Irish Times - Breaking news

[S.I. Sheehan]

NRA gets go-ahead for M3 at Lismullen

Eanna O Caollai

An Bord Pleanála has ruled the M3 motorway can proceed along its original route and that the National Roads Authority can start work on the excavation on the national monument at Lismullen before constructing the road on top of it.

The semicircular enclosure, which lies across the northbound lane of the proposed motorway, is 80 metres in diameter and dates from between 380BC and 520BC. It is thought to have been some kind of ceremonial site.

The discovery was granted National Monument status in May, leading conservationists to claim it supported their contention that the Hill of Tara archaeological complex also included the Gabhra Valley area.

However, in one of his final acts of office, former Environment Minister Dick Roche used the National Monuments Act 2004 and signed an order of preservation by record, meaning the prehistoric henge would be photographed, sketched and measured before being razed to make way for the motorway.

An Bord Pleanala’s decision is based on its belief that no material alteration arises to the approved road development.

In coming to its decision, the Board said it had considered the alignment and design of the approved road development and the modifications subject to which the road development was approved.

It also considered the directions issued by the Minister for the Environment to amongst other things fully excavate and record that part of the National Monument within the area to be compulsorily acquired.

And the statement from the NRA to the effect that no change is necessitated to the approved road development arising from the ministerial directions.

TaraWatch, which is demanding the site be preserved, has called on the Government to halt excavation of the site.

Yesterday, US academic Dr Ronald Hicks of Ball State University, Indiana, said the site is part of a larger ancient ritual complex and must be preserved in situ.

Dr Hicks previously endorsed the nomination of Tara to the World Monuments Fund List and issued an earlier report about the area’s archaeological significance.

In his latest report, he argues Lismullen is comparable to ceremonial enclosures found at Tara and other royal sites in Ireland, but is twice as large as any other. He added the structure was part of a larger complex.