SAVE TARA - YOUR HELP NEEDED RIGHT NOW

[Beith]

Dear friends,

I am writing this at a rather urgent time to ask for your support.

Tara, the site of the ancient high kings of Ireland in myth and history and a place long associated with druidry, is an area of incredible significance in both the secular and spiritual heritage of Ireland and indeed in the world at large. Tara and the Skryne valley are areas of natural beauty and peace. All of this is under-threat to a large degree by the Irish government's intentions to construct a huge motorway through the Skryne valley which will impact severely on archaeological and historically important areas.

A huge new ceremonial ritual site had been found near Tara, measuring about 3 football fields in size and seems to have had ancient ceremonial functions. This will be destroyed, as well as much of the land in the area, if the government are allowed to continue with the M3 Motorway.

I am editing this post to update it for new info as there are now new ministers in place in the Irish government.

The government has repeatedly refused to re-route the motorway so it does not destroy the land near Tara or invest instead in extending the train line service in the area which would negate the motorway. Although the hill of Tara itself is not under immediate threat, extensive surrounding areas of historical importance will be lost and archaeological matter will be destroyed, sacred land will be overlain with motorway and a huge multi-lane road with floodlights and intersections will impact Tara directly with noise, light pollution and high volumes of traffic. It is the equivalent of bulldozing the valley of the Kings and overlaying it with concrete. All of this is being done in order to sell out land to make profits by private tolls on the motorway.

It is urgent therefore that renewed effort is made to voice the strongest possible opposition for the M3 motorway, especially as the minister is about to rule on the destruction of the latest find.

Please take 5 mins to send a letter to Minister John Gormly and the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern to protest the Irish government's willful destruction of our most important national heritage sites. They are selling out the land to building contractors who will turn profits from tolls on the motorway. You will find info on that in the below URLs


Postal addresses:
Minister John Gormley,
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Dáil Éireann
Dublin 2
Ireland

Telephone: (Minister's office) + 353 1 8882404 and 8882571

Prime Minister (An Taoiseach)
Bertie Ahern
Dáil Éireann
Dublin 2
Ireland

Cc (Copy to) ..just copy the list of ministers below on your letter as the correspondence should be circulated to all of them by the recipients above, as the Tara/M3 issue impacts on areas of heritage, tourism, arts, culture, finance, transport and education.

Ministers:
Seamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism
Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport
Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Rural and Gaeltacht affairs
Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science
Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Paul Gallagher, Attorney General.
Brian Cowen, Tánaiste (deputy prime minister)


There is a campaign running in protest, I attach links thereto as well so you can find updated info if you request it.

Tarawatch website (with updated info on the site and tons of links)
http://www.tarawatch.org/

Irish Times Newspaper
If you wish to write to the major national newspaper letters page:
lettersed@irish-times.ie

Before the new government was formed (June 14th) the outgoing minister for environment (Dick Roche) signed an order sanctioning continuation of work on motorway construction. This means that the recently discovered ceremonial site at Lismullen - a henge - will now be bulldozed and destroyed. Please do not let this happen.

It only takes a few minutes to write and post a letter but you can make a difference.

PLEASE WRITE NOW!

Many thanks,
Beith

[Eilthireach]

"We are defined by what we remember."

Galina Krasskova, Exploring the Northern Tradition, p. 125

Dear Beith,

about 50 km from my home is the Celtic oppidum of Manching, which in its heyday around 100 BCE was one of the biggest Celtic cities in Europe. Manching is the only Celtic oppidum in all of Europe where the construction of new production plants has been officially approved by the Bavarian State government. The oppidum looks now like the average industry site.      

It is sad to see how we in Europe trample around on the treasures of our cultural and spiritual heritage. Treasures of immeasurable value like Tara, important stepping stones on the way of not only the Irish people, but of all of humankind. Tara is not just an Irish matter, it is part of the common heritage of all the world!      

Druidry in my opinion has a lot to do with the preservation of ancient knowledge and ancestral heritage. As a Druid I support the Save Tara Capaign and I hope that many others will follow!

With blessings from beneath the Bavarian Alps,

Eilthireach  /|\.

