Last week Julitta Clancyand Michael Cassidydebated the question: should the M3 motorway be re-routed away from Tara? Here are a selection of readers' responses.
If we ignore expert opinion and press ahead with the M3 for short-term gain, what does that say about us? Given that we have such an incomplete knowledge of the site, why can we not do as our forefathers have done and leave it for posterity to marvel, to ponder, or at worst, to ignore? If we can preserve Tara, having become one of the richest nations on earth, it would be a symbol that we still retain a modicum of humility. We could show ourselves, as well as others, that in our increasingly material world, we still respect the things we do not understand. I cannot think of a more noble act than for us to show that things sacred to our ancestors can be sacred for us too. Now is the hour to save Tara for those unborn, or to plough into yet another Great Irish Shame.
- Ciarán Mac Aonghusa, Ireland
Assuming it's your first time to the Hill of Tara, you may be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about. There is no sign of any motorway.
In fact, compared to Newgrange, another site of world interest, from first impressions the lack of any real tourist infrastructure commitment from the authorities leads one to believe there must be very little of worth here. Far from it. From the top of the Tara hill (the road directs tourists here), two views are apparent. Facing south, look to the right and you will see the flat centre plains of Ireland. Look to the left and you will see a church on top of another hill close by.
You may not have even thought about this other hill because all the signs tell you that the "Hill" of Tara is Tara.
From the top of these hills, you have a watch over large parts of Ireland. They were easily defended against attack. Hence their value to ancient and pre-historic civilisations. The valley between these two high points is most important, and could be described as our own Valley of the Kings (and Queens).
The proposed motorway is not near the Hill of Tara; it is in a much worse position, in the middle of the Valley of the Kings. Re-route it away from this valley, possibly to the west of the Tara hill.
- Paul, Ireland
We need to protect our heritage, not sell it to the highest bidder. We must ask who is to really benefit from the road on its present route. Why did they start the new construction at Tara, the middle of the route, rather then at either end - and why does Eurolink get a 45-year lease to tax Irish people travelling the new M3?
- Thomas O'Connor, Ireland
If this route was carefully planned, as claimed, why is it still so controversial after eight years? The answer lies in the fact that an Bord Pleanála based its decision to proceed on completely outdated information on Tara, despite having available the most up-to-date and exciting research of the State Discovery Programme. This research had already been the basis on which the consultants employed by Meath County Council had advised against the route through the Tara valley in 2000 - advice that was ignored, as was the impassioned plea made to the oral hearing in 2002 by Conor Newman, the director of that research. The planning process was faulty and must not be used as justification for destroying what we now know to be a rich historical landscape with endless possibilities for ourselves and for tourism.
- Claire Oakes, Ireland
Why can the railway not be restored as a matter of urgency? If they put the time and effort into public services, half-empty cars would get off the road. Everybody uses public transport in other countries. Why not here? Because it's not, in most cases, user-friendly. Houses are built to give the Government more taxes, but nothing follows without a huge outcry.
The poor Irish. Always at the mercy of the gombeen.
- Birgitta Horan, Ireland