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An American in Ireland by The Yank

Highway through Tara was a waste

Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 08:09 AM

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Back in June of this year the new highway going through the area around the Hill of Tara was opened to traffic. From what I saw on Tuesday during my first journey on the road, they shouldn't have bothered.

The M3 Motorway was controversial from the day it was first mooted because the whole area around the Hill of Tara is of tremendous historical significance. Tara was the primary center of prehistoric Ireland and remained so for thousands of years. At different times Tara was an ancient burial ground, a place of worship, and the spot where Ireland's high kings were crowned. According to archaeologist Joe Fenwick, Tara is "acknowledged as one of Europe's foremost cultural landscapes." {Watch documentary on Tara and the road here.}

Despite all that - and I don't say this lightly - I was in favor of the proposal to build the M3 when the government first suggested it. Why? Because despite the historical significance of Tara the people who live in Counties Meath & Cavan have a right to live as modern Irish people and to expect that they would have the same economic opportunities as everyone else; because the government promised the route would be sensitive to Tara; and because the road the M3 was replacing actually ran nearer to the Hill of Tara and anytime I was on it that road seemed to be overtaxed with cars, trucks and buses trying to get where they needed to go. The old road was insufficient and a new four-lane highway would relieve the pressure.

Oh, yeah, and because those who protested about the new roads in north Wicklow and south Dublin near where I live were way over the top with their complaints and exaggerations of what could be lost. They also totally ignored the need that people in these areas had for those roads to be completed. I just figured that some of the same people were out to stop Meath's new, needed road just as they did around here.

However, from what I saw Tuesday it hasn't worked out that way. I drove up and down the M3 and nearly had it to myself. It wasn't rush hour, true, but there were so few people on the road that I couldn't help wondering why the government bothered with the project given the risk to history, the protests, the costs, everything.

Virtually no one was on the road. Why that is I can't say, but maybe it's the tolls - €5.20 ($6.60) for a round trip - or maybe the "sensitive to Tara" route is too inconvenient for those who live in that part of Meath or maybe it's a combination of the two.

I can tell from reading some bulletin board posts that many local people have decided to stick with the old road, formerly the N3, despite moves to lower the speed limit on that road in a bid to force people onto the new tolled highway.

Whatever the reason, it seems a shame when you consider the damage to the historical region around Tara (and the damage shown on the video above is greater than I realized at the time.) Maybe when vacation season ends the traffic will be greater. Maybe the road isn't the white elephant it appeared on Tuesday. I hope so because to me, now, the M3 was a waste of money and history.

{I should have posted these before now, but here are the links for Part 2 & Part 3 of the documentary on Tara. It is, as Searlit says below, "really informative."}

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Searlit | Sep 02, 2010, 11:59 AM EDT

Thank-you molliepmac, I look forward to reading all about the Hill of Tara. I am really sorry that all the ancient archelogical sites were destroyed. Their spirit lives on, though.

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molliepmac | Sep 01, 2010, 12:57 PM EDT

Searlit: You may not realise that more than 40 archaeological sites were destroyed including ancient burial grounds at Collierstown and Ardsallagh ( Iron Age to earliest Christian ), National Monument Lismullin Henge and part of the hill where Rath Lugh National Monument is situated. There were other route options available including west of Tara away from the most historically sensitive area between Tara and Skryne….so why did they choose the current route? Some sites which might interest you;- http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/res_tara.html ……….. http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/MS2004.htm ………… http://www.nra.ie/Archaeology/M3Clonee-NorthofKells/ ……… http://www.sacredireland.org/index22.html ……….. http://www.tarawatch.org/ ………. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Endangered-Cultural-Treasures-The-Hill-of-Tara-Ireland.html ………………… http://www.savetara.com/

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Searlit | Sep 01, 2010, 11:36 AM EDT

Portia777: I know that part of an old ruin was discovered when they were digging up for the new M3. I thought it was Lugh's Fort. Tara wasn't only a political site. I know you're commenting about the mythical/spiritual aspects. I'm interested to hear more about these myths. Women were so important to the ancient Irish. I find that appealing.

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TheYank | Sep 01, 2010, 05:00 AM EDT

Portia777

Not quite sure what you're saying here, but is the road through Tara the reason our economy has collapsed?

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Portia777 | Aug 31, 2010, 02:40 PM EDT

they knew what they were doing, I assure you and it had nothing to do with traffic either. Now the Bean Sidhe roams the area homeless and the white Mare awaits the prophecy to be fulfilled. They will wish they were never born. Many who were involved in the destruction of the sacred feminine Mare have already died, but then that is the Law of the Universe.

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Searlit | Aug 30, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT

Thanks again, Yank. I'll take a look at TG4.

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TheYank | Aug 29, 2010, 01:20 PM EDT

Searlit, TG4.ie is a great resource. I think they have the best documentaries and they seem to have no issue with people outside of Ireland having a look, unlike our national broadcaster.

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Searlit | Aug 29, 2010, 09:38 AM EDT

Thank-you Yank. What an incredible documentary! I followed the story about the new M3, on RTE online news, but there wasn't the details, as in this video. I always like hearing the Irish spoken, and learning things I didn't know about Ireland. I didn't think they should disturb that beloved monument of Ireland. It is a World Heritage Site. Such significant history took place at Tara. It is a trans-formative place.

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TheYank | Aug 28, 2010, 04:23 PM EDT

Oh, sorry Searlit. Here's part 2 & part 3.

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Searlit | Aug 28, 2010, 01:45 PM EDT

Hi Yank, I just watched the video, part 1. Did I miss something or are you going to post part 2 later? It was really informative, loved it!

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molliepmac | Aug 28, 2010, 01:26 PM EDT

Some additional points about the M3 which are worth considering;- If the motorway was routed to the west of Tara it would have been straighter, shorter and would have a larger catchment area taking in the town of Trim thus increasing traffic volume. Also less chance of impacting on archaeological sites and ancient burial grounds and therefore less controversial. This was one of the route options - why was it rejected? As predicted the road is not attracting sufficient traffic to meet the terms of the toll contract of 25500 tolls per day. Less than that number and the Irish Government- taxpayer have to pay compensation to the Spanish toll owner. Why then did Meath Council and NRA chose the current route through the Tara Skryne valley? Could it be to open up land for development? Why are proposals to make the valley a Conservation Area being opposed by Meath Council? See Tara Skryne landscape project http://www.meath.ie./LocalAuthorities/Planning/TaraSkryneLandscapeProject/

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jimmy12003 | Aug 27, 2010, 07:08 PM EDT

the one good thing about the new M3, is that now when traveling to dublin from cavan, you dont have to sit behind some dozy meath pr-ick, pi-ssing along the road at 35 mph!

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Searlit | Aug 27, 2010, 01:28 PM EDT

If you want a sense of belonging to Ireland, go to Tara. There is something so silently powerful and beautiful about it. I traveled the old road to get there. It seemed , as it should be, far off the beaten path, but then I always take the scenic route, as opposed to the rush of highways, if there's another way.

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feeneycj | Aug 27, 2010, 12:10 PM EDT

a much needed road. anything that gets people into the Boyne Valley more easily is good. a very historic area not to be missed.

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TheYank | Aug 27, 2010, 10:04 AM EDT

jacersisityourself, Well, not quite "quiet green fields" for the length of the M3. From what I saw a good bit of it is lined with the back ends of industrial estates.

Having said that, I know what you mean. However, don't you find that peace and quiet can also put you to sleep behind the wheel? Not to be recommended.

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