[Piastra]

thank you eilthereach, for your words. i know beith appreciates the support, personally.

however, you are absolutely right in that tara is not just an irish matter. the proposed industrialization of the area embeds a thorn in the flesh of the future of celtic places of reverance as well as the national heritage of ireland. celticism is not geographically defined, but rather spiritually so.

it is good to see you again, my old friend...

from the cold rains of alaska,
chalci

[Beith]

Hello Eilthireach and Chalci...I just saw your posts now. Thank you very much for them. You both hit the nail on the head exactly. What is of value and of interest to the many should be preserved, especially when it is a place that has played a pivotal role in history, mythology, spirituality. Here they steam-roller over so much of that. In the 80s for example, a huge viking site was discovered in Dublin (as settlement areas of Dublin were founded by the Vikings about 9th C onwards)...and what did the then government do? They ignored huge protests, petitions, marches and concreted over it, erecting the ugliest possible civic office buildings you can imagine - destroying the site. Ireland for centuries was renowned for preservation, heritage, lore keeping, genealogy, history, place lore, protection of sacred sites...and with the march of "progress" has reversed it entirely. Money rules the day now. That is why we have to protest loudly and do all we can to protect the places that are ancient and important, not just to we Irish, but to all who come here to glimpse history and a little bit of magic first hand.

Thanks for your support. It is really appreciated. I am so sorry for what has happened in other countries too, just as you mention above Eilthireach. It is a travesty and a sin against nature , heritage and man.

Many thanks and best wishes
Beith

[Lizzy]

Dear Beith,

I posted your message on the Save Our Trees site as well, hope you don't mind.

Lizzy

[Beith]

Thank you so much Lizzy. Really appreciate it!

Dank u wel!

Beith

[Lizzy]

You're welcome darling and uhm... you can say 'je' instead of 'u', I won't mind!  :wink:

[Michael C. Page]

Hello Folks.  I have a question.  Is there any way that Druidic Orders or members within could pool resources and buy these sites?  Is it a possibility that Triodos bank could help?  Its not like they would lose any invest ment - think of the tourist revenue.  This could be an option for both Stonehendge and Tara, not to mention other sites.  Who within the Order has the contacts to make this a possibility?  I think this needs serious consideration.  What do you folks think?
Blessings

[kytty]

Beith, I was in Ireland 2004 and could not believe my eyes, This motor way cuts through a large tract of land. As there are still good parallell roads, it basically goes nowhere new. All it is doing is causing the wonton distruction of some of the finest land left. I have seen first hand some of the good work that Euros are doing in Ireland, but this... makes my blood boil. (Sorry too much rebel blood in my viens) I've sent a letter to Mr Roche, hope it helps
kytty

[Beith]

Hi Kytty,

Thank you so much for your words - you are absolutely right. They are about to destroy ancient and sacred sites and bury them with concrete. A ruling is expected on the newest ceremonial site to be discovered (last week) which will be totally destroyed by the road. Alternative routes have been proposed for the road but the government and planners rejected them and people want more train lines instead of roads, which would have lesser environmental impact, but again, that request is not being addressed. So the more protest letters the better, because they are more effective than an e-petition. Getting actual letter mail and emails directly to the minister's office and to the office of the Taoiseach and indeed to opposition party representatives, is very important because it has much more leverage, especially now at election time.

Thank you all sincerely for helping. it is so much needed.


{ps. Hi Michael, thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately there is no way anyone could buy that land because even if it were for sale, land prices in Ireland are absolutely astronomical. You'd want to have millions and millions at your disposal). Also the issue is this: this land belongs to the Irish people as part of their national heritage. It shouldn't become privately owned because that can lead to sell outs to developers. You should see the spread of ugly surburban sprawl here because the building trade has been in economic boom for the last 10 years and in some areas, all the green land is gone, now replaced by apartment buildings, high rise offices, etc. It's terrible and indeed as Kytty says, wanton destruction. The best thing people can do, is protest by letter writing in a sustained campaign from both inside Ireland and outside Ireland - from other countries, because this puts international pressure on the government and that is very important. Thank you for your help. Much appreciated. beith]

[Michael C. Page]

Hello Beith.  Boy it sounds like the Euopean culture is becoming Americanized.   That is truly a shame.  As soon as people realize that my country is, nolonger, a democracy but a selfish Syndicate, mabye they will not want to become like my country.  :old:   Anyway, would it be possible to form a coalition between national heritage groups, environmentalits, various Orders and Churches?  The larger the lobbying group, the more goverment will listen.  What can we do to unite these factions in one common cause?  Who do we know that has a circle of contacts which can make this possible?  It can be done.  It might take time, letters phone calls and meetings, but it can be done.  Who in the Order do we know that can help us set this up?  Am I putting fire to your imagination yet?  Imagination and commitment are powerful when united in a nobel cause.   I'm in Indiana USA, but I will help

[Beith]

HI Michael, it is already being done. See links to the Tara Campaign and Tara watch above. There are many private individuals and interest groups lobbying on Tara's behalf....everyone from school teachers to University professors, archaeologists, historians, mothers at home, the "man on the street", environmental groups, legal teams, conservationists, folklorists, pagans organisations, etc. There are many groups all lobbying together under the banner of the Save Tara campaign. So if you go to the links I posted and have a look therein, you will see that and you will get updated information on the campaign and various activities ongoing. If you can write a letter to the government in protest - to the minister/Taoiseach above, it will help add your weight to the cause.

