Royal Tara extends well beyond the hill
We have always made it clear that our concerns are about the impact such a development would have on the archaeological and historical landscape around the Hill of Tara.
Our detailed archaeological, historical and literary analyses, carried out to the highest professional standards, has demonstrated the immediate hinterland of the Hill of Tara to be the so-called royal estate or demesne (ferann ríg) of Tara. Royal estates are recognised in early Irish law (see Fergus Kelly’s Early Irish Farming, 403-4, 1997). There is incontrovertible evidence of a royal estate associated with the kingship of Tara.
Independent of the historical identification of this special area, archaeological analysis has revealed physical evidence for the definition of a wider landscape around the Hill of Tara.
This definition is accepted by professional archaeologists, historians, historical geographers and Celticists worldwide. Our remit is the analysis, definition and protection of historic monuments and places. There is universal agreement among professionals that the Hill of Tara is but one component of a uniquely important landscape and that, as configured, the proposed M3 will impact directly on it.
We believe this can, and should, be avoided so that the people of this part of Co Meath can have their traffic problems resolved while at the same time preserving the unique cultural landscape around Tara.
Tara, in its entirety, is of local, national and international importance.
Conor Newman
Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway
Edel Bhreathnach
Micheál Ó Cléirigh Institute, UCD
Joe Fenwick
Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway
