Spirit of the nation

I AM an American of Irish descent, and I ask you to preserve and protect the Hill of Tara and surrounding landscape.

The motorway can be rerouted or the rail system renewed, or both. But heritage, once lost or damaged, cannot be renewed. If Ireland is ever to be healed and whole — not merely economically wealthy — then its history and culture must be saved.

To lose these is to lose the soul of Ireland. As a distant kinswoman who has seen my nation, the US, suffer great injury to its spirit, I ask you to be wiser than that. Honour the heritage of Ireland. Preserve Tara.