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Campaign to Save Tara disbanded

category meath | history and heritage | news report author Saturday December 08, 2007 12:56author by indyreporter Report this post to the editors

What is happening with the Tara campaign?

Campaign to Save Tara (CST) began as a genuine effort to bring all the Tara campaigners together, in a positive and unified way, in late 2006. Now a year later, it has silently disbanded. What now for Tara?
Campaign to Save Tara - split and
Campaign to Save Tara - split and

Campaign to Save Tara (CST) has disbanded. A meeting was held in the County Club, Dunshaughlin, on Wednesday 5th December, at which the organisation was wound up. No details have been presented to the public on either mailing lists, or Indymedia, usually their chosen platform for dissemination. Instead, a veil of secrecy surrounds the demise of what claimed to be a democratic group, acting in the public interest.

Originally called Save Tara Campaign, in December 2006, the name was changed to CST to avoid confusion with the savetara.com web site. The founding vision of the group was: “... to keep Tara’s landscape protected for future generations.” The mission statement was: ".. to integrate and harmonise all levels of this campaign, under a grass-roots umbrella, in order to avoid doubling up of work and to sharpen focus."
http://savetaravalley.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=d356888b2...sg151

By early 2007, there had already been division, and the vision radically changed to:

"The Campaign to Save Tara is a voluntary group who have come together to raise the issue of the route of the M3 through the Gabhra (Tara-Skryne) Valley during the general election, which is scheduled to take place on May 24th of this year. This body is an amalgam of many disparate groups, some have been involved for a very long time and others have only just joined the campaign – many members of the old Save the TaraSkryne Valley Group, those involved in the Vigil on the Hill since June 2006 and the newer Save Tara Valley Group." http://campaigntosavetara.blogspot.com/

The political campaign, which involved getting people to vote for Green Party, Labour and Sinn Fein candidates failed. Not only that, but it stirred the wrath of the Director of the National Museum, who wrote to the Irish Times to complain about being included in the political literature of CST:

CAMPAIGN OVER TARA AND M3
Irish Times - Letter to the Editor
Friday, May 25, 2007
Madam, - May I express my amazement and horror at the Campaign to Save
Tara's use of my name and official position in their campaign to
politicise efforts to re-route the proposed M3 motorway at Tara.
My role has been, and is, to advise the Minister for the Environment,
which I have done. My position precludes my ever becoming engaged in a
politicised public controversy. My name has been used without my
permission, or without any reference to the National Museum of Ireland.
- Yours, etc,
PATRICK F WALLACE,
Director,
National Museum of Ireland,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/message/1924

The group was largely quiet for some time, and then a new initiative, a law suit, was announced, amid great fanfare. On August 29, we read of 'New court challenge on Tara' -

"The Campaign to Save Tara today announced details of a legal challenge to the proposed M3 Motorway through the Tara/Skryne Valley in Co. Meath. The Campaign claims that this case is being taken in the public interest and only after all other democratic avenues have been exhausted."
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83999

There have been no public details of the court case since, and the demolition of the Lismullin henge, marking the end of excavations at Tara, is maybe days away.

This week's demise of CST was largely precipitated by the recent removal of Kevin Hayes as co-ordinator of the group. A majority vote was taken at a meeting. The minority, who supported Kevin, refused to accept this democratic decision, and have now engineered a rebirth, as 'Save Tara Campaign', while the majority are left with no organisation.

A press release under the name Save Tara Campaign was sent to Indymedia, on Saturday 1 December by 'anon', four days before CST officially disbanded, without the approval or knowledge of most CST members. http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85303

As the name denotes, the new group claims to speak for the entire Tara campaign, and act in an Official Capacity. But they do not have the support of the Vigil, the Rath Lugh Camp and are not known to be working in co-operation with any other group.

Who are they? Who do they speak for? Many questions remain unanswered. Will the democratic forum of Indymedia will tease them out?

Related Link: http://campaigntosavetara.blogspot.com/
author by A Friend of Tarapublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 13:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I always knew that this was going to happen. CST never was an umbrella group, but run by people with specific political interests and ambitions. They formed an inner circle within CST and deliberately kept all those in the dark who didn't follow their Labour and Green Party-orientated line. I think the departure of CST is the best thing that happened to the overall Tara campaign in recent months!

author by Johnpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 14:12author address author phone Report this post to the editors

About time too. The N3 is the most dangerous road in the country. This week alone 3 people have been killed on it. The sooner its replaced by the M3 the better,.

author by Inquisitivepublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 14:43author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What does the Save Tara Campaign plan to do then?
Are there going to be public meetings?
Will they be fundraising?
What are they fundraising for?
How many people are in this grouping?
Who, aside from the above mentioned, is in the group?
Are they working in co-operation with other campaigners?

