Campaigners opposed to construction of the M3 motorway through the Hill of Tara in Co Meath held a series of protests in Dublin, London and New York yesterday to highlight what they claim is the destruction of the National Monument at Lismullin.
TaraWatch picketed Leinster House and Irish embassies and consulates in London, New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles in protest at the Government's response to a European Commission warning on the legality of the works at the archaeological site. The group is calling on Minister for the Environment John Gormley to reroute the M3 away from the Hill of Tara and to stop the destruction of the Lismullin site.
The European Commission has taken infringement proceedings against Ireland in relation to its failure to fully adopt EU directives, one of which relates to the Lismullin site.
TaraWatch says that these proceedings render the M3 work illegal.
"We hope these protests send a strong message to both Minister Gormley and EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas," the group stated. "Minister Gormley does have the power to save Tara, he just doesn't seem to have the political will."
