OCTOBER 2007

This motorway is being built so that heavy traffic can bypass Kildare town instead of going through it. Visible in this picture is a water-main project that is being built to divert water from Pollardstown Fen and the Curragh Aquifer (a Class 1 habitat, protected by the EU Directive 85/337/EEC) into the county Kildare water supply. This project is being carried out illegally-- the required Environmental Impact Statement having not been done properly, and in violation of several EU environmental conservation directives.

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TARA SOLIDARITY VIGIL

This must stop! For the past 5 working days heavy machinery has been trying to divert the sacred Gabhra River where it passes within 30m of the newly discovered wooden henge at Lismullen. Huge cement pipes have been laid and 2 large diggers dig between the archaeological portacabins and the henge. This blatant malpractice is yet another token example of the lack of respect the construction contractors have in this archaeological landscape. As the henge was declared a national monument in April and the fact the EU have told the Irish Government to stop work as it is illegal you would think they would have the gumption to break the law discreetly, or at least as discreetly as they are doing it at Rath Lugh.

Rath Lugh yet another national monument sits about 100m east of the henge. It is one of the 7 outer defense forts of the ancient city of Tara, its ditches and horse shoe shaped enclosure are still magnificently visible among the beautiful Coillte forest on the hill. According to the NRA the toll road should be 110m away. Unfortunately last Stephen's Day,



a company called Sean Delamere came in and cut a huge section of the ancient forest and exposed the side of the hill. A company called Will's Bros are at present digging away creating a cliff face of this ancient Fianna fort. The sacred Gabhra stream runs along past Rath Lugh on the South, turning right around the henge into Lismullen woods, with its huge badger sets and collapsed souterrain. Again and again locals have tried to show ACS and the NRA

archaeologists the structure in the heart of the woods as it resembles the souterrain found on the site. Alas as it is not in CPO land, even if only be a few feet, it is not their priority. As work by heavy machinery continues clues to the fingerprint of Ireland are lost forever. Thuggery and corruption taint the air in the sacred Gabhra valley as the dawn chorus on Rath Lugh competes withe the wild cats and their huge engines. Where is the owl that perched above my tent last March? As a local woman said at the vigil fire "Sure the Celtic Tiger isn't an indigenous animal to Ireland". This fire has been burning since June 21st 06 as a beacon of hope for Tara as this onslaught ravages the everchanging landscape. The family alcohol free camp is a beautiful example of the educational and inspirational possibilities of the proposed World Heritage Park.

From Skryne Castle (the best view of the valley) looking out over Rath Lugh, Baronstown and Collierstown now meander along the Gabhra River through the valley the proposed M3 tollroad or proposed Heritage Park is visible as the long brown strip cutting through the green fields and woods. The camp at Rath Lugh is a much more active camp, people have taken to the trees as the NRA have moved the CPO fence several times into the woods, cutting more trees each time. We question the validity of an EIS statement with such blurred perimeters. Supplies and support are needed here now as the seasons change and Winter approaches. The lively gang are up for the craic and the kettle is always on.

Daily direct action, passive resistance and peaceful protests are ongoing throughout the valley.
086 1758 557




all images from tara pixi and tara solidarity vigil and the horses of gabrah from Japan