Anne-Marie O'Farrell

The greatest gathering of harpists in modern times
at Dail Eireann –the Irish Parliament building, Dublin
Saturday, 22 September at 3.00pm

This effort is led by two brilliant Dublin-based harpers: Laoise Kelly and Anne-Marie O'Farrell
http://www.myspace.com/taraharpers

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On an aside, you can read an interview I did with Anne-Marie for book 2 of Celtic Women in Music (Vol 1 was published in 1999. Vol. 2 didn't get published due to 9-11 and then the publisher sold out.)
http://www.alternatemusicpress.com/features/anne-marie_o.farrell.html
and, listen to her music on MySpace here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=207969800
and... Laoise Kelly's MySpace page is here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=145444425
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And there is more!~ Susan McKeown is also putting together a support demonstration in New York!
The page is here: http://www.myspace.com/taraharpersny
New Yorkers can contact Susan here: Sumckeown@yahoo.com

I have a distinct feeling that we have entered a new phase of confidence that our efforts to save Tara will succeed!
Join the effort in any way you can.
There is a growing sense that we can turn this around - get a change of route for the M3, –shorter and cheaper and less destructive.
We will save the royal domain of Tara, after all is said and done!

Print out the b&w information handbill and share it around at work, at school, at gigs.  
Download it here:
http://www.globalartscollective.org/acf/downloads.htm

Anam Cara for Tara!
(Anam Cara means "soul friend" in Irish / Gaelic)

Maireid
Anam Cara for Tara arts action campaign
and GlobalArtsCollective.org
http://www.globalartscollective.org


DUBLIN

Wednesday 5th September 2007

News Release

For immediate release

HARPERS OF IRELAND AT DÁIL TO SAVE TARA

 
On Saturday 22nd September 2007 at 3 p.m. the harpers of Ireland will gather at Dáil Éireann to demonstrate publicly the strength of their opposition to the destruction of historic cultural sites at the Tara/Skryne Valley as a result of the current route of the M3 motorway.  The harpers will assemble with their harps along Kildare Street, and will submit a petition to Minister John Gormley insisting he implement alternatives to the continued destruction which is taking place.
 
Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument, the harp, as its national emblem. This indicates the primacy of the harp in Irish culture. The sites currently under threat are inextricably linked with the harping and bardic traditions for more than 2,500 years.  
 
Tara was the gathering place for thousands of harpers to 142 kings, and the harp was an integral part of the ancient Irish parliament at Tara. The harp has been used in the coat of arms of Ireland since 1270 and is the symbol of the Irish State today. It is found in the seals of the President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Government Ministers, on State currency and is the insignia of the Irish Law Courts.
It is an outrage that the Irish people should be forced to choose between infrastructure and heritage.  As a country we are embarrassed internationally by profit-driven, shortsighted planning as exemplified by the fact that World Monument Fund has placed Tara on its list of 100 most endangered sites worldwide.
Many can rightly point out that it would be an archaeological loss, and a historical one. It is also a spiritual loss, since even before the conversion by St Patrick of Ireland’s High Kings it was a place where the Irish sought to express their spirituality. And significantly for us as a nation, it was the place of birth of Christianity in Ireland.  The gathering of harpers says that it is also a musical and cultural loss and asserts that the sound of Tara’s harp will not be drowned by traffic jams and the cash registers of toll plazas.
Further information from www.myspace.com/TaraHarpers
Laoise Kelly Tel. 086 2603405 or laoise.kelly@face.ie
Anne-Marie O’Farrell 01-2966222 or 087-2348964 or amofharp@iol.ie
 
Tara Harper's PETITION
HARPERS FOR TARA


Dear Minister,

We, the undersigned HARPERS OF IRELAND, strongly object to the continued destruction of historic cultural sites at the Tara/Skryne valley as a result of the current route of the M3 motorway. If these sites are destroyed it will also have been an intentional and willful destruction of the home of the national symbol of Ireland.
 
Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument, the harp, as its national emblem. This indicates the primacy of the harp in Irish culture. The sites currently under threat are inextricably linked with the harping and bardic traditions for more than 2,500 years.  
 
Tara was the gathering place for thousands of harpers to 142 kings, and the harp was an integral part of the ancient Irish parliament at Tara. The harp has been used in the coat of arms of Ireland since 1270 and is the symbol of the Irish State today. It is found in the seals of the President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Government Ministers, on State currency and is the insignia of the Irish Law Courts.
 
Many of the undersigned harpers have represented Ireland all over the world. We wish to continue to do so with pride in a country, which provides necessary transport infrastructure without destroying its valuable and irreplaceable cultural heritage.
 
We ask you to act without delay in rerouting the M3 motorway away from the Tara/Skryne valley using the shorter, cheaper route that does not impact so disastrously on our shared cultural heritage.