The Celts did not kill birds,
or the swan or the goose
or the hare

"Alas, for the iniquitous contest that ye have waged against me; seeing that

it is Ireland's good that I pursue, and to preserve her discipline and royal

right; but 'tis Ireland's unpeace and murderousness that ye (St Ruadan)endeavour."

King Diarmuid Mac Cearbhaill.

unesco and Tara Valley

Vincent Salafia wrote:

UNESCO documentation indicates that Ireland has failed to nominate any
new sites for inscription onto the List of World Heritage Sites this
year.

Not one of the eights sites, which have been on Ireland's 'Tentative
List' since 1992, has been put forward by the Department of the
Environment for nomination. The sites are the Burren, Clonmacnoise,
Cashel, the Ceide Fields, Clara Bog, Killarney National Park,
Northwest Mayo boglands, and Western Stone Forts.

The UNESCO provisional agenda states:

"The World Heritage Committee requests each State Party to submit to
an inventory of the cultural and natural properties situated within
its territory, which it considers suitable for inscription...and which
it intends to nominate in the next five to ten years."

Skellig Michael, one of Ireland's only two World Heritage Sites, will
be discussed at sessions over the weekend, in response to complaints
about the management of the site, and issues relating to
inappropriate.

Vincent Salafia said:

"A lot of State Parties we talk to here are aware of the Tara
situation and deeply concerned. We are hoping to get some strong
international pressure as a result, in the coming week.

"Ireland has failed to nominate one site this year, while Belgium is
nominating eleven and Spain twelve."

"Out of the 185 countries represented at UNESCO, Ireland, El Salvador
and Lao People's Democratic Republic are the three countries with the
oldest Tentative lists, dating back to 1992.

"There is no sign of Tara going on the Tentative List, until the M3
motorway is completed.

john.gormley@oireachtas.ie'
Subject: re.UNESCO Designation of Tara Valley or Hill?

Dear John Gormley Could you please elucidate the exact area of the Tara Hill and Tara/Skyrne
Valley you have designated for UNESCO conservation, or Heritage Site registration?
Have you a map to clarify this?

I ask because Tara Watch has sent me a communication that they oppose your designation –
I am confused as to their reason as they wish the road M3 to be re-routed away from this valley.
Yours sincerely Jocelyn Braddell editor of The Handstand, on-line magazine.

In April 2008 John Gormley announced that he was consulting an adviser from UNESCO
relative to ensuring that Tara is placed on their lists as a World Heritage Site.
I have written to him three times (as above) to request a copy of the area he is mapping for this
request but have not received any answer.

I then wrote to UNESCO -

To The Director,
Mr. Francesco Bandarin
Europe and North America Unit
World Heritage Centre UNESCO
7 place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07SP, France
Fax: +33 (0)1.45.68.55.70

August 16^th 2008 (4 pages)

Dear Sir,

It has come to my attention that a new hope for the re-assessment for conservation by UNESCO to eradicate a major road operation that is being forced through the historical landscape of the Gabhra Valley in Co.Meath, Ireland, is in hand. The Gabhra Valley comprises Tara Hill of the High Kings, and the entire valley of memorials (to among other things the last battle of the Fianna, a military tragedy in 284BC); of burial sites; and of protecting Forts. I understand this  is being contemplated by our Government Department of Heritage and Culture. I write in the hope that it is the ENTIRE area that is mapped for conservation. A major road is presently being forced through,  not only to the discontent of local residents but to the thousands of signatories of a petition for conservation by Irish people from all over the world as well as of this country entire.

The history of Ireland has and continues to be able to fulfill for archaeologists and historians the un-precedented authority in the Gabhra Valley of the development of a social, tribal and military organization from at least five  hundred years before Christ. The only other histories that complement this knowledge are the histories of Gilgamesh in Assyria and of Greece. Apropos of the history of Greece, what we have here in Ireland, in a period that actually corresponds to the time line of early Greek history,  is archaeological information of pagan Irish social organizations of unparalleled historic significance . It is now only in recent years that archaeological work comes under the perspective of the indigenous Irish professional archaeologists and historians. All previous archaeological perspectives were from the British perspective as the occupiers of our country.

