claims were rejected by the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Six conservationists, some of whom are part of a vigil camp near Dunshaughlin yesterday postponed their blockade of a construction compound, concentrating instead on a known ancient burial ground at Collierstown. A conservationist who did not want to be identified said she had been "trying for a week to get the NRA to do something about the gravestones".
She said human and animal bones have been identified at the Collierstown cemetery as part of the archaeological excavations. But she insisted that stones which had been used to line the graves were now visible piled in heaps beside hard core, in spoil and lying about exposed to the elements.
She also maintained "bones are visible in the topsoil, in spoil and around the graves. She said she had removed a number of bones to give to the National Museum.
However, the NRA chief archaeologist Mary Deevey said the claims represented typical "misinformation".
She said the excavation had identified the burial ground as far back as 2004 and excavations began in earnest in 2005. Some 50 burials had been
identified in circular enclosures. The entire site had been hand excavated and all human bones were removed. She said there were no headstones and the gravestones referred to by the conservationist would have been stones used to line the graves. While these were recorded through photography and drawing, and any decorated stones saved, "ordinary" stones were simply set aside if they were not wanted by the National Museum.
Regarding bones she said they were most likely animal bones. She maintained any field in Ireland would yield animal bones "But this site was excavated by hand. The human bones were removed. I think what the conservationist was seeing was simply animal bones."
Ms Deevey said the site was thought to be early Christian, dating from the sixth or seventh centuries and in use for about 150 years. "The burials were laid on their backs and aligned east- west, which suggests a Christian burial", she said.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Protesters blockade M3 building site
Opponents of the M3 motorway in Co Meath stepped up their protest yesterday, blockading entrances to the construction site at Roestown, and preventing vehicles from moving in or out.
Gardaí were called in by contractors Siac Ferrovial after the blockade began at the construction compound, about one kilometre north of Dunshaughlin, at 6am yesterday.
However, gardaí did not remove the protesters and by late afternoon the demonstrators claimed a team on nine people had prevented access to five gates to the motorway site.
A spokesman for the protesters who are based at a vigil camp nearby contacted The Irish Times to say they were "sitting at the entrance to a huge compound at Roestown on the Dunsany to Dunshaughlin road.
"There are approximately 15 huge earth-moving machines blockaded into the compound and unable to work.
"The gardaí were on site this morning at 7.30 but haven't returned since."
The protesters also issued an appeal for others to join their protest. "We are appealing to all friends of Tara to come to the valley to stand and be counted as the National Roads Authority are trying to keep the destruction of our ancestral home quiet until after Thursday."
They also said they had remained in the entrance but alterations to the boundary fence by the contractor had left them fenced in.
By 5pm the protesters had contacted gardaí themselves to complain about this.
The remains of a large enclosure were discovered at Roestown by archaeologists working for the National Roads Authority.
The complex, known as Roestown 2, was already bisected by the existing N3 and sits at a point where the M3 will cross the N3 for the first time heading out from Dublin.
The archaeologists determined that Roestown 2 was likely to be an early medieval settlement.
A spokeswoman for Siac Ferrovial said five people "blocked a few of the site entrances to prevent plant and machinery entering and exiting a small section of the site".
She added that gardaí were called "as it is the responsibility of the company to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public on its site".
The spokeswoman added that "work is continuing as normal on the rest of the 60km scheme".
The protest took place as a number of academics met at Trinity College Dublin in opposition to the road.
The conference resulted in a unanimous call for Opposition leader Enda Kenny to address the Hill of Tara/M3 motorway issue.
The conference was hosted by the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Speakers included Dr Sean Duffy of the department of medieval history; Dr Gerald Morgan of the department of English; Vincent Salafia and Independent Meath County Councillor Phil Cantwell.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
Gardaí were called in by contractors Siac Ferrovial after the blockade began at the construction compound, about one kilometre north of Dunshaughlin, at 6am yesterday.
However, gardaí did not remove the protesters and by late afternoon the demonstrators claimed a team on nine people had prevented access to five gates to the motorway site.
A spokesman for the protesters who are based at a vigil camp nearby contacted The Irish Times to say they were "sitting at the entrance to a huge compound at Roestown on the Dunsany to Dunshaughlin road.
"There are approximately 15 huge earth-moving machines blockaded into the compound and unable to work.
"The gardaí were on site this morning at 7.30 but haven't returned since."
The protesters also issued an appeal for others to join their protest. "We are appealing to all friends of Tara to come to the valley to stand and be counted as the National Roads Authority are trying to keep the destruction of our ancestral home quiet until after Thursday."
They also said they had remained in the entrance but alterations to the boundary fence by the contractor had left them fenced in.
By 5pm the protesters had contacted gardaí themselves to complain about this.
The remains of a large enclosure were discovered at Roestown by archaeologists working for the National Roads Authority.
The complex, known as Roestown 2, was already bisected by the existing N3 and sits at a point where the M3 will cross the N3 for the first time heading out from Dublin.
The archaeologists determined that Roestown 2 was likely to be an early medieval settlement.
A spokeswoman for Siac Ferrovial said five people "blocked a few of the site entrances to prevent plant and machinery entering and exiting a small section of the site".
She added that gardaí were called "as it is the responsibility of the company to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public on its site".
The spokeswoman added that "work is continuing as normal on the rest of the 60km scheme".
The protest took place as a number of academics met at Trinity College Dublin in opposition to the road.
The conference resulted in a unanimous call for Opposition leader Enda Kenny to address the Hill of Tara/M3 motorway issue.
The conference was hosted by the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Speakers included Dr Sean Duffy of the department of medieval history; Dr Gerald Morgan of the department of English; Vincent Salafia and Independent Meath County Councillor Phil Cantwell.
Tim O'Brien
© 2007 The Irish Times
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