Some answers would be very much appreciated. Or will the former CST politburo, carry on as usual-secret meetings, divisive tactics, campaign-destroying strategies.

Come on Muireann, Kevin, Michael- Tara deserves better

author by C Murraypublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 15:01author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I see the usual plethora of bollox on the site- wherein its impossible for people to conceive
of others acting as individuals but as committee- led sheeps. I am a member of the Save Tara
list and have worked with Muireann- I have seen her bullied , trolled and derided on this and
other sites (including late night abusive phone calls).

Now to put it simply, those who want to know can await response from CST.

and those who really , really need 'leaders' can run around like headless chickens..
Tara was never about personality led politics it was about different groups of people
with different talents and tasks working on the same thing. I have a lot of respect
for Muireann but I do not think she ever claimed to lead on Tara- CST was a gathering and working
list .

The vigil takes care of the vigil and direct action.
Tarawatch does its own thing which is legal apparently.
CST is fighting with direct action their fourth legal case.
and sacred Ireland run a site and have been campaigning for years.

Personally speaking I have never accepted any specific group's pretensions to leadership
as the Campaign to Save Tara has had to be flexible with differing groups being involved
in their own areas of expertise- however I will say this.I know that a meeting
was called on the hill without notifying Muireann who had gone on holiday to recover
from the trial and that whomever called it in her absence did a disservice- everyone who has worked
on the campaign in whatever aspect over the many years has contributed to it
in whatever way big or small- and I would be unaccepting of anyone who sought to speak up
on ECO -unless they were comprised of a council of interested parties that acknowledged the
hard work of the disparate groups involved in the issue.

There has been a lack of acknowledgement of people's work that is quite baffling to see

http://www.savetara.com
http://www.tarawatch.org
http://www.sacredireland.com
http://www.tarapixie.net

Any attempt at unity in campaign must acknowledge the different groups mentioned above
and be comprised of them- a great and wonderful way to start is to insult one arm of the
Tara campaign- well done!

author by indyreporterpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 15:22author address author phone Report this post to the editors

My report was completely factually based. There were no opinions offered.

The latest post by C only raises more questions, especially if you go to the mailing list referred to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/

It still states: "Welcome to the official discussion list for the Campaign to Save Tara who wish to save Tara's Gabhra Valley from the proposed M3. Fáilte roimh cách. Liosta é seo dóibh siúd a dteastaíonn uathu motorbhealach an M3 a bhogadh amach as an gGleann idir Teamhair agus Scrín..."

But if you read through the archive, you see no mention of the fact that Mr Hayes was removed weeks ago. You see no invitations to meetings and you see no mention of the fact that CST no longer even exists.

It was reported privately by a former CST member that a meeting was called for last week, with a room booked and everything, but it was cancelled by Muireann, who then scheduled another meeting a week later, AFTER the STC release was already sent out, and she had time to engineer a new front.

C claims on one hand that she does not subscribe to personality-driven campaigning, and at the same time offers sisterly support for a single personality. It would appear that this is exactly what STC is, a cult of personality, with all dissenting opinions removed.

So, let's see what they have to say and see if we can get any more facts, before passing final judgment.

author by DM - Labour Partypublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 16:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As for the claim that CST was somehow controlled by Labour, I can tell you as a Labour party activist that I never heard anything about our people being involved or running it, Maybe some members of the Meath branch were in it, however they wouldn't be in to direct action that much (which seems to be one of this groups main tactics).

author by Hopepublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 20:13author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Perhaps now that this group has disbanded, all other Tara campaigners will come together as a strong force to halt the rape of our heritage and environment. It seems to happen in every campaign, particularly in this country. Certain characters worm their way in to established groups, and split them to the point that the campaign can never be truly effective. Energy is wasted on bitching, and smaller numbers of people are left to do the important work.

