Bremore next to be destroyed. Background Info

by Tara Tara Tara Tue Jun 02, 2009 16:53

The photos on the blogspot are horrifying! Here is a video I found online.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaqNJbq9jWE

Caption: Video Id: DaqNJbq9jWE Type: Youtube Video
The Importance of Bremore

by Tara Tara Tara Tue Jun 02, 2009 16:56

Expert lashes Bremore port location

Wednesday June 04 2008

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Balbriggan Historical Society, Professor George Eogan said the area on both sides of the Delvin River from Gormanston to Bremore is a large Megalithic cemetery dating from 3,500BC.
He said this has been recorded, researched and written about for well over 100 years and added the mounds on this site are legally protected under the National Monuments Act of 1930.

The meeting was attended by a number of luminaries including former Green Party leader Trevor Sergeant and the Fingal County Manager.

Prof Eogan believes that Bremore may have been the first point of entry for the settlements of what is now known as Fingal/East Meath and the Boyne Valley area.

He has written a detailed report on the history of the area and the historical value of the site at Bremore.

Local historian Brendan Matthews has also expressed his concerns about the development of a new port on such a historical site and raised the issue as far back as 2005.

He said that in the immediate vicinity of the proposed deep-water port, there are the remains of at least five megalithic tombs or burial chambers, while to the north of Bremore there are the remains of at least another six tombs scattered over a wide area from Knocknagin to Lowther Lodge.

However, responding to the professor?s report and lecture, CEO of Drogheda Port, Paul Fleming said they recognise that there is archaeology at Bremore and will deal with it in an upfront and professional manner.

He said the archaeology of the site was just one element in what was a complicated and multi-faceted site selection process which took two years to complete.

Other factors included the importance of the deep water site, the road network and accessibility, the absence of any major residential activity, the availability of a landbank and the environmental impact in terms of its carbon footprint, he said.The archaeology is just one of the elements involved and we will deal with that in an upfront way. We have engaged our consultants who will carry out an environmental impact study (EIS) and they will be working with us over the next six to nine months,? he said.We intend to deal with the archaeology in a world-class manner and we will, of course, take on board anything said by Professor Eogan.?

by peek a boo Fri Jun 26, 2009 15:09

Hi Carmel,

Myself and a friend visited Bremore yesterday. We were shocked to see the state of the mounds. It is indeed a most scenic area and it would be a real shame to destroy it. We had meant to visit sooner back when we saw the article initially but now that we have we are wondering if anything has been done about the destruction since it was first reported. Thank you for doing this as the destruction of our heritage is a tragic.

by Carmel Diviney Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:34

Hi Peekaboo,

Thanks for your interest. It has been reported to Neil Ryan OPW, Pat Keane Built Heritage Service- Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Garda Brendan O Brien of Balbriggan Garda station.

I have astonishing and alarming correspondence from Pat Keane which I will publish after the weekend to give him a chance to reply to my last email. Having said that I would like to thank Neil Ryan who has been very helpful.

There will be a Walk and Talk Info Tour to the Bremore Mounds Complex on Sunday 19th July with Guest speakers and an Uilleann Piper. Details are to be announced shortly. Hope to see you there.

by thegreenspirit - private Sun Jun 28, 2009 19:46

Thanks for highlighting what is going on at Bremore. This is the next Tara. If we allow it then what is next? our own graves? our land as a graveyard? Fight on.

by TaraTaraTara Wed Jul 01, 2009 09:56

The land owner has a duty of care and must adhere to the Preservation
Order. They must apply in writing for Ministerial Consent before they
can interfere with the monument in any way.

Information from www.environ.ie: Preservation Orders (PO)

"While the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
seeks the co-operation of all persons and bodies in protecting our
archaeological heritage, Preservation Orders may be made, as required,
to secure the protection of national monuments of archaeological
interest.

Under Section 8 of the National Monument Act 1930 (as amended) the
Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, can place a
preservation order on a monument, if in the Ministers' opinion, it is a
national monument in danger of being or is actually being destroyed,
injured or removed or is falling into decay through neglect.

The Preservation Order ensures that the monument shall be safeguarded
from destruction, alteration, injury, or removal, by any person or
persons. For example, no ploughing, digging, renovation or restoration
can be carried out to the monument or in proximity to it without the
written consent of the Minister.

By virtue of the Order any person found injuring the monument or
interfering with it without Ministerial consent is committing an offence
and is liable on conviction to heavy penalties."

by Sean Gilmartin Thu Jul 02, 2009 09:58

Close up of the Fógra taken 28-11-08

by Carmel Diviney Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:02

Hi Sean,

Thanks so much for that photo as there is now a dispute as to who is responsible for signage at Bremore whether it be OPW or Dept of Environment Heritage and Local Government. Neither seem to think it is their responsibility according to emails recieved. I have forwarded the photo on.

I have obtained a PDF map of the area covered by the Preservation Order 1976 . It shows that the Preservation Order applies to the main mound and one other satellite mound only- not the entire complex. According to the Archaeologist employed by the Dept of the Environment Tombs 1-4 are contained within the main mound. This seems extraordinary to me ( I am not an Archaeologist) as even to the naked eye it is evident that what he has termed " outcrops" in his report are indeed mounds and are categorised as Passage Tombs in the Recorded Monuments and Places. The co ordinates for all of them are

GPS Main Mound O 19728 65997 (7m)

The GPS readings for the other mounds are:

O 19663 66002,
O 19691 65998,
O 19780 65979 &
O 19821 65910.

