Madam, - Julitta Clancy hits the nail on the head when she states (March 7th) that "we have not the right to destroy one of the richest and more important archaeological landscapes in Europe. . .nor do we need to". The background evidence backs up this assertion.
Many potential routes were mooted during the initial planning phase and back in 2000, Halcrow Barry, consultants for the National Roads Authority, recommended a route to the east of the Tara/Skryne valley which would "have the least impact archaeologically" and "did not cross through any of the archaeological features". They went on to warn that the route currently on the table would have "severe implications from an archaeological perspective". The National Roads Authority then disregarded this advice, claiming "serious drawbacks in terms of ability to serve traffic demand" (The Irish Times, December 6th, 2004).
Several eminent archaeological and academic experts subsequently stated their reservations about this current route. In a joint submission to the Oireachtas Environment Committee in January, archaeologists Conor Newman and Joe Fenwick and early Irish historian Dr Edel Bhreathnach said that the Hill of Tara constituted only one entity in the overall Tara archaeological complex. The Meath Archaeological and Historical Society identified 38 sites in the complex, of which the Hill of Tara constitutes one entity.
Prof George Eogan, senior archaeologist and expert on neolithic and bronze age sites, who in the past was involved in archaeological excavations in the Tara complex, described the decision to route the motorway through the Tara/Skryne valley as "strange and odd" and described Tara/Skryne as "a very notable site", stressing, "We're not just dealing with a hilltop. We're dealing with an entire area".
Those opposing the route of the motorway are not Luddites opposing the M3 per se, merely the route chosen. Co Meath possesses one of the largest concentrations of monuments from both the pre-Christian and early Christian periods in the whole of the State and it's inconceivable that its treasures should be subject to any needless damage. Furthermore, the Tara/Skryne Valley is not just the heritage of the population of Co Meath, but of the entire nation, and it goes without saying that once the landscape is defiled this cannot ever be undone.
The ironic aspect of all this is that if the less contentious route had been chosen, the hard-pressed natives of Co Meath would most probably have been closer to having the motorway they desire without any impingement on Ireland's unique heritage. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6w.