Thanks
Beith

ps. thanks for your suggestion implied, about what this order can do, if everyone who is a member of OBOD or this message board, wrote a letter or sent an email to the Minister above - it would mean a huge weight of correspondence. If every person gets active to do that, it would help alot. The message is simple: Save Tara and the surrounding land. No Motorway. Invest in rail links instead of roadway and reduce traffic, pollution, noise. Keep what is ancient, sacred and the inheritance of today's people from their ancestors of the past. The world is watching the Irish government and how they manage their own heritage.

Many thanks
Beith

[Michael C. Page]

The letter has been both mailed and faxed.  I also signed the pettion.  I'm very happy that there is a coordinated effort to help save this sacred site .  One of my long term ambitions is to form, what I wish to call "The international Reforestation and Conservation project".  It's basic aim will be to purchase contaminated, barren or theatened land, in order that it might be cleaned up, restored and preserved.  Basically regreening Globe-Trotters, if you will .  I'm working on a rough draft to send to the Admin of the Order to see what they think.  I already have a couple of "Banker" friends working on funding and one of my former teachers helping me with writting Grants.  Hopefully this seed will blossom and grow.  Your prayers and blessing would be greatly appreciated.
Blessings

[Beith]

..and are absolutely given with enthusiasm for your project!

I wish you much good luck with it Michael and I look forward to hearing more about it, so please keep us posted on it. Did you see Lizzy's website mentioned above? The Save Our Trees forum - linked via URL in her first reply to me above. You might like to join up there and post more on your ventures. I hope sincerely you can manage to do it. it is a very worthwhile cause. I think people are genuinely more interested in such things nowadays because land is becoming so precious - especially in smaller countries where we do not have the vastness of the open space you folks have in the US and Canada etc. We are seeing our cities sprawl out over green fields and absorb them into an urban mess. Land prices are premium here... give you an example, an area in Dublin of prime development territory, went for 260 million euros for about 5 acres in 2005. I dread to think what the price would be today. A 3-4 bedroomed house of decent size in a reasonable area (nothing special, no extensive gardens or land)...goes for about 1-1.3 million. It is outrageous. Hence property development has been shooting up all over the place as people sell of land - even their gardens, for enormous amounts of money. Then the government privatizes roads be giving contracts to toll companies who stand to earn a fortune from the deal. And all the time, the land is getting eroded away and covered by asphalt and concrete. It is a travesty. Especially because it deprives many people from living in an environment with trees and space and wildlife and it destroys areas of great natural beauty, heritage sites and former rights of way.

I wish you luck with your endeavours. Thank you so much for writing and helping us with ours.

Best wishes
Beith

[Michael C. Page]

Thank you Beith.  I will keep you posted.  My email is mpage@seibr.com.  I"m truly sorry about what is happening in the country of my ancestors (I'm Welsh/Irish).  In my country, the real-estate market is truley wasteful.  Consummers have been priced goudged for so long that you have people running from the sub-divisions to remodel old homes in the inner cities.  Developers are still building sub-divisions resulting in a market which is falling in on itself.  We actually have "ghost" sub-divisions all over my country.  Every body is selling and nobody is buying.  To top it off, 40% of those homes are in forcloser.  I belive the USA is headed for a depression even worse than the one from 1929 - 1941.  Its all due to selfishness, material abuse, and irresponcible buying.  But there is hope!  That hope is us and like minded people all over the world.  Keep the faith.  Blessings of Mother Earth to you and yours

[Beith]

Hi, my post here seems to have disappeared so I will try again

UPDATE INFORMATION ON TARA: JUNE 2007

Dear all,

Could you please help by writing a letter to the below ministers in the Irish government to protest the motorway building at Tara? As of this week, the outgoing minister for the Environment signed an order sanctioning the continued construction of the M3 motorway through Tara-Skryne vally. This will in effect, destroy many ancient archaeological sites including the recently discovered 80m-wide ceremonial site at Lismullen, near Tara, and will cut through Ireland's ancient "valley of the kings" bringing huge amounts of traffic, noise and light pollution to the prime ancient ritual site of kingship, druidry and celtic history in Ireland. There is a continuing campaign of protest against the M3 motorway at Tara and as we have a new government this week, there is now a chance to refresh the focus on Tara with the new ministers. Because the last one signed the order to proceed, it doesn't require cabinet approval - which is a dangerous thing for Tara, so we need to get the issue back on the table again and the best way to do that, is by applying world focus. Which is where your help is needed and would be so much appreciated.

