Tara and the M3
A selection of links concerning the relationship between the archaeological landscape around Tara, County Meath, and the development of the M3 motorway
Hill of Tara
Some introductory background and some of the reasons behind the importance of the area, including some of its more famous monuments, such as the Mound of Hostages and the Lia Fáil or Stone of Destiny, as well as some aerial views which give a good impression of the surrounding landscape. The Mythical Ireland website also provides some background information.
Tara Threatened
A summary article in a 2004 issue of Archeology, the US magazine of the Archaeological Institute of America, which briefly outlines the nature of the controversy about the road plans. A more detailed account of the issues is provided in a paper by Edel Bhreathnach, Conor Newman and Joseph Fenwick (PDF).
The M3 Motorway
A website provided by the National Roads Authority making available archaeological information about the range of sites along the route of the motorway through the Tara region, with links to summary archaeological excavation results. The NRA is the government-established organisation responsible for planning and supervising the construction and maintenance of the roads and also plays a primary role in the management of the archaeological investigations associated with such schemes through its dedicated archaeological team. A range of detailed archaeological assessments along the route are published on their website, including the section skirting Tara, along with a number of associated articles related to road projects. The dual role of the NRA has been cause for concern in some quarters, so in 2006 they published a paper called 'The NRA, the M3 and Archaeology: the Facts'. They also provide a summary paper about the NRA and Archaeology, as well as the Code of Practice under which they operate. This hasn't offset some criticism, well-founded or not.
saveTara.com
... is a website for those opposed to the motorway development, and provides masses of background information on the history and archaeology of Tara as well as charting the progress of the protest movement. It contains a host of downloadable information, including public opinion polls, pamphlets, maps etc., and a series of articles. Amongst these are several dealing with controversies about the ethics of archaeology and the motorway development in the run-up to the World Archaeological Congress debate (see below). These include 'Archaeology needs to recover its core principles and ethics' by Maggie Ronayne (again, see below) and a response by Margaret Gowan 'Archaeology in Ireland can be proud of its standards'.
The Modern Road Network and its impact on Archaeology and History
A PDF copy of an article by Dáire O'Rourke, a senior archaeologist with the NRA, published in 2004 in the journal Extractive Industry Ireland.
Archaeology in Ireland vs Corporate Takeover
A PDF of an article by Maggie Ronayne of the Archaeology Department at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has been a vocal opponent of the scheme and of some of the archaeologists involved in it - another paper is called Commitment, Objectivity and Accountability to Communities: Priorities for 21st Century Archaeology (pdf).
Tara's World Heritage Significance
After some confusion, The World Archaeological Congress meeting in Dublin in 2008 issued a statement expressing strong opposition to any further development in the landscape surrounding Tara.
World Monuments Watch
Tara is not (yet) a World Heritage Site, but it is included on the World Monuments Fund list of threatened cultural heritage ...
Miscellaneous News Items
Motorway a year ahead of schedule despite Tara row (Herald.ie, 12 September 2008)
Top archaeologists urge protection of iconic Tara (Independent.ie, 15 July 2008)
Archaeologists 'used to destroy heritage' (Irish Times, 3 July 2008)
Heaney hits out over 'tar on Tara' (BBC News, 1 March 2008)
Next Exit: Food, Gas and the Burial Place of Irish Kings (New York Times, 31 January 2005)
Decision due on Hill of Tara motorway (The Guardian, 11 November 2004)
Motorway threatens Hill of Tara, site of ancient Irish kings and colonial rebellion (The Independent, 17 July 2004)