It seems to me that an imperfect picture of the “Tara Valley Complex” has been given to you. It is a fact that archaeology has so far, apart from the incorrectly named “Mound of the Hostages”, has scarcely impacted on Tara Hill, let alone the associated vicinity – where during the last two years unforeseen sites of special value have been discovered, recorded, and then buried by the National Roads Association. This work in two of those specific instances has been done with only superficial archaeological inspection and known disagreement among those doing the work, and finalized at night with bull dozers. This method of working has of course set many people at loggerheads with the Government and the Roads Authority. It is apparent that the Museum Authorities have not clearly been able to apprise the Government that the entire Gabhra Valley, which is notably covered with over a  hundred sites of various sizes and purpose – burial mounds, rock art, earthen enclosures, and stone monuments, etc is now revealed as an area of concentrated history where for hundreds of years the Irish Tribes gathered to regulate and develop their historic social and tribal welfare ( of which the Brehon Laws were a part and used until the mid 1600sAD)

For many of us, and I do not exaggerate, this is like the destruction of Greek temples or the current destruction of Archaeological history in Iraq. I personally remember when an acquaintance, Martin Brennan in the 1970s, discovered that the stone sculptures, or maps on the huge monoliths in the Boyne Area were star maps and relevant to the advance knowledge that the Irish tribes had of the astronomical “mechanics” of the universe. He was ridiculed in the Irish newspapers at the time, but his work is now acknowledged. A by line of this very interesting Irish work by the intellectuals of those ancient times led to the fact that the Roman Christian Church, because of the peculiarities of the lunar cycle, had to apply for many years to Irish mathmeticians to calculate the exact dates for one of their major festivals, Easter. This fact was recently acknowledged by modern mathmeticians in the University here.

What must be clearly understood is that this area of Ireland was a specific “temple domain” of the pagan Irish and as the area is clearly defined by the forts surrounding it, it must now be seen as an entire landscape through which much archaeological work could now be promoted by our Government as a major part of our recognition and development of Ireland’s Cultural Heritage.

Finally I quote from only two of the massive documentations undertaken by protesters, much of it of a very serious nature, as are the two following:

(1)   Jo Ronayne directed M3 test trenches for IAC Ltd (Irish Archaeological Consultancy, one of the archaeology companies contracted to work on the M3). She says:

I should have said no when asked to direct on it but I didn’t have the experience to realize that the testing and my reports would be used to facilitate rather than stop the project going ahead. Or that they don’t let you write the truth in the reports or give you enough time to do a proper job. I suppose I thought I and others could make a difference by showing the wealth of what was there, that it might stop the motorway. After a while I realized that the NRA would not let this happen. I was the director, I held the license and was responsible for the work, but the NRA archaeologist would come down and tell me what I should be doing. And directors or field archaeologists working on the sites were not allowed to attend meetings where decisions were made by the National Roads Authority’s own archaeologists about how to interpret and present what WE were finding.

A number of times I was told to change an interpretation which served to lessen the potential or numbers of sites. We were also told to excavate large sections into one type of site [fulachta fiadh or Bronze Age mounds] even though you are not supposed to excavate in the testing phase. They edited our reports before the minister saw them. (Interview, 2006)

(2)

LISMULLIN: It is thought to be from the Early Iron Age, which would make it at least 2,000 years old. The site consists of an outer enclosure 80 m in diameter and an inner enclosure 16 m in diameter. Both are bounded by two rings of stakeholes, suggesting that they were initially made from timber. It has been argued that the presence of a ritual site in the Gabhra Valley confirms earlier claims that Tara is a complex of historical monuments, and not only an isolated hill. Irish politician Olivia Mitchell notes that Lismullin, "isn't a small [fortification] or a single standing stone, it's the size of three football fields." Indeed, if preliminary surveys missed a site as large and significant as Lismullin, then there is a very real possibility that road developers will unexpectedly run into other historically significant sites as the project continues.