Let us herald the start of a new chapter in the Tara campaign, where all of those with Tara at heart will unite, and leave the negative, divisive forces behind

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 20:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What's needed now, and what's been DESPERATELY needed since 2004 (in my view), is:

1) A well managed and full-force legal challenge regarding the constitutionality of our National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004: keeping in mind that Justice Laffoy (High Court Judge) has stated that, in her opinion "there was in fact a constitutional imperative to protect these assets" (i.e. the important heritage sites near Tara);

and,

2) An injunction to stop all M3 road building work until the constitutionality of our National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 has been formally decided on by our Supreme Court.

As far as I'm concerned, all of the various groups and individuals involved in trying to save Tara can be as unified as they might: but, unless somebody (or some group of people) can succeed, by lawful means, in getting rid of the grossly corrupt piece of legal rubbish know as the "National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004", there will not be any significant change in government policy regarding the PPP M3 Toll Road.

Further information on this matter can be found in the e-mail dated August 21st 2007 to our Chief Justice John L. Murray at the following address: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

Unfortunately, I very much doubt if any individual (or group) will succeed in having the constitutionality of our National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 checked by our Supreme Court: for the very simple reason that, leaving aside the odd decent person here and there like Justice Laffoy, our legal profession is far too corrupt (overall), and will not, under ANY circumstances, allow any such challenge.

So, it seems to me we all now have to live in the "social cesspit"created by our legal profession: which they very obviously intend to fully maintain, and to expand I suspect.

Success builds on success!!

Related Link: http://www.constitutionofireland.com
author by Terry - sacredireland.orgpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 21:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

it would be far better if people could and would focus on the protection of Tara.
Many, many individuals have worked diligently for Tara over a period of up to 7 years. Many have left because they do not wish to be involved with infighting and rhetoric.
Just for the record, our website URL is http://www.sacredireland.org (inadvertently referred to as a .com above).
We have always hoped that the Valley would be protected, preserved and designated a World Heritage Park and that the situation might best be decided by a referendum.
We support the Meath Master Plan (see our website) and continue to work towards that end.
Anything anyone can do to raise public awareness of what can best be regarded as a solution to this situation, would be helpful.
Many thanks.
Solas.
Terry
http://www.sacredireland.org

author by Tara supporterpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 22:18author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Can someone please let us know who/what Save Tara Campaign is? Some valid questions have been asked here, which require answering not bitching

author by Mick Eganpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 22:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I've read through this thread a few times. I see no valid questions. I see lots of accusations and innuendo - most of it libellous - all of it scurrilous - written I suspect by the very people who made CtST
inoperable through their covert interventions.

I see no reference anywhere to "The Save Tara Campaign" but I believe the term can be applied to the general campaign being waged by various groups/individuals in diverse ways to halt the M3 through the Tara Valley - Kathy Sinnott MEP, Tarawatch, The Vigil, Savetara.com etc.

This thread must be a joy to read for those who want this motorway to proceed through the Tara valley.
So if you and others here, really have Tara's interest at heart find the answers to your questions in a less public forum and stop feeding the enemies of Tara this malicious, inaccurate, ill informed drivel.

author by Tara Supporterpublication date Sat Dec 08, 2007 23:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Why the attitude? I have followed this campaign here on Indymedia, and have met a few of the people involved. I have been confused by all of the infighting and secrecy, and I am sure many others have too. I am not a part of any faction, I just want to see Tara saved. I think that all of us who want to save Tara deserve to know what is happening in the campaign.

author by indyreporterpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 02:01author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I see they have updated the web site, to remove the two conflicting press releases, side by side. One from CST and the next from STC.

The press release in question was also posted on Saturday December 01, 2007 18:09 - author by anon at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85303

Note the use of the term 'Save Tara campaign' throughout both releases, and the lack of the term 'Campaign to Save Tara', as well as the absence of the usual spokesperson.

It was also published on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/message/3322 and clearly states:

"PRESS RELEASE – SAVE TARA CAMPAIGN"
MEGALITHIC ART FOUND AT LISMULLIN SOUTERRAIN

- which was conveniently removed fromt the Indymedia version, below. Compare and contrast for yourself:

"PRESS RELEASE"
MEGALITHIC ART FOUND AT LISMULLIN SOUTERRAIN
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85303

author by indyreporterpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 02:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Labour Party used to be one of the main political forces behind the Tara campaign.

The Labour Party were the only party who specicially promised to re-route the M3 away from Tara, in the last General Election.

