Since Sunday, May 20, protesters are blocking the use of heavy construction machinery at ancient archaeological sites in the Tara-Skryne valley in Co. Meath, Ireland. Construction workers are trying to begin work on the M3 four-lane motorway, although no public decision has yet been given by the Minister for Heritage Dick Roche to commence work. Reports state that the peaceful protesters who sat down in front of the machinery, were in some cases badly manhandled by the construction workers. If the protesters do not succeed in preventing the construction work from beginning, the archaeological sites will be quickly destroyed and the destruction presented to the public as a fait accompli.
The protesters at the moment are small in number and are made up of the Vigil Keepers, who have been keeping watch on Tara for some time, local people, and general members of the public.
To put it bluntly, if the protesters do not receive enough on site support, the construction company will be able to move the heavy machinery in, and in no time at all, Tara, ancient as it is, will be lost!
The protesters are calling for support.
Dr. Muireann Ni Bhrolchain of the Save Tara Campaign in Ireland wrote -
“It is quite amazing how one person, two people at a gate can stop them. This is the power of one, two, three ... but we need you all now. If you care about Tara - now is the time to act.”