"Whilst Tara relies on its rich literature and associations, those that are insistent on this route rely on our ignorance of this same rich literature and associations. Whilst there is an almost unique abundance of history and lore associated with Tara, our Government has neglected it whilst sites such as the Céide Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished, been respectfully developed and protected. Hopefully Cú Chulainn may yet be saved from turning in his grave, literally, during the valley's excavation."

Despite widespread opposition from hundreds of academics worldwide, from the Director of The Irish National Museum and from those activists bringing upcoming legal challenges (which have experienced delays) to the routing of a new tolled motorway through the Tara-Skryne complex, the Irish Government is creating facts on the ground by pushing ahead with hasty and crude excavations of the many sites of archeological interest on the proposed route.

The Tara-Skryne Valley Group, the main activist group opposing the planned motorway have called on the government to halt their pre-emptive work and to stop wasting Irish taxpayers money on wanton destruction of a whole area which they believe should be protected as a National monument.

Meanwhile the mainstream media here looks away and has largely failed to let the people of the country, who according to a recent poll are absolutely against this motorway, know that digging at the Tara complex has already begun.

Campaigning against government sanctioned heritage destruction at the Tara complex will continue on Monday 15th August when concerned citizens are being invited to express their opposition to the proposed twice-tolled Motorway through the Gabhra (TaraSkryne) Valley. The event, dubbed 'Tara Day' by campaigners, marks the 162nd anniversary of Daniel O'Connells famous Repeal Association 'Monster Meeting'. Information will be available at the event on the 38 sites along the proposed route, including those presently being excavated and others that may be investigated in the future.

Some Activists who are involved in the campaign link the issue to peak oil, the countdown to $100 per barrel oil, and criticise the insanity of massive private investment in tolled motorways at the expense of public transport which is severely underfunded at the present time.

Others adopt a more pragmatic approach and ask straightforwardly why a 2 1/2 km shorter and uncontentious alternative route (see orange line on this map), which would cost less, avoid costs associated with hasty archeology and which would most likely not be subject to delay and public expense due to court challenges was not chosen. This question remains unanswered in any coherent way and has led to the increased voicing of suspicions that vested interests have driven the route selection for commercial gain.

Some activists also believe firmly that corrupt officials and property speculation are behind this almost unbelievable slicing up of one of the most ancient and key symbols of the Irish nation.

Full Indymedia Ireland Archive On This Issue
Map 1: Note Huge Bevy In Current Route Between Dunshaughlin And Navan
Map 2: Note More Direct And Cheaper To Build Alternative Route In Orange
Essay: The White Mare Of Tara
Crazy Cut MP3: Tara Tune From Coscan

Today (Weds 10th August) James Connolly's grandson made a renewed call for the house with 1916 associations to be saved from developers. During the Easter Rising, the house at 16 Moore Street was the location where Padraig Pearse, a wounded James Connolly and other leaders of the Rising spent their last two days of freedom. They had fought their way out of a blazing GPO, ran into a house in Moore Street and tried to smash their way through the walls of the terrace and escape.

Dublin City Council has already said the demolition of a house where the leaders of the 1916 Rising surrendered is crucial for the rejuvenation of the city centre. Earlier last year, the National Graves Association, An Taisce and Dublin's Lord Mayor have all called for the house, number 16 Moore Street, to be fully preserved but pressure is mounting.

As well as the grandson of James Connolly, leading conservationists and local representatives are calling for a Millennium Mall on the site to be amended and the building saved. It is now 88 years ago since the Easter rebellion, lead by one of Irelands most renowned revolutionary Marxist scholars reached number 16 Moore Street but could go no further.

In a twist to today’s call Dublin City Council has reportedly stood by their earlier position that while 1916 should be appropriately recognised, the building must go. It plans to demolish the house as part of a rejuvenation project which would allow Moore Street be connected to O'Connell Street. Now the fate of 16 Moore Street is not sealed just yet, as the Council still has not secured control of the site and further planning permission is required, but time is running out, fast.

Sunday August 14th Public Meeting On Future Of 16 Moore Street

Related Indymedia Ireland Material
Moore Street Archive
Previous James Connolly Related Feature

Rolling Protests In Galway As Prep For Big One | Shell And Dempsey Window Dressing | Broughan and Tuffy Visit Men On 44th Day | No Answers From ILLCommunication, Marine and Natural Resources | Shell "Man" Gets The Brush Out (Off) | Mayo Council Rejects Shell Motion | Labour Calls For Review Of Current Licensing Regime

Comment from Áine Ní Sheighin Friday, Aug 12 2005, 12:27am on this story:

Micheál Ó Seighin is my father, so there is no doubt about where I am from.

These men did not go to jail so that people could "get the jist" of what was happening to Erris, and more specifically, to Rossport. These men went to jail, at the behest of Shell, because they could not give their word not to protect their lives, communities and way of life by obstructing Shell at any stage, in any way in the future.

