Experts had warned for years that the M3 should never have been routed through the Gabhra (Tara-Skreen) Valley.
What we refer to today as a “henge” are two related architectural forms that come from the late Neolithic and the early Bronze age. They date from about 2500 to 1800BC and may consist of banks, earth enclosures and also timber circles and that is what we have in this case. Rath Medb at is an example of the earthen enclosure. The best known henge is of course Stonehenge.

Related Links: Tara Watch submits DVD on Tara to Government. | Roestown national monument at Tara removed | Press statement from Campaign to Save Tara | Tara; The Inconvenient Truth by Martin Hogan, NUI Senate Candidate | Tara; The Inconvenient Truth by Martin Hogan, NUI Senate Candidate | Corruption Watch at Tara - Lets do some digging of our own

Lismullin site with Rath Lugh in the background 0.06 Mb Closer view of the area 0.05 Mb Details of the henge site 0.02 Mb Geophysical detail in context 0.03 Mb Lismullin on the map 0.03 Mb

Choice Ireland commends Tuesday's verdict in favour of “Miss D”s right to travel for an abortion. Nevertheless we are appalled by the treatment “Miss D” has received at the hands of our state. It is unacceptable that yet another woman has been dragged through the courts in order to vindicate her rights and her choice. It is also unacceptable that “Miss D” will now be forced overseas in order to exercise her choice to have an abortion.

Today is not a joyful day for Miss D. While she has finally gained the right to exercise her choice, she had to go through a lot to get to this point. She now has to face into the reality of an abortion. She must do this overseas away from the support of family and friends. She must then return to this country which, because it ignores the problem, has no proper free post-abortion care or counselling available. This is the situation for thousands of Irish women. |

Related Links: Images and Audio From Previous Rally | Alliance for Choice Calls "D" Case A Tragedy | Teenager Seeking Abortion Challenges HSE | Report of Rally In Support of Miss D | Doctors For Choice Advocate Choice | Founding Documents of Choice Ireland | Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminsit Group Hold Meeting On Choice and Class | A UCD Student Reports On Her Experience with Rogue Clinics | European Court Of Human Rights Turns To Restrictive Irish Abortion Law | Report From Rally At Rogue Information Clinic | Choice Ireland

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission opens for business

Today was the official opening of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The idea is to provide a civilian oversight of the Gardaí and provide a way for people to make complaints about the police without going through the Guards themselves. Unfortunately, only invited members of the corporate media were allowed into the opening, so this indymedia report is confined to the outside of the building.

Amazingly, the Gardaí tried to stop me taking pictures on the pavement outside, and even tried to block the camera. Eventually after trying to interrogate me they stopped and sulked from a distance. I think they realised that they couldn't arrest me outside the GSOC offices on their opening day, but they were certainly considering it for a while...

Related Links: Shell to Sea Complaints to Garda Ombudsman. | Your Rights & How to Deal with the Gardaí. | McDowell: Ireland's Next Top Model | Large Crowds Demand Justice For Terence Wheelock | Garda Ombudsman Site | Mickey McDowell Announces Ombudsman | Reclaiming the Streets: The Garda Review on Ballinaboy

The D-case of a 17 year old woman who has been prevented travelling to England for an abortion continued in the High Court today. A pro-choice solidarity rally took place outside as well as a brief anti-woman counter rally.

This was the first anti-woman counter rally during the case, it attracted less than 1/3 of the attendance of Saturdays pro-choice rally at the GPO despite the fact that many of the anti-woman activists had brought along young children to make up the numbers.

While the pro-choice rally ran from the morning into the afternoon the counter rally was only present for an hour - little more than photocall in the hope of getting media attention. 'D' refused to be intimidated by the counter rally and walked through it to enter the courts - they packed up and left shortly afterwards.

Related Links: Images and Audio From Previous Rally | Alliance for Choice Calls "D" Case A Tragedy | Teenager Seeking Abortion Challenges HSE | Report of Rally In Support of Miss D | Doctors For Choice Advocate Choice | Founding Documents of Choice Ireland | Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminist Group Hold Meeting On Choice and Class | A UCD Student Reports On Her Experience with Rogue Clinics | European Court Of Human Rights Turns To Restrictive Irish Abortion Law | Report From Rally At Rogue Information Clinic Choice Ireland WSM On Gender

Funnily enough the march was delayed as the organisers needed permission from the police to march down. The same Garda joked that they should have brought sniffer dogs. A kid who joined the march who was being photographed, said "I don't even smoke that shit"

There was a Father Ted moment or 5 when 'Ghost Town', by The Specials, was played over and over. Lot's of young (and some not so young!) chanted loudly "We're Not Criminals" and "Free the Weed".

There was a Labour Youth Banner and speaker at the very end, whose brevity was very welcomed after Ming of Roscommon fame, presented a rather academic, articulate and thorough defense for the uses of cannabis. He also outlined the personal cost that he has borne campaigning for the decriminalisation of cannabis. There were anarchists, socialists, republicans, nationalists, Irish, Catalan and Basque all taking part. The event had more of an air of the annual Gay Pride Parade. The representative from Labour Youth gave said that LY was committed to decriminalisation of cannabis.

Related Links: Johnny Potsmoker Takes To The Street | Another Photo Essay From Dublin's Marijuana March | Marijuana March: All This Canna-biz In Toronto | 2002 J-Day In Bushy Park | Cannabis Legalisation Ireland | Irish Centre For Cannabis Policy Reform | Legalise Cannabis Myspace | Cannabis On Erowid