Could you please take a few minutes to write a letter to voice your protest at the M3 motorway and destruction of Ireland's foremost heritage area.

The addresses and names of the ministers are below, along with some suggested points for a letter, should you wish to use them.

I thank you so much for your help,

le dea guí - with good wishes,
Beith

WRITE TO:

John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local government & Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)

Postal Address: The Dáil, Leinster House, Dublin 2, Ireland [/color]

Cc (Copy to) ..just copy the list of ministers below on your letter as the correspondence should be circulated to all of them as the Tara/M3 issue impacts on areas of heritage, tourism, arts, culture, finance, transport and education.

Ministers:
Seamus Brennan, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism
Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport
Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Rural and Gaeltacht affairs
Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science
Micheál Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Paul Gallagher, Attorney General.
Brian Cowen, Tánaiste (deputy prime minister)

Suggested topics to include in letter:

(a) voice disgust with the plans to put the M3 motorway through an area of prime importance in heritage,culture and history. This act is an outrage and a desecration of a sacred as well as historic sites of global, not just national importance.

(b) ask improvement and increase of railway lines in this area to take more commuters off the roads and re-routing/negation of the motorway.

(c) state that Tara is of world importance and the eyes of the world are on the Irish government and their actions in this matter.[/color]


____________________________________________________

(News article Thurs 14th June)
RTÉ News has learned that the outgoing Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, has signed an order that will lead to a resumption of work on the M3 near Tara.

Mr Roche has decided that the new National Monument found at Lismullen should be preserved 'by record', in other words, studied in detail and then the motorway will be built as scheduled.

The order comes under the remit of the Minister for the Environment and does not require Cabinet approval.

AdvertisementIt will be the first controversy to hit the new Government, as the Green Party has long held that the route of the M3 is wrong.

John Gormley of the Green Party has this evening been announced as the new Minister for the Environment.

Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said the group is appalled at the decision about the motorway, particularly given a new more environment friendly government is to take power.

He said he thought there would, at the very least, have been a re-assessment of the project before any decision was taken.

Mr Salafia said it was now certain that legal action would be taken against the project, which the new Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, would have to defend.

[kytty]

Beith, the following is an email received from Mr J Gormeley dated 9 June 2007. Sorry Im so late posting it. I have ben having trouble with receiving emails.

Thank you for your email concerning the M3 motorway and the site at
Lismullin, Co. Meath.  I spent all day Friday, right up until 11pm,
Saturday morning and even parts of Sunday talking to archaeologists and

legal people. I phoned the Attorney General at his home on Saturday.
The official and independent legal advice confirms that my hands are
tied in this instance, despite what certain opposition parties are
claiming.

I am fully committed to preserving the archaeological heritage of the
area. It is my intention to meet with members of the archaeological
community next week, and with the Director of the National Museum, to
hear their views in regard to any future archaeological finds.

Regards


Mr. John Gormley T.D.,
Minister for the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government


I dont think for a moment that this is an acceptable answer, and have sent a further letter stating so, and asking why his hands are so tied, and what is the Irish gov. proposing to do should finds be uncovered during the road building process
I feel very frustrated that more is not being done. I wish there was more I could do.

[Andraste]

Im going to the protest outside the Irish embassy in Grosvenor Place on Friday the 13th [!] to bring the Tara desecration to the notice of as many as possible, anyone on here going too?

Got my train ticket so going to make sure Friday 13th is a positive thing!

Andraste

Edit: 11 July - Dont know if this could be announced anywhere else on here - if the Mods think fit please?


blessings and thanks   - Andraste

[Jingle]

Is there a group protesting on that day?  Perhaps an addtional Action Alerts and/or Announcements posting with date, time and place in the header would be appropriate for this important subject, especially if it's an organized event.

[dmiley]

http://new.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?taram3

This seems to be a current petition aimed at Minister Gormley. There are others at the same petiononline site.  

peace and health,
david