These men still can not give that commitment. They have no problem in apologising to the court IF the injunction is lifted. If Shell are at all honourable then they have no need to have this injunction. Have they not given a commitment to halt proceedings on the offshore pipe for a year and on the Rossport pipe until the safety review?

Then an injunction preventing anyone from obstructing them - in doing works they had NO RIGHT to do - is useless.

But Shell have never shown themselves to be honourable. If you doubt me, you should look up what happened to Ken Sara Wiwa and his 8 comrades who were murdered by their corrupt government for protesting peacefully against Shells abuse of his people - the Ogoni Tribe. The only difference here is that it is 5 people incarcerated and even here executions would not be accepted.

I don't know of anyone who would go to jail for an indefinite period just for a P.R. stunt. This is about justice, about true democracy.

I am very proud of my father and the other 4 men now over 6 weeks in prison. I am very proud of their wives who are keeping things going at home while regularly making the VERY long round trip to see their husbands, behind perspex glass and speak to them through a grid on the bench. And while I know they are being very well treated, they are still in jail. It is horrible.

But while this unlawful injunction stands, these men can not purge their contempt.

Details: Upcoming Rossport Solidarity Camp
Recent Blockades: Cork | Dublin | Belfast | Cork | D4 | Galway | Booterstown
Indymedia: Mayo

Update: Invasion Of The Wheelie Bin Snatchers

One of the most significant struggles to affect working class people in Ireland in recent years took place in the autumn of 2003. This battle was between the anti-bin tax campaigns and the combined power of the four councils covering the whole of Dublin, the Fianna Fail/PD coalition government and the Irish state. The battle against the bin tax exploded in September 2003 and was a dominant national issue for the rest of the year.

This peak of the ongoing campaign against the bin tax saw households across Dublin refusing to pay the charges, thousands of people taking to the streets, dozens of blockades of bin trucks and 22 people imprisoned. It also saw considerable disagreements emerge amongst different elements within the campaigns. The most visible of these disagreements was over the issue of blockading bin trucks in other areas of Dublin when the struggle in Fingal was underway. The Fingal Campaign and many activists in the rest of Dublin believed that it was necessary to escalate direct action across the entire city. Some others, particularly some forces within the City Council campaign, felt that doing so would be rash.

The Socialist Party, which has played a very prominent role in the anti-bin tax campaigns, has produced a lengthy document outlining what it sees as the key elements of these disagreements. This is not a straightforward historical account of the struggle. It attempts to record the main developments in the battle against the bin tax, deal with the role of socialists in the campaign and to draw lessons for future campaigns.

“The differences of approach that emerged relate directly to what is the best way to build campaigns and conduct struggles. They also relate to the role that socialists should play in the rebuilding of the working class movement, which everybody agrees will be a vital issue in the years ahead. The issues re-surfaced again in the build up to the local elections in June 2004 and have continued on the bin tax and around the debates on how and when to establish a new left party for working class people. The differences are current and very relevant and undoubtedly will come up again and therefore need to be clarified.”

RELATED LINKS
30,000 Word Socialist Party Document
Dermot Connolly On These Issues
Irish Socialist Network On The Campaign
Socialist Party Anti-Bin Tax Archive
Workers Solidarity Movement Anti-Bin Tax Articles
SWP Bin Tax Archive
Indymedia Ireland Bin Tax Campaigns Archive

Is é Seosamh O’Ceallaigh acadúil, údar, staraí áitiúl is cainteoir dúchasach as Fhál Carrach i gContae Dún na nGall. Bhí mé ar chúrsa Gaeilge i Gort an Choirce ar feadh seachtain i Mí Meitheamh. Bhí Seomsamh ag múinteoireacht ar an gcúrsa, agus bhí seans agam caint leis faoi oidhreacht Éireannach agus an teanga Gaeilge.

Sliocht gearr ón agallamh:

Bhí meas i gcónaí ar an Gaeilge againn. Tá suim iontach agam sa teanga sa cultúr fosta, agus ansin bhí deis agam staidéar a dhéanamh air. Ansin fhuair mé PHD - rinne mé é ar stair áitiúl.

Tá níos mó i gceist ná stair áitiúl ach amháin just stair agus pointí agus dátaí. Bhí na daoine beo agus do múnlaigh an timpealleacht iad…do múnlaigh na sagairtí iad…do múnlaigh na tiarnaí talamh iad. Bhí sé sin iontach suimiúl - how they were shaped - múnlaigh - how they were moulded by the landlords and the people and the priests - tá sé iontach suimiúl agus na effects a bhí orthu.

Donegal_lakes_as_seen_from_Mount_Errigal 0.03 Mb Mount Errigal 0.03 Mb View from Errigal 0.02 Mb