In 2004, the Labour Party put forward a Private Members Bill, concerning the preservation of the Hill of Tara, from M3 construction, Pat Rabbitte made the following statements:

"The Hill of Tara is an important national monument, a treasure trove of our Celtic past, and a major national tourist attraction - indeed I understand it is one of the three best-known and most-visited
archaeological and historical sites in the country, in addition to Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel".

"Tara will be fiercely defended against the proposed desecration by supporters from all over the country, and indeed the world, and the result will inevitably be that the much-needed transport relief will be held up in years of litigation".

"I strongly believe that such an outcome will never be contemplated by the Irish people, and I use this opportunity, once again, to repeat my insistence that our primary task must be to prevent that from happening".

It is no secret locally that Muireann was a Labour Party Community Councillor in Maynooth for about 20 years, and she engineered much of the Labour involvement in Tara with her old friend Emmet Stagg, local TD for Kildare.

So, getting Tara campaigners to pay for and distribute tens of thousands of leaflets, as well as distributing them in County Meath before the election, calling on people to vote for Labour candidates, came as no shock to many. It's just that many didn't agree that this was the best strategy for Tara.

The real question now is what has become of the Labour Party committment to saving Tara since their Environment spokesperson, Eamon Gilmore, took over as Leader of the Party? What did CST do to pee them off?

There hasn't been one word mentioned about Tara since the election by any Labour person that I know of.

Further, are you saying that Labour/Labour Youth does not support direct action?

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Whatever anybody might say about Vincent Salafai, he did try to have the constitutionality of our National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 checked by peaceful and lawful means in January 2006: which (in my view) has long been the ONLY action that could have saved the extremely important heritage sites close to the Hill of Tara.

However, and through no fault of his (as far as I know), Mr Salafia was prevented, half way through the legal process, from completing the EXTREMELY important job he tried to do: thanks to the way Mr Justice Thomas Smyth (High Court Judge) saddled him, unexpectedly I suspect, with a HUGE bill for legal costs amounting to somewhere in the region of 600,000 Euros.

"By such tactics, Mr Justice Thomas Smyth and his colleagues in the judiciary can continue (indefinitely as things stand) to use National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 'law', which is in all probability ILLEGAL LAW, to support the construction of PPP toll roads which have been designed to destructively plough through places like Tara, County Meath (the Bronze Age Capital of Ireland as far as I know) and Turoe, County Galway (the Iron Age Capital of Ireland as far as I know)."

The above excerpt has been taken from the thread at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83821#comment204626 , which contains much more information on this core "constitutionality" issue.

If we wish to save what's now still left of the important heritage sites close to the Hill of Tara, which are right on the edge of total destruction as I write, we all need to go back to the point in time to where Mr Salafia's efforts were truncated by Mr Justice Thomas Smyth, pick up the "constitutionality" baton from off the ground where it fell some 20 months or so ago, and run with it - AS FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN - all the way to our Supreme Court: which is what should have happened in 2006.

Related Link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com
author by Pixie, Sacred, Save, Watch Tarapublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Please read attached pdf file

PDF Document turning_the_tables.pdf 0.01 Mb


author by Mick Eganpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:57author address author phone Report this post to the editors

We have the current National Monuments Act thanks to the actions of Vincent Salafia. It was amended as a direct consequence of his actions on Carrickmines.

The EU are bringing Ireland to the ECJ on this very Act - they believe it to be in direct conflict with EU Law - and this action is being taken thanks to the efforts of CST not as a result of any action by Tarawatch or Vincent Salafia.

Since the collapse of his court case Vincent Salafia and Tarawatch have actually done nothing to further the cause of Tara and have only piggy backed on CST events/efforts and constantly snipped at them.

If anyone now wants to do something constructive for Tara may I suggest they lobby their MEP to have the EU case heard as a matter of urgency or if this is not possible that they, the EU, take out an injunction against Ireland against further works until the case is heard at the ECJ.

author by Tpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 13:20author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Lets hope that this thread ends and something better will be created. Out of the caterpillar came the butterfly. Now back to whats important. Lets keep our focus on what we can do to save Tara and away from the fray. We need to get past this and win the war.

