6
July
2008
The main archaeologist in charge of conservation work on Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhícíl) has denied that any changes have been made or damage done to monastic structures on the island. On RTÉ’s “Nationwide”, OPW archaeologist Grellan Rourke stated that “all the work we’ve done…is excavation and just trying to hold what’s there. We have taken nothing original away, all we’re trying to do is just hold what’s here for future generations.” Read the rest of this entry »
Claire 
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5
July
2008
” Rath Maeve, M.143, is a large circular rath and a protected national monument close to Tara. It was the mythological home of Maeve, the old earth goddess and consort of successive kings of Tara. As such it has a central place in our heritage and should be afforded all the respect and care it deserves. However yesterday when we visited it we were shocked to see that the entire rath has been planted with Kale. This involved it been ploughed up, planted and it is to be expected, later harvested. Kale is a deep growing vegetable with a long tap root. The harvesting will entail soil disturbance to a dept of at least half a metre. As far as we know no archeologically investigation has taken place on Rath Maeve and no archaeologist was present at the ploughing so priceless items belonging to our history and heritage could have been removed or destroyed. It is known and accepted that this happened in the past and much of what was of value under our soil was destroyed or carried away. That this is again happening today and under a green environment minister beggars belief.“
See the rest of this article at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88213
John Farrelly - Independent Tara Campaigner Wed Jul 02, 2008
Claire Archaeology, Heritage, Land Rezoning, Tara / Skryne Valley No Comments »
4
July
2008
The new Tara Foundation blog, containing all previous entries, is at http://thetarafoundation.wordpress.com. If you wish to comment on something you see here, please go to the corresponding entry on the new blog. Do not post here as this blog will be deleted soon.
Claire Uncategorized No Comments »
23
June
2008
The fuel crisis facing fishermen across Europe will dominate the agenda when EU fisheries ministers meet in Luxembourg later today.
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Claire EU, Marine, Natural Resources No Comments »
10
June
2008
Irish Government asked for discretion on new French plans for European defence.
A “confidential” of the Barber dated from May 21st states that ” the white book on defence and security, which defines the big strategical orientations of France for next fifteen years, will not be made public before June 12th “.
The plan of the White Book the parliamentarians in France can consult the copy, is classified in effect ” confidential defence “.
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Claire Lisbon Treaty No Comments »
5
June
2008
American political analyst Kevin Phillips states that successive US administrations have undermined the economy by constant de-regulation. These include unparalleled credit card debts, the expansion of financial industries such as hedge funds, ballooning national debts, and deliberately altering statistics like inflation and unemployment to mask the accurate picture. Phillips has written a new book entitled: Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism.
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Claire Uncategorized No Comments »
3
June
2008
The Irish government has major difficulties with the electoral register as a result of problems with a €12 million update to the electoral register in 2006 that initially removed 500,000 people from the list. Former Minister for the Environment and Local Government Dick Roche launched the upgrade amid concerns that the lists were out of date and open to abuse.
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Claire Uncategorized No Comments »
27
May
2008
“Criminal investigations of former Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), for alleged bribery in the construction of Nigeria’s $10 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant on Bonny Island, have been widened to cover the past 20 years of Halliburton’s operations in Nigeria. Investigators will also probe accusations of embezzlement by senior executives, and Halliburton’s relations with other multinationals, including Royal Dutch Shell.”
To view the rest of the World Socialist Website Article:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/may2008/chen-m26.shtml
Claire Casement Project, Natural Resources No Comments »
24
May
2008
Central Statistics Office (CSO) statistics reveal that at least 220,000 houses and apartments are lying vacant across Ireland. The figures were published in 2007 and were available last year but only recently mentioned in the national press. With an increase in rent of up to 20% in the last 12 months, 41,600 apartments and 174,900 houses remain unoccupied. These figures do not include the 50,000 vacant holiday homes around Ireland, or the 30,000 other temporarily vacant properties around the country. The 2006 CSO Report states that: “Approximately 266,000 residences were vacant at the time of the census while in a further 30,000 cases the household was either enumerated elsewhere or temporarily absent from the State.”
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Claire Land Rezoning, Natural Resources No Comments »
19
May
2008
Developers who are also financial supporters of the Fianna Fáil party are likely to reap a fortune from the completion of the controversial M3 highway through the Tara / Skrene Valley near the Hill of Tara.
A company controlled by multi-millionaire builder Joseph Murphy Jr – whose main business, JMSE, was exposed as corrupt the by Flood tribunal – owns valuable lands along the route.
Multi-millionaire Fianna Fáil contributor Cathal McCarthy, formerly a business partner of Frank Dunlop, the former government press secretary, and of Des Richardson, a former fundraiser for the Fianna Fail party also owns land along the proposed highway.
Both Mr Murphy and Mr McCarthy will make millions from the sale of land needed for the highway.
But Mr Murphy, in particular, stands to make even more substantial profits from the hundreds of acres of land which he owns within a few miles of the highway route and which may well be opened up for development once construction is completed.
Mr. Murphy was under investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau after playing a central role in the Flood / Mahon Tribunal into planning corruption. Mr Murphy and Frank Reynolds, the former managing director of JMSE, are beneficial directors of Newland Properties Ltd with an address at Ashley House, Batterstown, Co Meath. Both individuals were named in the Third Interim Report of the Flood Tribunal as having hindered and obstructed the tribunal; in Joseph Murphy’s case for not revealing the circumstances in which he paid Dublin Corporation planning official George Redmond on two occasions, and in Frank Reynold’s case for failing to acknowledge that he was present at a meeting where a cash payment was made to George Redmond in the presence of Michael Bailey. Read the rest of this entry »
Claire Heritage, Land Rezoning, Natural Resources, Tara / Skryne Valley No Comments »
