Burial ground razed by M3 workers, claim protesters
An ancient burial ground near the Hill of Tara in Co Meath was razed to the ground during overnight work on the controversial M3 motorway, environmentalists claimed today.
Protesters arrived at the archaeological ruins early yesterday morning to find the Baronstown monument, a massive Bronze Age settlement and burial ground, destroyed after machinery moved in.
They claim earth movers stripped the site at around 4am on Wednesday.
The complex dates back 4,000 years and the Campaign to Save Tara group claimed it had been recommended for National Monument status by on-site archaeologists.
The protesters also said former Minister for the Environment Dick Roche rejected the application.
“That they are destroying our heritage under cover of darkness says it all,” said campaigner Dr Muireann Ni Bhrolchain.
She reiterated calls for the Government to order construction work at Tara to stop until a new archaeological committee set up by Environment Minister John Gormley completes its work.
Chaired by Hill of Tara expert Dr Conor Newman, an archaeology professor from NUI Galway, it is charged with overseeing excavation work at the newly discovered National Monument at Lismullen, a few miles from the Baronstown site.
Dr Newman is an outspoken critic of the proposed M3 motorway route.
Protesters have been urging Mr Gormley to review the documentation regarding the archaeological project in the Tara Valley.
“We demand that the Government calls a moratorium on all construction work in the Gabhra Valley at least until the new committee convened by Minister John Gormley has submitted its deliberations and until the EU Petitions Committee who visited Tara also submit their report,” Dr Ni Bhrolchain said.
Protester Michael Canny said the work on the Baronstown site was a disgrace.
“If he had taken our advice perhaps another piece of our irreplaceable national heritage would not have been bulldozed,” Mr Canny said.
“No previous administration or directives can be blamed for this latest disgrace.”
Protesters also claimed daily stand-offs with construction workers at several sites near Tara are becoming increasingly tense.