I am still waiting for clarification to further queries. .

Regarding concerns over the proximity of ploughing to the tombs, the DOE have stated that they will monitor the monuments in the Preservation Order area and contact the Landowner later in the Summer at harvest-time to ensure that an appropriate perimeter is maintained. The Archaeologist's Report states however, that the Landowner is willing to meet with them again AFTER the harvesting in late Aug-Sept in order to peg out a perimeter and discuss future requirements. I am waiting for clarification on this matter also.

During my last visit at the weekend I found evidence of previous "pegged out" barbed wire fencing around the mound which was knocked over and removed to fascillitate ploughing thus allowing encroachment up onto the mound. I have enquired whether there will be any supervision of the harvest when the mound will be vulnerable to further damage again but am still waiting for a reply. I shudder, along with the mound, at the thought of more heavy machinery getting that close to it again. There is a high probability of damage to the stone structure from the vibrations.

One more matter of concern is that my complaint referred to damage to ALL of the mounds but somehow this was misunderstood to be the one mound SW of the main structure only. You will see that the photographs in the blog are of damage to ALL of the surrounding mounds not just this one. I find it impossible to believe that this was misunderstood especially after a site visit by the Archaeologist who must have inspected the whole area? In his conclusions the Archaeologist states that no significant damage has occurred to the mounds. See the blog photos and judge for yourself. Good job we have this evidence as it is hard, but not impossible, to see the damage now with crops growing high all around. This was not the case at the time of his visit though.

Are there any INDEPENDENT Archaeologists out there interested in furthering the Bremore cause ? Whether intentionally or not I seem to be getting the run around. I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt seeing as the DOE are now being very helpful so lets hope any " misunderstandings" can be cleared up. I would like to see an independent report stating that the "outcrops" are indeed mounds and therefore the PO line should be extended in order to protect the whole complex especially if the area will be under threat from development. If you can help please get in contact. Thank you.

I will try to find out how to publish the PDF map here of the Preservation Order area and post it as soon as I can!

by bardnamara Thu Jul 02, 2009 13:00

Preservation orders we hope have some validity!
Experiences at Tara lead us into doubt...............

Preservation Order 1

Preservation Order 2

by Carmel Diviney Thu Jul 02, 2009 13:19

Thanks for helping bardnamara!!!

Yes indeed the Preservation Order on Rath Lugh was a joke .

by thegreenspirit - Private Thu Jul 02, 2009 19:30

Again thanks for highlighting the shoddy inacurate approach of those who are supposed to be the guardians of our heritage. In Ireland we seem to have a hatred of our heritage and in many cases we seem to wish it away, Why?
Like at Tara Bremore is being prepared for the bulldozers and its now it needs help. So people get involved now, we still have time. Thanks again.

by peadar ocealliagh - tara taliban Thu Jul 02, 2009 23:19

Its very simple within the planning of Irish heritage and other public services, people who hate this country have taken over, and are planning it into choas and destruction as a deliberate act, and its time ireland took back its country.

Act now, with force if necessary, as our governmnet have sold out they are politcially inept in any case and cannot manage our economy. Would Fianna Gael value our heritage and social requirements, i doubt it.

Unless the remaining greens do the honourable thing and resign and force a general election (and then get their memebers to stand again on principles and truth as was their original motivation & mandate) they will never see power again, if they resign now, they will increase their tds as people will respect their courage.

A co-alition of those who care for ireland is needed (new parties, new life) and i would include sinn fein & rsf within that, and it needs to be done now. Greens remaining ...RESIGN.

This is Irelands real emergency, and yes the land can protect itself and those that come against it inside or ourside its terrority are nonplussed as they receive like for like.

by Carmel Diviney - Save Bremore! Tue Jul 07, 2009 13:57

Hi all,

There will be a Walk n Talk Tour on Sunday 19th July to the Bremore Tombs to raise awareness. It will be a family day out with lots of fascinating talks and music by Terry Tuite on the Uilleann Pipes. The image of an Uilleann Piper playing on the main mound against the sea backdrop is very powerful to me :) I am sure it is going to be a wonderful day.

Meet 1.30pm in the Car park of the Huntsman's Inn at Gormanstown Cross (101 bus) on the M1 just outside Balbriggan , heading towards Drogheda.

Guest Speakers

Sean Gilmartin: Ancient Myths, Legends and Astronomical Allignments

Jim Walsh, Balbriggan Historical Society : Local History in relation to Bremore

The Irish Seal Sanctuary

Other Speakers to be announced.
MC: Tomás Mac Cormac.

Please spread the word, we want as many people as possible to turn up. Thanks.

Carmel

by Sean Cr Wed Jul 15, 2009 09:32

You refer to meeting ‘’in the car park of the Huntsman’s Inn at Gormanston Cross on on the M1’’. The Huntsman is in fact on the R132 (previously known as the N1). Best directions are: ‘’Take Exit 7 off the M1 (near the North City Hotel) and follow signs for Gormanston and Balbriggan’’ or ‘’Latecomers – come directly to Delvin Bridge on the R132, under the large ‘Fáilte Go Fingal’ sign’’

by Carmel Diviney Wed Jul 15, 2009 19:53

Thanks Sean Cr !