author by indyreporterpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 13:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This thread has been led way off course. This thread has nothing to do with TaraWatch, the Vigil, the camp or any other Tara organisation. The original report is about how one group, supposedly the 'officicial' or 'real' Tara group, that formed an umbrella over all other groups, is no more. It asks the question what has been put in its place, ie what is Save Tara Campaign? This is a legitimate question because the group, by its name, claims to be even more that the former group. It claims to 'own' the campaign, and all its disparate parts. Yet, we see no name attached to the press release that was put on this very site, making these very claims. And instead of answers now we see what are obvious attempts to deflect attention away from these issues, by making desperate accusations against people and organisations that have nothing to do with this issue. Unless, of course, TW and these others have now joined STC. Until we have some responsible and clear statements from those behind STC, everything else is just specualtion, or smokesreen.

author by Michael Canney - former spokesperson Campaign to Save Tarapublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 15:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A statement on behalf of the Campaign to Save Tara is being prepared. The above post purporting to report on Thursday's meeting is inaccurate and misleading. It would be helpful if the author identified themselves and we could all then establish their motivation.
It is unacceptable to use the byline 'indyreporter' which gives the false impression of honesty, professionalism and objectivity. It is clear from vocabularly and style that a number of well know trolls are behind many of the posts on this thread.
People coming to this issue for the first time should familiarise themselves with the lies, spite and venon so beloved of some of the Tara groups and individuals. It did untold damage to the campaign and nobody should forget this going forward to future struggles.
Statement to follow as soon as verification and approval is completed. With the permission of Indymedia it will be posted as a new thread.

author by tara faction fighter - Islam Inc. (c)publication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 18:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

start a new thread for this keep it here and let it play out as their is important linked info on this page. I can not understand why the cop operation "bedrock" was kept secret by STC. That is important info for all us real activists.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good riddance.......etc

all this is the reason tara will be bulldozed through.

author by Real Campaignerpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 18:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Yes, the covert way in which CST chose to operate has probably been the most damaging aspect of the entire Tara campaign. Roestown and Baronstown are both casualties of this. Lismullin would have gone the same way were it not for the fact that TW made the discovery public. God only knows what else is being withheld.

Why does the good doctor object to Operation Bedrock being made public? See-

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/message/3348
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/message/3353

It is vital that ALL campaigners are aware of what is going on regarding Tara. That is the only way we can work to stop it. The Gabhra Valley is being ripped up, it is likely that campaigners are being monitored-it is therefore dangerous for the campaign to keep quiet about these things.

Why did CST act like this? Will STC, in their promised statement, give us the transparency desired?
I sometimes wonder what is the agenda of Muireann, Canney and co. The NRA couldn't do as good a job as they have when it comes to screwing Tara.

author by Indymediapublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 19:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Your statement that TW discovered Lismullin is completely inaccurate. The site was in fact uncovered by STC. They organised and paid for an Indymedia Photographer to fly over the valley and photograph what was going on. This was the first photo (aerial) ever released to the media. Sunday World subsequently did similar.

Re the reluctance to discuss/disclose details of "Operation Bedrock". Most people know that it is unsafe to discuss matters which are the subject of legal proceedings in the public domain until such matters are completely resolved.

author by Real Campaignerpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 19:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You did not read my post correctly. I never said that TaraWatch discovered Lismullin, just that they made it public knowledge while CST were still sitting on the discovery, debating and voting on what to do about it.

Regarding Operation Bedrock-this is something that affects all Tara campaigners. We therefore deserve to know what is going on

author by CST - Campaign to Save Tarapublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 20:08author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Campaign to Save Tara, an umbrella group of individuals and some pre-existing groups campaigning on the Tara/M3 issue officially disbanded at an EGM held at the Country Club in Dunshaughlan on Wednesday 5th December. The group was formed in January 2007. Those present, which included most of the original founding members, voted by a margin of 4 to 1 to disband the group.

After a successful nine months in existence in which a great amount of positive work was done it was felt by the majority that it was no longer a progressive and work-orientated organisational structure, and that the changing challenges of the situation needed a different approach.

The meeting ended without acrimony and in a spirit of positivity. Individual members of the CST continue to work in different capacities with the Vigil/Direct Action camps, Save Tara.com, Heritage Alliance and as individuals, with no allegiance except to the ongoing fight against environmental vandalism in this country.

CST brought together a diverse and resourceful group of people who managed to push the ‘dead’ issue of Tara and the M3 to the top of the political agenda during the run up to the General Election, and its aftermath. The failure of the Greens to secure any compromises on the issue during the negotiations to go into Government led the CST to actively encourage a ‘no’ vote at the Green convention. We, as a group, are very proud also that our primary concern was with persuading the public of our position, and claim credit for winning the financial, political, environmental and moral argument in the public sphere.

