Hill of Tara protestors threaten legal action

If one spade touches the Hill of Tara the Government will be hit with immediate legal action, campaigners warned today.

Dressed as the King and Queen of Tara, protesters held a replica Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, aloft on the steps of Dáil Eireann demanding the planned M3 motorway is re-routed away from the ancient seat of the Kings of Ireland.

The Save Tara Skryne Valley group claims it is not too late to preserve one of the country’s most valuable heritage sites.

Spokesman Vincent Salafia said: “The development of the motorway has not yet begun, the land has not been purchased and excavations are not underway.

“We are eternally optimistic but considering the Government’s record on such issues it will be a surprise if they change their mind.”

Legend has it that Lia Fail, the coronation seat for would-be monarchs, judged a ruler’s worthiness before allowing crowning ceremonies to go ahead.

The campaigners are calling on conservationists and Dubliners to join them in their last ditch bid to save the treasured spot.

They claim the hill could be ruined forever if the roadworks go ahead. Private members’ bills calling for the route to be shifted away from the hill will come before the Oireachtas later tonight.

Independent Senators Joe O’Toole and Shane Ross will bring the issue to the upper house, while the Labour Party have sponsored a bill in the Dail.

Mr Salafia said he was confident that even if construction work is given the go-ahead, legal action would delay the process for several years.

“I will be the litigant if there is any case to be taken,” he added. “And unfortunately it’s looking like this is going to have to be sorted out by the courts.”

A March for Tara will take place this Saturday in Dublin city centre to fight the proposed scheme.

A related protest is also due to take place outside the Irish consulate in New York on the same day.