I got my directions on the internet looking for the Huntsman's Inn as I wouldnt know them otherwise- I just drive there on auto pilot but yours sound perfect to me ! Its easy to find the Huntsman's Inn anyway, ya cant miss it for anyone left wondering. Also, a great idea to meet latecomers at the Delvin Bridge too as we will be heading to the tomb complex down that way.

See you there :)

by Carmel Diviney Mon Jul 20, 2009 16:01

Yesterdays Walk 'n Talk was wonderful, big big thanks to everyone who showed up and helped make it such a success.

We started at 1.30 by heading off towards the Delvin River where we were met by local historian Brendan Mathews. He gave us a fascinating account of the many places of interest in the vicinity. There is plenty to come back to explore another day and he has promised to guide us through the ancient monuments of the Gormanstown area. Our itinerary was full with Bremore yesterday but we will definitely be back for that !

From there we headed towards the beach led by three members of the Balbriggan Historical Society. Sean Crosson spoke to us about the historical significance and importance of the places we passed such as the Viaduct, Lowther Lodge and the old Harbour. There is so much of interest here and he had a wealth of interesting information to share with us. We walked along the beach amid sun showers enjoying the fresh air and good company, eventually reaching the main mound of Bremore. Here Sean Gilmartin gave a fascinating talk on the ancient myths associated with the area and its astronomical allignments. He explained some fascinating facts such as how the entrance to Lismullin Henge at Tara points to Bremore's main mound 26 km away and how this allignment goes over the northern area of Ard Cath where the Fianna met before the Battle of Gabhra. Joanne Corbett read an extract from John O' Donoghue on Beauty while we admired the stunning views of the Cooley and Mourne Mountains.

Terry Tuite played the Uilleann Pipes for us from the centre of the mound adding yet another magical element to the surrounds. Unfortunately the rain came and he was no longer able to play them but he had another trick up his sleeve and treated us to Mná na hÉireann on the tin whistle. We all joined hands as he called upon the female energies of the land and expressed our hope to save the planet.

Mearby there is a Wishing Chair which according to local lore never fails- so we all had a go! :) Then we headed back up the beach returning via the mound of Knocknagin where we spent some more time before heading to Fourknocks. It was getting late so some people didnt accompany us any further but the ones that did were treated to some more excellent Uilleann Pipe and Harp music by Terry as well as song from Tomás Mac Cormac. We finally ended our magical day at 8pm heading home exhausted from all the walking and talking. What a fabulous day!

Special thanks go to Sean Crosson of the Balbriggan Historical Society, Sean Gilmartin, Terry Tuite and MC Tomás Mac Cormac.

The Tour begins

Sean Crosson speaks about local history

Admiring the views

Sean Gilmartin enthralls the crowd

Magical Music- Terry Tuite on Uilleann Pipes

by Thegreenspirit - Private Thu Jul 23, 2009 00:07

I once believed that there were old libraries, institutes and academies in existence, with books, reports and studies on places like Bremore, Rath Lugh etc, describing and explaining what they were, what they meant and why they were built etc.
I was wrong.
I once imagined too, a book in which a house breaker broke into an old Georgian building which was about to be demolished and while inside found on a window ledge a sheaf of letters, wrote, addresses and made ready but never sent. Time and circumstance had gotten between the intention and plan.
The intruder opened the letters though and while reading them came to an understanding about what the person who wrote the letters felt, understood, wanted and dreamed off.
I now believe that places like Bremore, Rath Lugh and all the other old sites linked to our past are like that; a sheaf of letters left for us to find, decipher and understand, even if it means tricking the destroyers and breaking in, in some way, to find them while it is still possible, while there is still time.
These are letters I believe that were written in stone and soil by a people who were our uhr-parents and closer to the genesis of life than we were.
Therefore they were closer to the truth about the plan, about what is possible and why we exist.
I believe that there must be a plan, if not then all is chaos and so only destruction will show results.

by Tara Tara Tara Fri Jul 24, 2009 08:57

It dosnt help when you come face to face with so called Archaeologists like the one we met on Sunday who was there waiting for us when we reached the mound. He just smiled and denied what was right in front of him based on what looks to have been a sloppy survey by Rynne in the 60s. I dont recall this guy's name but he said the further two mounds are not archaeologoical features.This is the position of the Dept of the Environment. He towed the line instead of opening his eyes. He even told us that they are not on the Record of Monuments and Places- see lead article for their recorded numbers and description above. These are raised elongated mounds surrounded by large rocks marking their boundaries. They need to be investigated and proved to be archeological features so that the preservation order will be extended to protect the whole complex. It is possible to do this with non ground breaking equipment such as LiDAR!

I have a different attitude to archaeology now after seeing first hand what "they" did at Tara. Those letters you speak of Green Spirit, if I broke in and read them I would take them and keep them and hide them from the bastards that are bent on their destruction. They wouldnt get a damn thing as I would take everything including bodies and put them somewhere safe not in plastic buckets in some leaky damp warehouse. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

by Patrick Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:39

This looks like more cultural genocide to me.

