Tara - construction machinery moving in?

by m - Save Tara Mon Jan 29, 2007 18:30

There is tree felling at Branstown behind Tara Stud as well apparently.

by M Cotton Mon Jan 29, 2007 18:46

Muireann

This is picture perfect identical to what happened to the Shell to Sea campaign, at the same stage of that protest. A while ago, calls went out for solidarity between the many environmental and other portest campaigns - to appeal to them to come out strongly, visibly, and materially in support of Shell to Sea. Not because S2S think the other campaings are less important - they dont think that at all - but because a shocking and violent precedent was being set for the way ALL comparable objections were going to be treated in future. That call appears to have been ignored. And now Tara and others are going to pay the price of viewing things exclusively in terms of their individual campaigns. But the issues are the same. Get the country united behind this. Poolbeg, Ringaskiddy, Tara, Ringsend, Bantry and Mayo - it's the same stuff. Get together, for crying out loud!

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain - Save Tara Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:37

The Public Private Partnership for the M3 has not been signed yet apparently. The following information as of this morning, that the senior project manager for PPPs at the NRA said that they are hoping for a date within the next few weeks. There are preliminary contracts in place for enabling or advance works in preparation for main contract.

by Local Tue Jan 30, 2007 14:06

The save Tara campaign is in no way comparable to the Shell to sea campaign. Shell to Sea is based in the local community. The problem with Save Tara is that none of the Druids, tree-huggers or academics ever bothered climbing down off their high horses and explaining to the local people exactly what was wrong with this project. Where I am now I can here the Machinery in the Roestown compound. I have been living away from here for several years but from speaking to my neighbours and relations I find that nobody is under any illusions about this motorway in anyway improving the quality of life for people in the area. Most people feel that the real problem in getting into Dublin is the rounabout at Blanchardstown as well as the bottleneck in Dunshaughlin. The proposed Motorway is too costly and in addition will be tolled. Further to this its construction and its completted state will significantly disrupt the lives of people in the area.

At present:
-The compound at Roestown is under construction (this is on the Dunshaughlin to Dunsany Road. Not the Dunshaughlin to Trim road)
-There is a house across the road which was cpo-ed that is to be used as a site office. This will eventually be demolished.
-Tree felling began along the route several months ago. Most trees between Dushaughlin and Clonee are already cleared.
-Earthworks are underway at Fairyhouse Cross to build an interchange.
-Third rate archaelogical digs are being rushed through in several places so that monuments can be destroyed when the time comes.
-Half a dozen hippies are running around fields jumping in front of diggers.
-Locals are bemused.
-The media and public don't care.

In order to build a campaign all towns and neighbourhoods along the route should have been leafleted and public meetings should have been held.
What should have been proposed was-
-No PPP, no tolls, no motorway.
-Reopening of Dublin to Navan rail link.
-Construction of dual carriageway from clonee to North of Dunshaughlin.
-Ring roads around Navan and Kells.

And nobody should have mentioned the Goddess or the spirits in the trees!

by none Tue Jan 30, 2007 17:09

so your are saying the locals know the motorway isn't worth it and yet have done little about it.

by AW Wed Jan 31, 2007 09:20

"so your are saying the locals know the motorway isn't worth it and yet have done little about it."

We live in a state where we become used to having projects that aren't 'worth it' spring up around us left right and centre. Most so called development; roads, housing estates, mega shopping centres etc are not designed or planned with the benefit of ordinary communities in mind. That's the norm. Most people accept it because it is the norm. People give out about it but probably see that there's not much else they can do, besides they have a job to go to, kids to feed and the mundane details of life to attend to.

Sometimes a project comes along that poses such a threat to communities that they have no choice but to fight it. Corrib gas being a prime example. For the vast bulk of people involved on the ground in Erris their involvement is a fight for survival for them and their place and their community.

Tara is quite different. While the road is of course a bad idea on numerous level it clearly does not pose a mortal threat to the people living in the area. Maybe they are pissed off with it but don't see it as sufficiently threatening to need to do something or don't see what they can do about it.

Those who have organised to date on the issue have framed it in a way that alot of people cannot relate to. Seriously i've seen campaign literature framing the issue as the last battle between Christianity and paganism in Ireland, the road being an opus dei plot to destroy the golden road of the goddess. The academics are not much better, 'won't somebody think of the archaeology'.
As for the way forward i pretty much agree with Local.

by Frank Walsh - D Le D Wed Jan 31, 2007 19:16

I recently got a text message about the work starting on the road.It ends with an urgent call for help and resources.Can anyone tell me what type of resources the camp at Tara needs.

by none Wed Jan 31, 2007 20:27

the pagans are too pagan the academics too academic the crusties are too crusty and the ever blameless yet downtrodden locals and commutters have all the right ideas but are still too lazy to do anything themselves

by Paul Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:52

As a 'local', I'd like to point out that the people of Meath voted for the most visibly pro-motorway candidate in a by-election a couple of years ago, Shane McEntee (FG). He featured a picture of a busy motorway in his poster as I recall. The upcoming general election will be another oppertunity to test public opinion on this issue.
The government has claimed that the needs of the local community take precedence over any concerns that the rest of the country might have. Funny that they don't apply this logic to the Shell situation.