Tara – News Update

Shops and Malls to be banned at Historic Tara site;

Not exactly good news as the new motorway is still under construction but at least sense has started to creep in and the Environment Minister – John Gormley has announced the following. Though to be honest, if not cynical, it’s the economic downturn that has forced the latest  turnaround by the Irish government.

MAJOR developments including shopping centres and retail parks will not be allowed to be built off the controversial M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara.

The Tara Skryne Valley, one of the most archaeologically rich areas in the country, will be officially designated as a Landscape Conservation Area, which will ban major developments and ensure the landscape is left intact, Environment Minister John Gormley announced yesterday.

And he said he was fully committed to nominating the Hill of Tara as a UNESCO World Heritage site when Ireland draws up its shortlist of sites at the end of the year.

He added that a new National Monuments Act would mean that road developments would not take place in areas rich with archaeology.

“I am pleased to announce details in relation to a proposed new landscape management project which has been initiated to establish a Landscape Conservation Area in the Tara-Skryne area,” he said.

“The new landscape conservation zone for Tara Skryne will protect the area from development damage . . . This is the first landscape conservation area ever. We have to learn lessons from the past, there’s no question mistakes have been made and mistakes must be rectified.”

The article from the Independent.i.e. goes on…..

History of Tara; an excellent article on the ‘ Sacred Land’ website outlines why the Hill of Tara and its landscape is so important in the history of Ireland.

Visitors get insight into ancient Scottish crafts

We recently wrote about the restoration of a Scottish crannog at Kenmore, over the weekend experts at the Kenmore Centre showed people the practical skills needed for the ancient craftwork  of surviving in the Iron Age.

VISITORS to the Scottish Crannog Centre were given an insight into Scotland’s ancient crafts at the weekend. The centre at Kenmore, Perthshire, hosted a two-day series of displays and demonstrations showcasing traditional Scottish skills.