"The reckless destruction of world heritage sites is tantamount to cultural genocide. The Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property defines such acts as 'violations of international law'."  (From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Khut8xbXK8 - viewed by over 2,217,000 )

Cultural genocide, Hague Convention, Republic of Ireland:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Cultural+genocide%...&aqi=

by Imbloc57 - Private Sun Jul 26, 2009 09:33

Last Spring I watched Fingal CoCo search for a leak in a sewerage pipe. They had a small machine like a children’s toy which was made from steel, with steel wheels, it had a tiny digital camera with lights attached to it and it was guided from a monitor on a truck by wires. It was sent a hundred meters up a pipe, crawling its way to where it found the leak, photographed it and then from the truck the point was marked and made ready for repair.
If they can use these machines for sewerage pipes why can’t they do likewise with burial mounds? Bremore they tell us is a possible burial cemetery; we know that it is a very, very old one and one that may be a sort of mothership for all that was to come at Tara/The Boyne valley/Brega, yet no one at Fingal CoCo seem to consider it worth even study.
Tens of thousands can be spent marking out possible sites for development but not a penny can be found for heritage, environmental protection or history.
However if we really are that broke, if we really can’t afford normal non invasive archaeological equipment could we not borrow and make do with that machine mentioned above. Even for a week! It would be perfectly possible to bore a small opening into the side of the main mounds at Bremore, Knocknagin etc, 100cm in diameter and feed the machine in, then move it around the interior, photographing what is there and thus finally documenting it for further interest or study.
When finished the opening could be closed by blowing a mix of clay and powered cement into it, the moisture in the soil would cause the cement to expand and set and so the tomb would again be sealed, if necessary forever.
That is just one small but obtainable and cheep solution. If successful our heritage department could then buy just one of these machines and use it all across our land, they could examine ten sites per year and reach definite conclusions on them, on us and our past.
The strange mystical beauty of our ancient art, artefacts etc could be made available to our children in photo form instead of leaving them to the destruction of gravediggers, road builders or farmers tractors which is now happening with increasing regularity. Could do, will do? No.

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Sun Jul 26, 2009 13:08

This is the latest non-invasive method of surveying. Here is the one of the Hill, up close the detail is quite extraordinary. This is what should be done at Bremore.

http://www.unipg.it/COSTactionA27/parks-activities/hill...5.htm

by a pixie Mon Jul 27, 2009 08:42

Lidar is great but I love the idea of the little machine mentioned by Imbolc 57 so that we can see inside the mounds. Someone at a Green meeting over the weekend asked Gormley about Bremore and he said it definitly wont be going ahead. Thats great! I doubt that the decision has anything to do with the archaeology but more to do with the present financial situation. They seem pretty determined to do it somewhere and rumours abound that they may move up the coast a bit to Gormanstown, another area of heritage and archaeological significance. We will have to wait untill September before the plans are revealed and planning permission applied for so until then...

by imbolc57 - Private Mon Jul 27, 2009 21:17

On our day out at Bremore I walked across the road from the Huntsman’s Inn and down a narrow lane to the sea. On the right, down at the beach is the Army’s Gormonstown Firing Range, soon it is rumoured to be closed and sold and on the left was a very large site with bulldozers working on it. This may be the 200 acres which Meath CoCo have bought. It runs right down to the beach.
We all know now that there are many old burial sites along here, in the firing range itself and one even visible when the tide goes out on the beach but there were no signs of archaeology, interest or care on the site being worked. I walked around it and left. I make no apologies for the fact that I am anti development, we have enough sites, factories shopping centres and ports lying idle that will do for the next three incarnations, we need further development like we need cancer but I also know that having planned a port at Bremore it will go ahead. Remember there is an orbital road planned too, that will link in with it.
The planning laws are soon to be changed, it used to be a five year planning application, if the development was not complete in five years then the permission was null and void, now Mr Gormley is going to amend that to having a planning application open for much longer, up to fifteen years maybe, so regardless how long it takes they will despoil that coast.
It is as if devils are driving them to do it. Don’t relax regardless of what the Greens say, money has already moved in there and the bulldozers too.

by Carmel Diviney - Save Bremore! Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:30

State has rare chance to get hold of key land- Irish Independent

By Maeve Dineen and Joe Brennan

Friday July 31 2009

THE Government may use its new role as the biggest property owner in the world to promote its economic and social policy through land re-zonings, planning permissions and provision of services like roads and communications.

The banks may also receive a higher price for loans on land and property which might be suitable for future development.

Informed sources last night said that the Government now had a unique opportunity, through NAMA, to get hold of strategically important tracts of land.

This would allow the Government to develop coherent spatial planning by matching zoning and the supply of services to its new holdings of suitable development land.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said that while NAMA had a commercial mandate and its function was to maximise return to the taxpayer, he was "not ruling out the possibility that useful social opportunities may emerge". But he quickly added that he was not out to "rig the system".

The draft legislation states that the Environment Minister will provide analyses on the extent to which existing zonings and planning permissions meet or exceed expected growth.

Meanwhile, the Dublin Transport Authority and the National Transport Authority will supply data on transport plans and the need to acquire land.

