Today in the Tara Skryne Valley a number of environmental activists prevented machinery from exiting construction depots along a controversial stretch of the proposed M3 motorway. The protesters maintain that no work should be ongoing along the route until directions are issued by Minister Roche regarding the new national monument at Lismullen. Two weeks ago a massive henge, 80mts in diameter, was discovered along the route through the Valley. Indications are that the henge was a ceremonial site connected to the Hill of Tara. No work took place along the contested stretch before lunchtime today.

The protesters, members of the ‘Tara Solidarity Vigil’ along with a number of locals blockaded gates along the existing N3 preventing heavy machinery from entering the site. According to Donagh Maguire, one of the protesters ‘A national monument has been discovered along this stretch of the road and all construction should be halted pending the Minister’s directions. We will not allow this monument to be destroyed in the same way that a number of other important sites have been destroyed over the last few months. While the country is obsessed with the election the NRA are attempting to quietly bulldoze through the Valley. We will not allow this to happen.’

The Campaign to Save Tara, an umbrella organization representing the majority of groups opposed to the M3 said it understood and supported the actions of the protesters. Michael Canney of the campaign said ‘We fully understand and support the actions of the protesters today, many sites have already been destroyed and it is very important that the public are made aware that we could be sleepwalking into a catastrophe for the county and the country if the NRA are not closely monitored.’

Photobucket link to aerial shots of sites under threat