Related News: "Why don’t you just fuck off and mind your own business, we don’t care about you" | Shell Hell Comes To Donegal

Edited Extract From Open Letter:

"Our imprisonment was only made possible by the granting of a compulsory order for our lands to Shell by Frank Fahey T.D. while Minister for Marine and Natural Resources. Without that order we would be free men today at home with our families. Instead we are confined in prison cells. . . .

To date the dealings of the Irish government in this project have seen our land rights given to a private company, our families and neighbours very lives endangered and the natural resource of the Irish people given away. This is to such an extent that the Norwegian people, through the (majority) state (owned) oil company STATOIL holding 38% of the Corrib Field, will receive more from this project than the Irish people who have a 0% holding.

In addition the government has provided 400 acres of Coillte land and committed the Irish people to finance a gas pipe from Mayo to Galway to facilitate the outward transport of gas to the UK and Europe. The national interest is a myth that has been fabricated by the Irish government and their partner Shell. The minister Noel Dempsey and his Department are not and have never been innocent bystanders in this crisis but have played a full role alongside Shell in its creation.

Despite all of this we, in good faith, acknowledge the attempts of Shell and their government partners to create a period of calm by halting all work on the project in north Mayo and their call for dialogue. We wish to immediately accept this offer and enter into talks to resolve the impasse. To that end we ask Shell and their government partners to immediately stand down their injunction at this time so that we can leave prison to attend these talks.

We have been betrayed by our government, marginalized by sections of the media and ignored by the “alternative” government. Instead it has been the people of Ireland who have sustained us during this time of crisis and personal trauma and who have rallied and continue to rally to our aid – thank you. All we demand is for our families and neighbours to be safe in their own homes - no more no less.

Full Text Of Open Letter At Link Below

"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