Debt

As well as affecting the value of the properties, future development could increase the price which NAMA eventually gets for properties it has taken over.

Last night, the Government remained hopeful that bonds NAMA will use to pay for banks' risky property loans will be kept off the national debt figure.

With the 'bad bank' widely expected to pay well over €60bn for the bank loans, the national debt could almost double from an expected €70bn at the end of this year.

However, it is understood that if NAMA, as a commercial entity, pays for the loans mainly in the form of government-backed bonds, rather than actual government bonds, it would be able to keep the debt off the State's balance sheet.

However, the Department of Finance said yesterday that it would have to have further discussions with European Union authorities on the matter. The issue has become all the more important in a year when the Government is already borrowing €25bn in the international markets to keep the country afloat. This has been met with a dim view by leading credit ratings agencies.

Meanwhile, NAMA expects to buy the bonds back from the banks over time, as the bad bank generates a return from its activities.

- Maeve Dineen and Joe Brennan

by Sean Gilmartin Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:40

Many thanks to all who turned up for the very enjoyable day.

Brendan Mathews speaks about local archaeology

Connecting at Fourknocks Tomb

by thegreenspirit - Private Mon Aug 31, 2009 13:01

Here is a piece from Friday’s Irish Times. It is a very puzzling piece of writing but it seems to say that Treasury Holdings is burst. If they are going to hand over their assets to Nama then they must be.
If so how can they develop Bremore as they had planned and signed up to do ????

Leading developer says Nama will be positive for economy.
BARRY O'HALLORAN
ONE OF the State’s biggest property developers believes Nama will take over most of its assets, but that the process will benefit both it and the economy.
The Government’s plan to recapitalise the banks hinges on the proposed National Asset Management Agency (Nama), which will take over up to €90 billion in property loans.
Listed property investor Real Estate Opportunities (REO), whose biggest shareholder, the John Ronan and Richard Barrett-controlled Treasury Holdings, is Nama’s landlord, believes the agency will take over the loans it has from the banks.
John Bruder, managing director of Treasury Ireland which is part of the Treasury Holdings group, told The Irish Times yesterday that the company has studied the draft Nama legislation. He said the agency could take over good and bad loans. “It’s our expectation that a lot, if not all, of our portfolio will end up being subsumed into Nama,” he said. Mr Bruder added that, unlike other players in the market, none of REO’s loans are distressed. The company owns a large number of commercial and retail properties, including the landmark Central Park complex close to Leopardstown in Dublin, Montevetro on Barrow Street in the city centre, and a range of others in the capital’s main business district. In Britain, it owns the flagship Battersea power station, which it is redeveloping as a new urban centre.
REO yesterday reported that its Irish properties, including investment assets and those under development, were worth just over €1.3 billion at the end of June, an 8 per cent fall over the previous six months. Its British interests were worth £388 million, a decline of 14.5 per cent. Mr Bruder said that if loans related to part or all of its portfolio are taken over by Nama, it will simply mean that the company will be repaying the agency instead of the banks. If the Oireachtas passes the legislation on schedule, Nama will begin its work towards the end of the year on a phased basis, taking on the larger loans first. On that basis, REO expects to begin dealing with agency around December or January.
Under the terms of the proposed legislation, Nama will assume the banks’ rights and obligations in relation to any loans it takes over.
Mr Bruder added that the Nama process should be positive for both the company and the economy generally, as it will allow the banks to raise money that can then be loaned.
Nama’s critics argue that it will result in the taxpayer taking on too much risk as the State will overpay for the loans.
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times. 28/08/09

by TaraTaraTara Mon Aug 31, 2009 15:49

One lives in hope!

by thegreenspirit - Private Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:04

Today I read in the Irish Times the following article

Port threat to passage tombs
by Frank Mc Donald, environmental Editor
AN TAISCE has warned that the proposed deepwater port at Bremore, north Co Dublin, could threaten an archaeological complex of passage tombs even older than Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley. The environmental trust was commenting yesterday on plans by Drogheda Port to extend its boundary southwards so as to incorporate Bremore for development of the deepwater port in partnership with Treasury Holdings.
An Taisce said it had ascertained that the proposed alteration of the Drogheda Port Company’s area of control is to facilitate the construction of a new deepwater port at Bremore to cater for vessels up to 250 metres. Saying it was opposed to this development, the trust complained no environmental assessment of its effects has been made available, and thus there could be no proper public consultation, as required under EU law. It pointed out that the river Nanny Estuary is an EU-designated nature conservation site – a special protected area under the bird’s directive and a candidate for special area of conservation under the habitats directive.
The foreshore and associated sand dunes is home to many species of concern. According to a Foras Forbartha report (1972), the Helix Pisana is a “species that is only found on the Irish coast between south Co Louth and north Co Dublin” An Taisce said the archaeological profile of the Bremore area was particularly significant, as it included the legally-protected Bremore Passage Tomb Cemetery as well as elements of the Gormanston Passage Tomb Cemetery. Archaeologist Dr Mark Clinton, chairman of An Taisce’s national monuments and antiquities committee, said one mound had an entrance orientation indicating the possibility that it was aligned with the summer solstice. “In this regard, and given their morphology and geographical location, there’s every possibility the builders were the near ancestors of those that built the nearby world-acclaimed tombs of Brú na Bóinne [the Boyne Valley tombs].” Dr Clinton said the two cemetery complexes proposed to be incorporated by Drogheda Port under the 2009 Harbours Act “must be considered within the greater context of other passage tombs nearby at Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange”. “Hence we believe it is far more appropriate that the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne would be extended to include the Bremore-Gormanston complexes rather than their obliteration as a result of an ‘extension’ for ‘development’ of Drogheda Port.” An Taisce highlighted a potential loss of public amenities, noting that Gormanston lies at the southern end of a “renowned stretch of sandy beaches.
Notice of the Bremore extension plan is available for public inspection only in the Superintendent’s office at Drogheda Garda Station. The deadline for submissions and objections is September 8th. All submissions should be sent to Garret Doocey, Maritime Transport Division, Department of Transport, Dublin 2; email garret.doocey@transport.ie. Irish Times. September 2nd. 2009.

