TORONTO STAR: Celtic Tiger threatens 'very soul of historic Ireland'

international | history and heritage | other press Tuesday October 07, 2008 16:33 by TaraWatch info at tarawatch dot org

MITCH POTTER - - TORONTO STAR -- Europe Bureau -- Oct 07, 2008 04:30 AM

This article was picked up by Archaeology Magazine, run by the Archaeological Institute of America:

"Here’s a summary of what preservationists have tried to do to save Ireland’s Hill of Tara from highway construction. Their new argument suggests that the downturn in the country’s economy requires Ireland to save its historic resources as tourist destinations."
http://www.thestar.com/World/Columnist/article/512894

Celtic Tiger threatens ‘very soul of historic Ireland’

MITCH POTTER - TORONTO STAR
Europe Bureau - Oct 07, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/World/Columnist/article/512894

HILL OF TARA, Ireland – It is a battle worthy of the old Irish legends, pitting history against modernity. But as a controversial highway creeps ever closer to the spiritual home of the early Celtic kings, it now appears both sides may lose.

For advocates of the twin ribbons of asphalt called the M3 now under construction north of the Irish capital, there is no choice but to live pragmatically with the roar of a commuter corridor in the shadow of the sacred Hill of Tara, because getting to nearby Dublin is a nightmare without it.

For opponents, the new toll highway is the most painful example of the Celtic Tiger’s propensity for gnawing through all obstacles – up to and including “the very soul of historic Ireland” – in the pursuit of the almighty euro. Worse, they say, the highway is arriving just as the economy curls up into what many expect will be a deep slumber, worn ragged by a broken property bubble and the global credit squeeze......

To read the rest of the article follow the link above.

JOIN
TaraWatch Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/827
TaraWatch Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hilloftara
TaraWatch Yahoogroups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hilloftara/