Carrickmines Occupation: Day 3

BrianD

Got this press release from the aptly named Carrickminders today. As you may be aware remains of a castle have been found on the route of the M50 extension. The NRA want to keep building and bury this historic site under the motorway. A compromise could involve building a bridge over the site - this has been done b4 in the UK - allowing the archaeologists to keep working. Unfortunately, the NRA won't budge despite the fact they have spent millions of your money rerouting the m-way and building artificial hills so that some very wealthy people don't have to look at you as you drive down the M50. Read on if you're interested there's a web address and details of a benefit concert at the end.

Occupation of Carrickmines Castle Site Enters Day 3

Today, Day One of National Heritage Week, protestors
enter Day Three of the occupation of the site of
Carrickmines Castle, on the Glenamuck Road in South
County Dublin. In the early morning hours of Saturday
31st August, 2002, a group of ten people, calling
themselves Carrickminders, occupied the settlement
that is said to contain the ruins of Carrickmines
Castle. The purpose of the occupation is to protect
the site against possible damage by vandals/visitors,
and destruction by the National Roads Authority, while
negotiations between The National Roads Authority, The
Minister for Transport, Mr. Seamus Brennan, and
environmental groups, such as An Taisce, continue.

“We are protesting the proposed destruction of part of
the recently uncovered marvels at Carrickmines, and
want the Minister to approve a plan that would provide
for complete preservation of the castle site. We call
for archeologists to be allowed to return to work, and
finish the job they have already spent two years on.
It is ironic that we are entering Heritage Week, and
preparing to destroy this monumental site, which the
public has not even been allowed to see. We invite
the Minister for Transport, Mr. Seamus Brennan,
Michael Egan of the Natonal Roads Authority, and all
TDs responsible for the two constitutiencies adjoining
Carrickmines, to visit the site. We believe that
preservation can occur within the existing land-take,
without undue delay to the motorway. Under current
practice, even if the NRA uncovered a pyramid, they
would destroy it.”

CONCERTS FOR CARRICKMINES: There will be a series of
concerts, at the Temple Bar Music Center, September 5,
14, and 20, hosted by Rónán Ó’Snodaigh. Guests to
include Liam O’Maonlai, members of Kila, Donovan and
Clann Zú (from Australia). They will feature
multimedia presentations of Carrickmines Castle and
other sites that have been lost to development in
Ireland.

http://www.carrickminescastle.org
carrickminders@yahoo.com