Protesters camped at Carrickmines Castle in south County Dublin prevented archaeologists from dismantling part of a 12th century fosse on the site of the ruined castle yesterday morning.
The fosse, essentially a walled ditch, was to be removed from its current location to make way for the South Eastern Motorway. A 10 feet section is destined to go on display nearby as an item of archaeological interest at the proposed Carrickmines motorway junction. Before 9 a.m. yesterday however, about 30 "minders" had mobilised on site, sitting on the fosse and preventing a similar number of archaeologists from starting work.
The confrontation was good-natured and even when two Garda cars appeared, protester Mr Ruadhán Mac Eoin remarked that they were "probably called by us, we have had to call them before when damage was threatened to the artefacts".
A local woman who identified herself only as "Terry" told The Irish Times the protesters had good support from local householders. She brought a box of toffees for "minder" Mr Gordon Lucas who declared it a fine start to his 28th birthday. As toffees were shared out, a chorus of "he's a jolly good fellow" drew bemused looks from the archaeologists who had withdrawn to a neighbouring field.
Mr Michael Lemass, who lives locally and was with the protest within 20 minutes of it starting yesterday, summed up the atmosphere: "I was on the wall phoning friends, starting with the words 'I'm sitting on a wall facing a load of archaeologists . . .' when they all started to laugh, so we laughed too."
The director of traffic for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Mr Eamonn O'Hare, said the workforce had "plenty of other things to do today" - in a tone that suggested this was generally emulated.
While yesterday's confrontation may have been somewhat stage-managed - both the protesters and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council announced it was "imminent" last Friday, The Irish Times understands that serious efforts are still being made behind the scenes to reach a compromise.
Negotiators, responding to a request from the council, are still hoping to bring forward compromise proposals today.