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'Tomb for Celtic Tiger' built on Ireland’s Achill island

Stonehenge-type structure ordered stopped by court

By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Monday, December 5, 2011, 8:15 AM
Updated Monday, December 5, 2011, 9:49 AM

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A modern replica of Stonehenge, which has been dubbed “Achill-henge”
A modern replica of Stonehenge, which has been dubbed “Achill-henge”
Photo by Michael Mc Laughlin, The Mayo News


A mock megalithic concrete structure that was created on Achill Island constructed by Joe McNamara is a "tomb for the Celtic Tiger," revealed one of the builder's supporters.

McNamara, 41, was jailed after a judge ruled him in contempt of a High Court order that required him to cease construction of the circle immediately, according to the Independent. The council said the structure was an unauthorized and unlawful development.

McNamara supporter Benny Meehan said that the Stonehenge-style structure is intended to be a "place of reflection" for people to contemplate what has happened to Ireland over the last few years.

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"Some people have portrayed Joe as some kind of lunatic. He is not. He is a quiet and reflective man and he is just trying to raise awareness and get people thinking about what has happened to this country," he said.

The structure consists of an outer ring 30 meters wide marked out by 4.5 meter high columns with tapping stones on top.

McNamara is notorious for several brushes with the law , especially the time he drove a massive cement mixer into the gates of Leinster House which houses the Irish parliament. He  was protesting the role of Anglo Irish Bank in the property bust.

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See more: Irish economy , Offbeat , News from Ireland
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4 Comments

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solyeant | Dec 07, 2011, 09:55 AM EST
Now Joe has my full support for what its worth and I can't help thinking that plans for the islands are short on the ground I have already suggested that one of the Islands becomes a Coffee Island where all the dope in the country is grown and people can use as much weed as they like whilst on the island and even take a bit home to their mothers Ireland and the very West Coast should provide a fine arrival point for others arriving from Morocco in their mini subs and go fasts At least the home production market will allow tourists to arrive and possibly stay for longer than the boat return. Joe's construction has me wondering if in effect

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merefalow | Dec 06, 2011, 08:35 PM EST
do you people,well you do and it stinks,censor what you dont like,joe had hundreds of letters of support but you only have two up,one condemnatory,yet you left a filthy article up about bestiality for months,i think its still there.

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Towngate | Dec 06, 2011, 08:04 AM EST
Joe can claim he is simply storing his building materials on his own land. Already the structure has taken on a somewhat mystical air and I am sure it will be a great addition to Irelands reputation abroad as a sacred island. Money-grubbing gombeen 'planners' should leave this man alone to his noble work! The Symbolism of 'overweight rotund monolyth sinking into the slimy boggy morass' reflects a perfect image of Modern Ireland. "FREE THE ACHILL ONE!!!

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SeamusMor | Dec 05, 2011, 11:29 AM EST
Mr. McNamara should have obtained permission from the authorities before he began building. The news of his arrest obscures the point he seems to have attempted to make by building the replica monument in the first place.

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