I was baffled to read this because I had been assured by Fingal CoCo that any plans for Bremore would appear on their web site and could be accessed, as is normal.
I rang and emailed the planning department of Fingal CoCo and I was told that they know nothing about what is on display in Drogheda Garda Station.
However they alluded to the development being a Strategic Infrastructure Development and if so then it is one that can bypass their offices and go straight to An Bord Pleanna.
They also said that the development might be in Meath (at Gormonstown) so I would have to contact Meath CoCo. Why they did not know or why the (plans) were on display in a Garda station they could not say

I then rang Drogheda Garda Station: 041 9874200 in an attempt to see what was on display concerning the Bremore Port plan.
I was informed by a garda that the documents were on display and have been for over a month. The guard told me that the Superintendents office is only open Monday to Friday from 9-5 and this locks out many working people from seeing what is proposed.

I then phoned Drogheda Port: 041 9838378 about this and a woman assured me that the plans/documents ??? were on display there.
When I ask her why they were on display in a Garda station instead of in a public library, county hall etc; she would not say. She said I could enter that in my objection.
Is this right? Is this legal?
But how are we to know where they are and what is planned if there is no information made available to the public about it?
Is it a planning application and if not what are we being asked to object or agree to?
It all brings to mind the Tara debacle, about in these vital stages how things were hidden and hindered.
Can anyone help.

by thegreenspirit - Private Wed Sep 02, 2009 13:25

People,
If you care about our land, its heritage, history and ecology now is the time to wake up.
It seems that the Development at Bremore is to be submitted under the Strategic Infrastructure act by the Department of Transport. This will allow them bypass the normal planning laws, guidelines and all environmental assessments etc.
This they did at Tara.
It is urgent that you now object.
Please email your objections in now.
Email them to the following address

doocey@transport.ie.

Below is a template which you could use

I the undersigned wish to lodge an objection to the plans by Drogheda Port to develop a new port at Bremore, Co Dublin.

I believe that we have a right to our heritage and the sites connected to it, and to the sites connected to our history and mythology. I believe that our government must safeguard and protect these sites from damage and harm.
These rights are enshrined in the UN Deceleration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a declaration signed by this present government in 2007.

The proposed development at Bremore may harm or destroy sites and burial complexes of immense age, meaning and value. It may mean grave desecration, something which runs contrary to our culture and our beliefs. I object to this.

The proposed development will cause damage, harm and destruction to the ecology and environment on the coast at Bremore. I object to this.

The proposed development will rob Irish people living on the east coast of a much needed and valued recreational area. I object to this.

I also object to the lack of information which was made available, some of which is now on view in Drogheda Garda Station for people to see and decide on.
I object to having papers/plans/notices on planning on view in a Garda Station, nine to five and only at weekdays, instead of having them on view in a public library, web site or other open areas where they can be accessed with ease.

On these grounds I believe that no development by Drogheda Port at Bremore should be allowed take place,
Signed

by Thegreenspirit - Private Wed Sep 02, 2009 14:56

Sorry
the address to launch an objection is

garret.doocey@transport.ie

by Tara Tara Tara Wed Sep 02, 2009 17:41

From article in Drogheda Independent- dont know how big this will turn out- wasnt able to enlarge it. To view the plans you have to go to Drogheda Garda Station and view them in the presence of Gardai with a camera on. You also have to register your name with them. Has anything like this ever happened before? Is it even legal!!? The only thing to do is et as many peeople as possible to inundate the Garda station- they certainly dont it but what else!

Port

by Tara Tara Tara Wed Sep 02, 2009 17:45

Ps. You cant even photocopy it or take notes! So much for Public Consultation. Fingal County Council say they dont know anything about it and want us to let them know what we find out! Its unbelievable!

by Outraged Wed Sep 02, 2009 17:54

Just when you think things can't get any worse in this banana republic one finds that there literally is no bottom to the mire of mismangement, cute whorism, cronyism, corruption etc. that have already brought this country to its knees. Is their anything the Green Party won't preside over when it comes to the vandalism of our cultural and natural heritage?????????

by Carmel Diviney Wed Sep 02, 2009 18:19

Send something like this to as many TDs as you can. I have .

