From the Irish Post
http://www.irishpost.com/news/story/?trs=gbgbsnid&cat=newsNew hope in campaign to save Tara
THE SAVE Tara campaign opposing a contentious motorway being routed near Ireland’s Hill of Tara has stepped up a gear following the discovery of ancient art works similar to that seen in one of the world’s most famous prehistoric sites.
A decorated stone bearing megalithic patterns similar to that at Newgrange has been found in part of a souterrain currently being dismantled as part of the M3 motorway archaeological works in Co. Meath.
Save Tara campaigners from Britain and Ireland are now asking the European Union and the Commissioner to take an injunction against the Irish Government to stop all attempts at construction in the short disputed section of the M3 in the Gabhra Valley until the European Court of Justice has completed its deliberations on this case.
Darren Delahunty from the British campaign group TaraWatch said: “The promontory fort of Rath Lugh overlooks the henge, which is a declared national monument.
“The souterrain complex that has been unearthed at Lismullin and the discovery of the stone is further evidence of the importance of this area and its continued use through the millennia of Irish history.”
The decorated stone was noticed last Friday by Tara campaigners.
Mr Delahunty said: “The nearest example of megalithic art is to be found in the passage tomb of the Mound of the Hostages on the summit of the Hill of Tara. “In terms of style this example also bears a remarkable similarity to that found in this monument.
“It exhibits a series of motifs commonly found in passage tomb contexts — concentric circles, nested arcs and zig-zags.
“It is likely this stone was robbed from a nearby passage tomb during the construction of the souterrain in the early centuries AD.”