I now close my letter hoping that you will direct UNESCO to designate the entire Tara/Skyrne Valley as a Heritage Site through which no modern road may pass of the kind presently under construction there. The road plans are not acceptable to the indigenous population of Ireland. The archaeological destruction that has already been done is unacceptable as not alone can that destruction never be remedied unless the road is entirely removed, but further archaeological work will never be contemplated without secure conditions for retrieval of artifacts and re-burial of ashes and bones of the dead.It would then be certain that an invaluable prehistoric testament could then be completed comprising this entire area, comprising also the documents from the monks who noted important historical events and features in their religious documents, and from the folklore, the latter, a relic of our bardic and intellectual history, if I may put it, one of the special artifacts of the “mind” – from a so called pagan oral tradition, where memory feats have always been especially commemorated in Irish education. 

This history, and this historic landscape preserves the history of a very strong Irish characteristic – that of the Peace-makers. No other national history comprises a thousand years of secure national development under legal rules that were held in respect by an ancient and varied tribal population. That is the Brehon Laws. An unprecedented national civilization, finally only destroyed by invasion and occupation of the country.

Yours sincerely Jocelyn Braddell.

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING REPLY:

-----Original Message-----

From: Rossler, Mechtild [mailto:M.Rossler@unesco.org]

Sent: 22 September 2008 09:29

To: jocelynb@eircom.net

Cc: Bandarin, Francesco; Manz, Kerstin; anne_costello@environ.ie; Délégation Irlande; Natcom IRELAND; Delsol, Christine; Regina Durighello

Subject: RE: for the attention of Mr. Francesco Bandarin

Dear Ms Braddell,

Thank you for your inquiry. Kindly note that the "Tara Hill" is not included on the UNESCO World Heritage List or the national Tentative List of Ireland. May I suggest that you contact the national authorities on this matter? All information on listing procedures can be found in the Operational Guidelines on our web-page at whc.unesco.org. You may also wish to contact the Council of Europe on the protection of archaeological heritage in Europe.

Yours sincerely,

M. Rossler

Dr. Mechtild Rössler

Chief, Europe & North America

UNESCO World Heritage Centre

I referred Madame Rossler's reply from UNESCO to the Taoiseach who then referred the information to Noel Dempsey, Minister of Transport. I then wrote, by hand, to enquire if the NRA's plan for the embankment at Rath Lugh concerned him. The plans of the NRA indicate that they will place a wood panel "basket" around the esker intrusion through which treesaplings will be planted . On this "basket" they gave a 50 year guarantee after which time the trees will be well grown. However their plan did not indicate what type of wood or what protective coating they would place on the wood to preserve it from weathering and rain drain from the top of the esker. Today, 4th November, I received an acknowledgement from Noel Dempsey stating that "I will make enquiries with the National Roads Authority about the type of wood to be used and will revert back to you as soon as possible."

I also gave a copy of Ms Rossler's e-mail to Dr.Patrick Wallace at the National Museum, and handed it into the Royal Irish Academy, the National Gallery and Michael Herity. The royal Irish Academy acknowledged this and Michael Herrity telephoned me. But I have not heard of any discussion that this may have promoted between these people, though undoubtedly Michael Herrity's deep concern is surely of interest to us all - he is especially concerned that the area will be turned into a tourist complex of the type done at New Grange which is utterly abhorrent to any sensible person, or any professional archaeologist who may wish to see the country's ancient heritage revealed with long term considered investigation (as no archaeological investigation has yet been co-ordinated in the Tara Valley complex). Jocelyn Braddell, editor

I had also sent an enquiry to Kathy Sinnott re: An international Declaration that Dick Roche said, during the recent election canvas, that he had never heard of. A Declaration that has attracted media attention and a special Issue of the international magazine RESURGENCE Sept/Oct 2008 No.250

the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Recognizing and reaffirming that indigenous individuals are entitled without

discrimination to all human rights recognized in international law, and that

indigenous peoples possess collective rights which are indispensable for their

existence, well-being and integral development as peoples,

Recognizing also that the situation of indigenous peoples varies from region to

region and from country to country and that the significance of national and regional

particularities and various historical and cultural backgrounds should be taken into

consideration,

Article 11

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural

traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the

past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and

historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and

performing arts and literature.

2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may

include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect

to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their

free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.