Please could you raise the matter in the Dail of why one must view the plans for the new Deep Water Port by Drogheda Port Authority at Drogheda Garda Station. It has been reported that they are on view there Mon- Fri 9 to 5pm in the Irish Times today and that we have until Tuesday to make objections.

A friend who went to view them was told to sign a register and he was taken to a room with a camera filming him while he was viewing the plans in the presence of FOUR GARDAI. He was told that he couldnt copy anything from them- no photocopies etc. How can this be legal Public consultation? Please investigate and raise this matter in the Dail as a matter of urgency.

I look forward to your reply.

Carmel Diviney 0876100771

by Billy idle Wed Sep 02, 2009 18:43

Its obvious that the tactics of using the gardai to intimidate objectors to this project is a modus operandi honed in Rossport and Tara.

by thegreenspirit - Private Thu Sep 03, 2009 09:19

As someone with an open and deep mistrust of authority I have learned that if there is a dispute with a piece of land then it is better to walk that land than to trust in and look for answers in plans, maps etc.
I believe that the land will give up the secrets, when and if it is to be raped.
On the 19/07/09 we had a day at Bremore and before it I walked the land. I went down a lane by the Huntsman Inn, down to the sea and close to the beach I seen how bulldozers were at work clearing a large tract of land. Intuition told me this is where the port will be”. (See earlier posts from me on this thread)
It seems I was right. This is Gormonstown, this is Meath; “the heart of darkness”.
They had started the preparation work even before the plans, maps etc were made know.
This is how secure Dempsey et al, are in doing what they want.
The plans now been made available are worse than the worst case scenario because it seems to include everything from Bremore Head back to Drogheda, with the nucleus of destruction of course in Meath.
The issue of the guards, plans in their offices etc, I know now to be a simple side show.
It had been decided!
Dempsey’s orbital road is the follow on, cutting through Meath again and through the Tara landscape like cutting a cake.

I lay awake last night listening to the hammering rain.
Our earth is deeply ill now, look at the rain that is falling. Yesterday evening was like winter.
The fields are water logged, crops are rotting in the fields, the farmers associations are saying that we may have to give up planting corn etc, every expert worth their salt is pressing warning buttons and flashing the red lights yet in Paddyland we build, build, build.
It’s as if we live on another planet, in a parallel universe where no such problems exist.
I will say again; global warming causes more water to evaporate at the tropics, this water is then carried as clouds and falls as rain in the temperate zones. Its not rocket science, watch a kettle boil. It rises as steam in a cloud then as it cools it falls as condensation. This is the system of hydrology working as always and as it always will.
Global warming can only mean for us in the northern hemisphere and on an Island more and more and more rain. That will undo us.

Http://bremore.blogspot.com/
http://thedeathofchestnuttrees.blogspot.com/

by Carmel Diviney Thu Sep 03, 2009 09:46

The matter is to be raised in the Dail by Joanna Tuffy Labour. However, they dont resit until the 16th so...at least it will be questioned!

Wednesday September 02 2009
PROPOSALS for the alterations of the harbour Limits of Drogheda Port Company,
regarding new additions to the proposed new Deep-Water Port at Bremore in
Fingal, are on view at the Superintendents Office at the Drogheda Garda Station
and may be viewed by the general public until Wednesday September 9th next.
The application proposals make for some interesting reading on the future of the
Bremore and Gormanston area including that of the Army military base and there
are a number of interested parties and individual who are raising questions to
the proposals including why the application is being kept at Drogheda Garda
Station and not in a public library or local planning office?
People who have gone into the Garda Station to consult the application have been
informed by the Gardai that the file may not be copied or photographed and must
be viewed in the presence of the Gardai and that you must sign your name to a
register which will be passed on to the Drogheda Port Company after the
consultation period has ended, yet it is for 'public consultation'for
observations and submissions to be made by September 9th to a Mr. Garret Doocey,
Maritime Transport Division, Department of Transport, Leeson Lane Dublin
2.garret.doocey@....

http://www.drogheda-independent.ie/news/bremore-port-18....html
Editorial
editorial@...

by An Coibhi Drui - Dal na Drui Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:32

The Public Area of any Garda Station, according to Judge William Harnett at Kilkenny Court, ruling in my case at Kilkenny District Court in 1996,is immediately inside the main front door of the Garda Station , but no further !

Thus the Public Area of a Garda Station is, according to Judge Harnett ruling in 1996, outside the window-glass of the hatch of the Garda Station, directly inside the main door of the Garda Station, but not inside any other single door that leads from the front entrance into the Garda Station, which is all the Private Area of the Garda Station.