The CST supported the lodging of plenary summons proceedings by its former spokesperson Michael Canney in September of this year, these proceedings are still in train. Last week’s Supreme Court judgement relating to the awarding of costs in a Carrickmines case is an important consideration in any decision relating to the furtherance of this action. Mr. Dunne is to be applauded for his courage and for not doing any secret deals on costs.

Muireann Ni Bhrolchain continues to run the Save Tara website as she has done for the last four years. This site is not, and does not claim to be, democratically representative – it is a portal for all Tara-related activity and hosts material from a diverse range of sources and organisations. The site had been used by the CST for the dissemination of material over the course of its existence.

Former members of CST continue to form the backbone of the Direct Action campaign and while the EGM decided that active fundraising will cease, any funds generated subsequent to the dissolution of the organisation will be directed to sustaining the direct action camps. Three trustees were elected by the meeting to manage and ultimately wind down all financial activities of the organisation.

Other members have recently been the principal activists behind the publicizing of the recent carvings found at the Lismullen souterrain, the Gore demonstration and a number of other events. Others are involved in a legal action which may have important implications for civil liberties cases in the future. This will continue and it is to facilitate this diverse activity that the group disbanded.

The CST will be making a return to the Standards in Public Office Commission as it is legally obliged to do because of its active involvement in the election campaign this Summer. Its total expenditure on election related materials was c.€8k. It’s total income generated over the last nine months comes to in the region of €13k and all accounts have been updated and are in credit. At the end of the campaign we hope that all groups will be in a position to account for all of their income and expenditure in the same way.

In conclusion, we are proud of what we achieved over the last nine months and in no way embarrassed or downbeat about having wound up the CST organisation. The good energy and commitment of its former members remains steadfast. This is not the time or place for a post-mortem on the general campaign and we prefer, as we always have, not to become embroiled in internecine squabbles with peripheral groups and individuals. There will be no further official statements from the organisation.

We would like to thank all of our supporters and Indymedia for their continued support and can assure you all that the fight to save Tara is far from over.

author by indyreporterpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 20:17author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Indymedia", if you read the above statement again you will see that it says:

"Lismullin would have gone the same way were it not for the fact that TW made the discovery public."

The Lismullin henge was discovered by the NRA, in March or so of this year, so nobody can claim responsibility for that.

CST (not STC, because they didn't exist then) did have knowledge of a discovery at Lismullin, and did give the information to one media outlet, the Sunday World. The story ran on April Fools day, as an April Fools joke, as you can read: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savetara/message/1619

From my research I see that TaraWatch are clearly the group who brought this to the media, thereby forcing the works to stop, and full month after CST had knowledge of the site:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0502/meath.html

Again, we can bogged down the constant sidelining of the premise of this story, which is that CST was shut down by its own members and does not exist any longer, and that STC are apparently trying to pass themselves off as the original group, and pretend nothing has happened.

author by former CST memberpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 20:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Lismullin Henge was discovered last March by NRA archaeologists working on the site. The CST leadership received information (seemingly from one of their NRA contacts) straight away. But for reasons of their own they decided to withhold the information from the vast majority of their own members and all non-CST affiliated campaigners. Instead they passed on the details to a friendly Sunday World columnist who run it, but disguised as an April fool's joke. It was then that one CST member, who also happened to be a member of Tarawatch, got wind of the discovery, visited the site, took a number of photos which he instantly posted to Tarawatch's 'hilloftara' public E-group. Other Tarawatch campaigners issued a press release based on the photographic evidence provided. 48 hours later the then Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, was forced to put a temporary preservation order on the Lismullin Henge.
The campaigner who took and distributed the pics was consequently driven out of CST.
It's pretty obvious that CST had no intention whatsoever to inform anybody about the discovery of the henge. Without Tarawatch's intervention, the henge and the entire Lismullin site would have been bulldozed during the Summer without any further archaeological investigation.. If the CST leadership is really fighting for the preservation of the Tara landscape, then why on earth are they playing into the hands of the NRA by keeping the lid ob important archaeological discoveries which have been made in the Gabhra Valley ? We, the campaigners for the protection of the Tara landscape, are entitled to some answers, Muireann, Kevin and Michael C. !

author by indyreporterpublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 21:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The personal attacks are truly pathetic. Let's stick to the facts here. The main fact is that I was right about every single thing I said in the original news report above.

