TARA: Press Release on behalf of the Tara Solidarity Vigil Camp

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TARA: Press Release on behalf of the Tara Solidarity Vigil Camp

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Apparently, the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) did more damage with their vehicles during the process of removing structures at the Hill of Tara vigil camp than the "cultural creatives" who have been keeping Vigil did during two years of camping there. One of the vigil keepers, Debbie Reilly said, "Now with all the structures gone we can see what little impact the camp had there. Only circles of flattened grass remain. Now the main concern is will the OPW honour their commitment to the meeting they agreed to in the presence of a Garda (irish policeman) for the 19th May."
EXCERPT: There are approx 30 vigil keepers surrounding the TiPi housing
the fire adamant that they have the right to continue holding the
Vigil and practice their individual and collective beliefs. Several
of these people were assaulted by the privately hired security
company in the presence of Gardai, and will be filing charges.
Otherwise, there is a great atmosphere, music + drums, children's
laughter in the air. Energy is positive and spirits are high in the
Summer sun. This is why the Vigil has attracted visitors from the 4
corners of the world in the 23months of it's existence.

Press Release on behalf of the Tara Solidarity Vigil Camp–

8th May 2008

At approx 10:30 this morning, the Office of Public Works launched an
eviction attempt on the Tara Solidarity Vigil Camp, which is in situ
on public land.

The Vigil is "a non-hierarchical peoples' solidarity vigil, here in
support of local people and all individuals and groups in the
campaigns to Save Tara. We are adamant in our non-affiliation with
any particular political or religious parties but welcome any friends
of Tara to the sacred Vigil Fire, which has been burning continuously
since the Summer Solstice, 21st of June 2006".

This morning, 20 OPW employees, up to 15 MD Security Workers and 20
Gardaí entered the camp and began to dismantle temporary structures
which are used daily by the Vigil Keepers. The structures include a
Temple, several dwellings and meeting huts. The Temple, which was
made of wood, was desecrated by chainsaw as the Keepers looked on in
shock. Their priority was to hold their ground protecting the sacred
flame within the Vigil TiPi. To add insult to injury, hidden within
the group of MD Security workers, wearing their logo was a known
Ferrovial employee.

Ferrovial Agroman, a Spanish company, are one of the companies, in
conjunction with SIAC, who are contracted to build the controversial
M3 motorway. This begs to further question the repeated cooperation
between the Gardaí and private security for SIAC/ Ferrovial Agroman,
on the back of the demolition of the Direct Action Protest Camp at
Rath Lugh on 17th Apr2008.

The OPW Archaeologist onsite stated, and has been recorded that she
would "personally put out the fire". Both the OPW onsite and the
Gardaí were initially refusing to acknowledge the sacredness of the
fire and in doing so are not upholding an individual's right to
religious worship/practice. The OPW have also admitted on camera
that this was not an official eviction, and that they didn't even
have the official documentation or method statement to carry out the
activity.

When negotiations were finally possible, the Gardaí were not able to
quote specifically any law that would allow them to extinguish this
sacred fire. Talks since have produce a guarantee from Ms Fionnula
Parnell, Archaeologist from the National Monuments Department OPW, in
the presence of a Gardai, that no attempt to remove the fire, or the
TiPi housing it until the outcome of an agreed meeting on 19th May
2007. There are approx 30 vigil keepers surrounding the TiPi housing
the fire adamant that they have the right to continue holding the
Vigil and practice their individual and collective beliefs. Several
of these people were assaulted by the privately hired security
company in the presence of Gardai, and will be filing charges.
Otherwise, there is a great atmosphere, music + drums, children's
laughter in the air. Energy is positive and spirits are high in the
Summer sun. This is why the Vigil has attracted visitors from the 4
corners of the world in the 23months of it's existence.
Ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has in the past forewarned of dangerous
trends in modern society "So much of what is happening within our
society and in the wider world is bound up with questions of
religion, religious identity and religious belief," he said, "that
governments which refuse or fail to engage with religious communities
and religious identities risk failing in their fundamental duties to
their citizens." The Irish Constitution (Article 8) recognises that
citizens have a right to "Freedom of conscience and the free
profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and
morality, guaranteed to every citizen, and no law may be made either
directly or indirectly to endow any religion or prohibit or restrict
the free exercise thereof or give any preference, or impose any
disability on account of religious belief or religious status". The
European Constitution (Part II - The Charter of Fundamental Rights of
the Union) Article II-70 recognises "Freedom of thought, conscience
and religion: 1) Everyone has the right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change
religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or in private, to manifest religion or belief,
in worship, teaching, practice and observance".

We, the Vigil Keepers, call on Minister John Gormley, as Minister of
the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
responsible for State Managed Visitor Services, to officially
acknowledge the sacred Vigil Fire on the Hill of Tara.

For verification call Debbie Reilly on 086 175 8557

Issued on behalf of the Tara Solidarity Vigil
Joanne Corbett 086 6030389 www.savetara.com