Kathy addressed an enquiry to the EU Commission:

Kathy Sinnott, MEP for Ireland South

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in relation to Tara

Article 11 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that, "Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and further manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artifacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature."

In direct opposition to this statement, the Tara/Skyrne Valley in Ireland has been bulldozed and Ireland's most precious and historical heritage site destroyed.

Can the Commission clarify the meaning of the aforementioned Article 11 and confirm whether it can be applied to the situation of Tara? 

Signature(s): Kathy Sinnott  

THE WHISPERING GRASS

A hare in the channels of winter

You came to my hand softly.

A hare in the seeded grass

You think you hide from me now...

A hare with his drum drives

My  thought.

Like a young one in innocence

I twisted my arms at your neck

Casting a net, welter the dew,

Of a bright hallucination

I am the seeded grass, the form,

In whose happy net you lie

The sunbeam places a footprint

On the ground.

Man dear, soft animal

At my side

Though I seem brittle and thin

These stems are all the gardens

Of seasons weeded with grass.

As the breeze wrest me

 I touch you.

Jocelyn Braddell ©

 NOTE : "wrest" is the harp key tuning the string

 HERE IS another STORY OF THE CURSING OF TARA -
AND BECAUSE OF "HOLY" IRELAND, FROM WHERE
EMANATE ALL THE THOUSANDS OF MISSIONARIES THAT
THE CHURCH DEPENDS ON FOR INTERNATIONAL
CONVERSIONS, THIS CURSE HAS BEEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE, UNLESS THE CHURCH PUTS AN
ANATHEMA ON the curse itself?........                            

A hundred years after Saint Patrick had come and gone, there
 was a King who ruled Ireland whose name was Diarmuid Mac 
Cearbhaill. He was the high king of Ireland, ruling his kingdom
 from his throne at Tara.

Now it happened that one of Diarmuid's men was killed by a 
chieftain named Hugh Guairy who had a bishop for a brother.
This bishop happened to be a close friend of Saint Ruadan of
Lorrha. When Diarmuid sent men to arrest Guairy, the clergy,
at the request of the bishop, provided him with a safe house. 
Diarmuid, however, had little respect for the bishops of
the new religion, and Guairy was taken away from under the
refuge of the Church.

The bishops of Ireland joined together against the King who had
dared to strike against their authority. They gathered together
at Tara and fasted against the King, cursing him and his seat
of government. It was at this time that Diarmuid's wife had a 
prophetic dream, and she told it thus to Diarmuid:

"Upon Tara's green was a vast and wide-foliaged tree, and 
eleven slaves hewing at it; but every chip that they knocked 
from it would return into its place again and there adhere 
instantly, till at last there came one man that dealt the tree 
but a stroke, and with that single cut laid it low."

Diarmuid immediately knew that the tree was the authority of 
the Irish monarchy; that the twelve hewers were the Saints of 
Ireland; and the one who laid it low was Saint Ruadan. 
Recognising the fate of his country hanging in the balance the
King exclaimed:

"Alas, for the iniquitous contest that ye have waged against 
me; seeing that it is Ireland's good that I pursue, and to 
preserve her discipline and royal right; but 'tis Ireland's
 unpeace and murderousness that ye endeavour."

But Saint Ruadan cursed Tara saying, "Desolate be Tara forever
and ever".Guairy was surrendered to the fasting bishops and
Tara was abandoned, and never more did Ireland have a King of
all Her People except for the short time that Brian Boru
drove the Vikings from Clontarf.

DOES THE POET SPEAK IN VAIN?   

To Close the M3 Road and the Government Directives....

A heavy cloth of the shield for us

Turbulent wing beat for us

To pass in the rain bare-headed

Soft pulse of the heart in hand

Heavy bed-sheets of rain for us

Spirals of light for us

Calm palace of the dawn

For the pearl of the sun

Passing a rare blade through a pleated fret

A shaft in the hanging storm curtain

Rising out of the seas’ bed for us

Three  times to infinity

In solitude, remonstrance, the rain’s

Sentinel closes the road for us.

Hidden the close fragrance of the shield

Turbulent the strong wing for us

Spiral in the light a blade of redress

For our grief of the road.


jocelyn braddell©