Madam, - I was very disappointed to read in last Friday's Irish Times that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, declared himself satisfied that the National Roads Authority proposals, if implemented, would result in the protection of the monument at Rath Lugh.
This is not so as the monument and its environment have already been mutilated by work carried out on the proposed route of the motorway.
Rath Lugh and its environment is an integral part of the Tara archaeological and cultural complex. Its environment includes the significant Gabhra Valley to the west towards the Hill of Tara. The latter area is now reduced to a strip of rubble as a result of work carried out by and with the authority of the present Government of which Mr Gormley is a member. Furthermore, Rath Lugh is now divorced from the archaeological complex of which it formed a part from its construction many centuries ago.
As a result of the destruction, which I witnessed a couple of days ago, a "new" environment has now emerged, the personality of the area is being destroyed.
Standing on Rath Lugh and looking across the Gabhra Valley the main feature of that area is now the equivalent of a "race track" with heavy machinery driving up and down at considerable speed and creating vibrations which can be felt on Rath Lugh.
In the area that I visited three lines of defence were in place.
The outermost is a spiked iron fence up to eight feet in height and secured in concrete, next came security personnel and further inwards were members of the Garda Síochána.
For me, this was an intimidating experience and one that I never expected to see in order to facilitate the destruction, by our own Government, of a key portion of our own great archaeological inheritance. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - As the National Roads Authority digs into the esker at the base of Rath Lugh, Kathy Sinnott receives a written reply from the European Commission that says: "The commission is fully aware of the prevailing situation in relation to the proposed construction of the M3 motorway through the Tara-Skryne valley.
"The commission further notes that construction of the proposed route is blocked".
John Gormley did not bother to check the esker on his recent visit to Rath Lugh. Then he issued a statement saying that the monument was safe. What has he told the European Commission to lead them to believe that construction is "blocked"?
The NRA, responsible to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, (i) did not keep their word to Lisa Feeney, (ii) they refuted the agreement that they had made and (iii) they sent the 10-point agreement to The Irish Times (published March 21st).
With the Taoiseach floundering in the tribunal, no wonder his ministers feel no responsibility to the truth.
What sort of leadership is this to the young and not to young citizens of our country? - Yours, etc,
MUIREANN NÍ BHROLCHÁI, Laurence Avenue, Maynooth.