Demonstrations are being planned across the world today as work gets underway in preparation of the demolition of one of Ireland's recently designated national monuments.
The destruction of the prehistoric site at Lismullin, County Meath is part of the Irish Government's plan to build the M3 Motorway close to the archeologically sensitive Hill of Tara, County Meath. The area is littered with archaeological sites, many of which have not been excavated, like Lismullin, which formed part of the ancient city of Tara.
Contractors were given the go ahead to start work last week campaigners say, in an effort to demolish the site during the holidays, even though the 8 th January was the appointed day to begin the work.
A rally will take place today at 12 noon in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance and pickets are also being planned outside Irish Embassies in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in the US and different locations in Australia. In addition a large protest is being planned later this year in Washington to coincide with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's speech to the US Congress.
Last year the Celtic League wrote to the Irish Environment Minister and Green Party leader John Gormley TD condemning the construction of the M3 motorway plan and requesting that other alternative routes be investigated. The Green Party was against the construction of the M3 Motorway early in 2007 and was reportedly one of the issues that was under discussion during coalition talks with Fianna Fail.
However, Gormley now asserts that he does not have the power to change the path of the motorway, which TaraWatch, the group set up to campaign against the construction of the M3, says is "absolutely rubbish" and "completely misleading and false".
The European Commission is currently compiling a case against the Irish Government based on the view that a new environmental assessment should have been undertaken before starting the work on the section of the M3 cutting across Lismullin.
It is expected that demonstrations will continue, but there is little sign that the Government are prepared to negotiate an alternative route for the M3.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
08/01/08
■