4. If you are not originally from Ireland, do you have Irish ancestry? If so, around what year did your family emigrate? In which country do you currently live?
5.
Are you now or have you ever been a local to area around the Valley of Tara? If you are local, do you feel Tara is particularly important to your community?
6. How old were you when you first visited Tara? How many times have you visited Tara and for what purpose? On average, how many times per year do you visit Tara? Is there a particular person or group that joins you when you visit Tara?
7. As a child, did your family tell you stories about Tara? If so, please describe.
8. As a student did you learn about Tara or visit it for educational purposes? How much time, throughout your education, was dedicated to discussing Tara’s significance in Irish history?
9. Do you consider Tara to be the heartland of the Irish nation? Please explain.
10. Is the Hill of Tara a central part of your identity as an Irish person? Please explain.
11. Are you a member of any of the clans of Ireland? Please list any surnames of your family affiliated with the clans in Ireland. What significance do you place on the clan system in Ireland? Does the clan system help you to understand your heritage?
12. Are you aware that several clans in Ireland can trace their lineages directly to the Kings that ruled from Tara? How do you know? Can you trace your family lineage to any of the High Kings of Tara?
13. Do you consider the people buried at Tara your ancestors? In a general sense, do you consider your ancestors as part of your family?
14. Did you have any knowledge of the planning process that took place before the M3 motorway was given planning permission in 2003? Do you think there was adequate public consultation? Was there adequate access to information? Do you believe the authorities made the right decision?
15. Why do you believe certain politicians are willing to denigrate this site? Do you think the officials took your rights and the rights of other Irish people into account when devising their development plan for Motorway M3? Why or why not?
16. Do you believe that there was corruption involved in the planning process for the M3? If not, do you believe that there was cronyism?
17. Did you participate in any of the protests, vigils or ceremonies at Tara in response to Motorway M3? If so, what were the dates of those events? What did you want to express, personally and as a group, by attending the event? Were you able to express your opinion freely? What activities did the group undertake during the protest or vigil? Did Gardai come to the event? Did a Garda ever speak to you personally? If so, what did they say? What was the Garda’s name and rank? Were you ever told you could be arrested? If so, for what reason? What was the outcome?
18. Do you think the court cases brought by Vincent Salafia and others to protect the site were handled fairly? Why or why not? Did your opinion of the court system change because of this case? If so, please explain.
19. Is the site spiritually significant to you? Please explain. Is the Valley of Tara considered sacred?
20. In general, please explain the role of ancient heritage sites in your spiritual identity and practices (e.g. pilgrimages, etc.). Have you ever visited the Tara for seasonal celebrations or for some other religious purpose? Have you ever visited the sacred wells at Tara?
21. Do you think the government would treat another heritage site in this way if associated with Christianity? What role do religious institutions play in the protection of heritage sites?
22. Does the Hill of Tara serve you or your family economically, in the sense of bringing tourists to your town or business, or by any other means?
23. The Motorway M3 has disturbed several grave sites and permanently changed the landscape at Tara. Please provide any additional details about how the Motorway impacts you and your family in relation to the issues discussed above; namely, religion, education, freedom of speech (right to protest), right to a judicial remedy, identity, ancestry, and business.
24. The purported purpose for the M3 Motorway was to assist with rural development. Do you think Motorway M3 will help the area economically? If so, was it the best option? Please explain.
25. Will the tolls on the new Motorway M3 bear negative consequences for you economically? Will the tolls prevent you from travelling as often as before? If so, which persons or locations will you need to limit visiting as a result of the tolls? Will the tolls prevent you from visiting the Hill of Tara as frequently as before?
26. Are you now or have you ever been a local to area in and around the Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth) World Heritage Site? If you are local, do you feel it is particularly important to your community?
27. Please explain the cultural importance of Brú na Bóinne for you and your family.
28. Describe your visits to the Brú na Bóinne. How old were you when you first visited Brú na Bóinne? How many times have you visited Tara and for what purpose? On average, how many times per year do you visit Brú na Bóinne? Is there a particular person or group that joins you when you visit Brú na Bóinne?
29. As a child, did your family tell you stories about Brú na Bóinne? If so, please describe.
30. As a student did you learn about Brú na Bóinne or visit it for educational purposes? How much time, throughout your education, was dedicated to discussing Brú na Bóinne s significance in Irish history?
31. There are current plans to build the N2 bypass beside Brú na Bóinne. Do you believe Meath County Council made the right decision in proposing the eastern route, instead of a western route around Slane? Do you think the bypass is even necessary, or would the Heavy Goods Vehicles Ban proposed for Slane suffice?
32. Did you have any foreknowledge of the public consultation that took place for the N2 Slane bypass motorway, which closed in January 2010? Do you think there was adequate public consultation? Was there adequate access to information? Was it easy to make a submission?
33. Why do you believe certain politicians are willing to denigrate this site? Do you think the officials took your rights and the rights of other Irish people into account when devising their development plan for N2 Slane bypass? Why or why not?
34. Do you believe that there was corruption involved in the planning process for the N2 Slane bypass? If not, do you believe that there was cronyism?
35. Are there any other cultural heritage sites, of importance to you, which have been damaged in the past, or are currently under threat? Please describe why the site is important, and the nature of the threat.
36. How concerned are you about denigration to Irish cultural heritage sites? Please describe how these actions affect you personally, members of your family, and your community.
37. Do you believe that the laws in place are strong enough to protect heritage sites in Ireland? If so, do you believe they are being properly enforced?
38. Do you believe you have constitutional and human rights to have heritage sites protected? Heritage site protection is often an issue of tourism development. Is this an effective and adequate strategy for dealing with this issue in Ireland? Why or why not?
39. What kind of policies and practices would lead to a more balanced approach to ensure rural and national development, while protecting cultural sites? What role do you think communities should have in formulating policies and supervising practices?
40. What do you think should be done legally or politically to ensure other sites are not harmed in this way? (e.g. changing general theories or practices about development, national consultation, repealing National Heritage Amendment Act, reinstating a state agency to supervise heritage sites, etc.)
41. What should be done to rectify the harms already committed at the Hill of the Tara (prevent further development, reburial of human remains, etc.)? What would it mean to you if these steps were not taken?
42. Do you have any additional comments you would like to make?
43. Would you be willing to give a declaration for a human rights petition to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/)? If so, please provide your name, telephone number and email address. If you prefer contact via telephone, please also provide the best days and times to contact you. In the alternative, please feel free to contact Vincent Salafia (
salafia@gmail.com) or Matt Schwoebel (
matt.schwoebel@gmail.com) with any comments or questions.
You can write to
TaraWatch, Suite 108,
The Capel Building,
Mary’s Abbey,
Dublin 7.
Ireland.