The Sunday World article was hatched out between CST and the Sunday World, as were all the Sunday World articles on Tara, if we are to believe the boasts on the mailing list. But if anyone can find any media story linking CST to the Lismullin henge, other than that one, please post it here.

The Statement above is rather strange, because it is made by a 'group' that already disbanded. In other words, in the EGM they did not agree a public statement upon disbanding, and some former member just made this one up, because of the publicity here. I think it is pretty clear now that STC is probably the same five people, carrying on business as usual, under a slightly adjusted name.

It is truly shocking to hear that only five people were at this meeting. Like getting to the end of the yellow brick road, and finding nobody home... I'll have to read it again to really grasp all the implications. However, on first glance, it does not come close to answering many of the questions made above.

As for Mr Dunne, he did make a deal on costs, on the Trim Castle case. He agreed not to take a Supreme Court appeal, in return for Meath County Council pursuing him for costs.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/carrickmines/message/1221

At least, Mr Dune, Mr Salafia, Ed Horgan and others, had the neck to go to court in the first place. It would already appear that Mr Canney is not going to undertake a case at all, and has thereby closed off the opportunity for anyone else to do so either, because it is probably too late now.

Cartoon by Tom Mathews
Cartoon by Tom Mathews

author by bebopublication date Sun Dec 09, 2007 23:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Thanks for speaking true, mate! You see CST was run like one of them reality shows on the telly - eliminate a member every week. And in the end all what was left is that tiny inner circle someone else in here refered to as "politburo". Having successfully elimited all opposition to their Labour and Green Party political agendas, that tiny band of four or five people can now unopposed continue to deceive (using the name STC) all genuine Tara campaigners into believing that they are the only official spokespeople for the entire campaign.
It was about time somebody exposed that bunch of political manipulators as the traitors they are! .

author by Blue skiespublication date Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:18author address author phone Report this post to the editors

To the average layperson, anyone involved in opposing the proposed M3 motorway through the Gabhra Valley is part of some sort of campaign to save Tara.
Get over it. Get out of the schoolyard and get on with the work.

author by move onpublication date Mon Dec 10, 2007 14:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If these people resurrect they should use an unambiguous title so as not to claim they are somehow "an umbrella" group for Tara.

author by numpty alertpublication date Mon Dec 10, 2007 15:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is an uncomfortable fact that campaigns such as this will draw many who fly a false flag. This campaign has seen more than its fair share of those.
I suspect that the peripheral political parties might have seen the campaign as an opportunity to talent spot or recruit, either now or later, efficient, idealistic, energetic canvassers or charismatic future leaders to their parties, as they seek to swell their ranks and broaden their electoral collage and mandate.
Firstly they would want to establish a dominant position, CST. From that position they will balance the political leverage gained by supporting a campaign against the political leverage they can gain though alliances and coalitions in the unseen corridors of power.
Therefore a campaign is both enhanced by the powerful presence and contacts of these parties and at the same time crippled by them as they pull their punches for the sake of their own, much wider, agenda. One can concur that the April Fools article was a classic case of news management from initial source to distribution.
Ultimately peripheral political parties already know that FF & the Meath Mafia have long since recruited and placed those in favour to them, to the decision making process of their agenda.
Remember, in all this, action speaks louder than words.

author by The Judian Peoples Frontpublication date Mon Dec 10, 2007 16:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I've been hearing about some of the campaign politics from afar.
The problem is it's not an army, with soldiers who do things without questions. The organisations are all formed for the same purpose but people have very different views as to how to achieve the goal. Also, some peoples goals are wider then then the campaign, which can also lead to issues. There's no leadership structure, which means everyone's view is listened to. That can lead to frustration and anger.
A protest is an extremely stressful environment and it's easy to sit in judgment and say they're not doing it right. If anyone feels they aren't doing it the right way go and try to solve it! My guess is it'd be like sitting Bin Laden and George down and trying to get them to see eye to eye.

I think everyone who has attempted to anything in relation to the desecration of the place should be celebrated.
It's tough work whatever avenue you believe in, be it direct-action, spiritual, legal or whatever. Fair play to all those passionate people who are giving their all for what they believe in. The are warriors in the noble sense of the word.

author by Readerpublication date Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:58author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I have also been watching this campaign, and find the continuous Tarawatch baiting both sinister and ridiculous. They are the only group that actually achieved anything, and without their involvement it would all be over already.

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