Viking warrior threatens bypass plan

BEDEVILED by castles, mounds, fairy forts, druids, and even the odd spiritual guru, the National Roads Authority faces yet another block to its plans for towing Ireland’s roadways into the 21st century.

It comes in the shape of a Viking warrior whose mortal remains have been discovered along the planned route of the €300 million Waterford city by-pass. Though dead for more than 1,000 years, his presence is sure to breathe life into those protesting elsewhere against what they see as the NRA’s bulldozer approach to our ancient heritage.

Although the NRA has confirmed that it is treating the Waterford site as one of “special interest”, it insists that road works will press ahead, conceding only that the project could now demand “a significant amount” of additional expenditure.