Hill of Tara Doomed?

The Hill of Tara in Ireland is a place of myth and legend. It is also an archaeological, astronomic and cultural marvel; probably the best known monument of Ireland, like Stonehenge is Wiltshire. A most ancient monument.

It's a magical place, once thought to be the gateway to the world of the Faerie. It is an icon to fantasy writers, archaeologists, historians, mythologists, hell, the Irish. But it's now under threat. The Irish Government want to build a motorway through the Tara/Skyrne Valley to ease traffic congestion.

A group of well-known scholars are trying to stop this development and, according to Mythical Ireland, Charlize Theron is also on board to stop the development.

This group is trying to get the site on the World Heritage List and I'm amazed it isn't listed already.

I've been to Tara and it truly feels magical, like the warm standing stones at Avesbury, like Stonehenge, like the Field of Culloden before the damned-awful 'visitor's centre' was constructed and like the Rock of Cashel.

Even with the wind blowing and the sky spitting sleet, Tara felt... different as if it were encapsulated in a different world. And now, the Government want to destroy the very essence of Irish mythology.

To keep up-to-date on the fight to save Tara, go here. Tara is the most visible site under threat, but there are others in Ireland.

It would be a travesty to see such an historic and important site be affected by the trappings of modern society. The Irish Government need only seek an alternative route and a majestic, important site would be saved. Let's hope they see reason.