Kenny urged to address M3/Tara issue

A GROUP of academics has called on Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to publicly state his views on the Hill of Tara/M3 controversy.

Yesterday’s Trinity College Dublin conference on the historical and cultural significance of Tara heard unanimous calls for the would-be taoiseach to address the issue.

“We must raise this issue in the crucial days leading up to the General Election,” said Dr Gerald Morgan of Trinity College’s department of English.

“How can Enda Kenny seriously expect the Irish people to make him king, if he will not show leadership and give his honest position on the matter?

“At least Noel Dempsey was honest when he called the new national monument at Lismullen a ‘hole in the ground’.”

Environment Minister Dick Roche is still considering the implications of the discovery of the Lismullen monument, which was confirmed in April, while the TaraWatch lobby group has threatened to take legal action if the new motorway isn’t rerouted.

Dr Sean Duffy of TCD’s medieval history department said at yesterday’s conference that we would be the first generation in 5,000 years to deface the Hill of Tara by building the M3 through the Tara-Skryne valley.

“This motorway will cut us off from our past,” he added.

According to TaraWatch’s Vincent Salafia, the National Museum “made their position clear” two years ago when museum director Pat Wallace called on Mr Roche to re-route the M3.

“So far, Fine Gael have said they will abide by the decision of the National Museum.

“Enda Kenny needs to step up to the plate and show some creative problem-solving and leadership ability here, particularly in light of the fact that 70% of people surveyed nationally want the M3 re-routed.”

A Fine Gael spokesperson said yesterday that the party supports the development of the M3, “given that the existing road is overcapacity, causes significant congestion and affects the quality of life of those who rely on it”.

The party does not support “the destruction of any national monuments” along its length, he said, and would await publication of the National Museum’s verdict on the newly discovered Lismullen site.

“If it decides that the current route must be re-routed to prevent the destruction of this site, Fine Gael will support this determination.”