Therefore the Public Area of a Garda Station is immediately outside any Enquiries window or hatch or such construction - immediately inside such window or hatch or such construction is the Private Area of the Garda Station, thus any room in the Garda Station is definitely, according to Judge Harnett's legal understanding of it, as expressed by him at Kilkenny Court in 1996 in my case ( I would have to look up the date of that case ) definitely the Private Area of that Garda Station, or , to put it another way, only the front entrance hall of a Garda Station where people make enquiries etc is the Public Part of a Garda Staion, all other parts of the Garda Station being private parts . Only that area immediately inside the front hall door of a Garda Station is the Public Part of a Garda Station, so then , having arrived thereto , to proceed to enter through any other internal door or window of a Garda Station is to enter the private part of the Garda Station,

So to answer your enquiry, NO, those documents were not and never have been on public display, as according to Judge Harnett 's judgement in my case concerning Kilkenny Garda Station, they were held in the Private Part of Drogheda Garda Station, regulations governing all Garda Stations being the same.

by Carmel Diviney Thu Sep 03, 2009 16:51

I went to view the plans this morning at Drogheda Garda Station. First my name was taken and given to the Superintendant somewhere in the background. They probably checked it up. A friend filmed my request to view in the outer office of the station but was instructed that she could film no further than there. The Garda also asked her after a minute or so to stop filming him as he was uncomfortable with it. He didn't deny me access to see the plans so the camera was turned off even though she was filming in a public place. We werent there for trouble- just proof. I had to produce ID- Drivers Licence and sign a register. I was then brought to an Interview Room where I had a look through the files in the presence of the same Garda. I asked what was the reason for having to sign in to view the application and was told that it was in Garda custody as they had to ensure its safety. It says in the file in black and white that if it is defaced or any part of it removed then the application will be null and void.

Minister for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has made an application to extend the boundaries of the new port from Bremore- no change to Bremore right up to Tremonfeckin in Drogheda. It said that an Environmental Impact Assesment will be carried out. Surely that should have been done already before applying for Planning Permission or have I got that wrong? There is also a mention of a Special Area of Conservation at the mouth of the Boyne Estuary and after ringing Louth County Council I found out that the application for that, by the Minister for Environment John Gormley can be viewed there- no need to sign in to a Garda Station.

There will be leaflets handed out to the dockers on strike at Dublin Port today and tomorrow. If the port gets moved to Bremore it will surely have an impact on them.

Gormley gave assurances that the port at Bremore wouldnt go ahead at the recent Special Green Party Convention in Dublin. There has been no reply to my request for a Parliamentary Question from the Green Party.

Not in a Public Place

by Interested Thu Sep 03, 2009 17:00

Dempsey up to his neck in it again. Hypothetically speaking if someone were to rip the files up or spill coffee on them for instance what would happen then? The documents can be viewed until next Wednesday. Bet they wouldnt be null and void but you might get a Kentucky Fried Chicken box courtesy of a night in the cells in Drogheda.

The Climate Campers are taking a big interest in this. Good idea with the Dockers too.

by Countryman Fri Sep 04, 2009 17:27

The document in Drogheda Garda Station is an application by Drogheda Port Company (DPC) to alter the limits of the harbour rather than an actual planning application but this is the first opportunity the public has had to make submissions on this environmentally damaging project. The application is being made under the Harbours (Amendment) Act 2009 which was passed by the Dáil only at the end of July.

The first public notice of the application appeared in the Drogheda Independent on 29 July and also appeared on the DPC website where it can still be viewed. For some reason this application was withdrawn after 2 weeks and a second public notice was published in the Drogheda Independent on 19 August. This was essentially the same as the first, except the hours were reduced to 9-5 and the document was moved to the Superintendent's Office, but it was "available for inspection...daily".

However, the report in the Drogheda Independent this week states that "the plan was unavailable for viewing" when the Drogheda Indo went to see it! Link below to this article. So if the application was not in fact available daily for the 21 days advertised in the public notice how can it proceed with a closing date of next Wednesday?

Another thing. My dictionary says 'daily' means 'every day' and not Monday to Friday as some people have been told. Excluding Saturdays and Sundays reduces the 21 days to 15 days.

by Carmel Diviney Fri Sep 04, 2009 19:22

Thanks for the clarification there Country Man. I had all of 15 minutes at the station yesterday so couldnt study it in any detail- thats all the time I had before I had to get back to work and our main reason for being there was to get a video made of how this process is being handled from the start - for the world to see. Local man Brendan Mathews is the heart ,soul and mind of Anti Bremore Port for want of a better description and will shortly have an in depth write up ready for some kind of discussion forum- details on that as it happens.

I dont think I will be able to get away from work to see it again but you can study it for as long as you like and I would encourage as many people as possible to do so as there were only 5 names on the list yesterday of people who have seen it.

All the best,
Carmel

by Tara Tara Tara Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:51

Following the meeting at Tara on Saturday of activists and interested parties on the Bremore issue, I would like to make an apology to the Archaeologist I mentioned in a previous posting regarding his avoidance in answering my questions about the structures on the land in close proximity to the main mound of Bremore.

Brendan Mathews addressed the group and told of the landscape, archaeology, planning, etc and it was a very interesting talk during which he mentioned the posting in question and said that it had upset the man who is a staunch supporter of the Save Bremore Campaign. I apologise for my assumption that he was the usual sort of Archaeologist encountered time after time in my own experience at Tara. I understand that he is an honourable man and apologise sincerely for any insult incurred.

by Aeongus Young Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:53

This is a synopsis of an article which appeared in Saturday’s Irish Times.

Architect and town planner Terry Durney told a planning inquiry by An Bord Pleanala on Friday into Dublin Port Company’s plans to infill 52 acres of Dublin Bay that the choice of Bremore was significantly inferior to Dublin Port. A number of opponents of the infill have suggested Bremore either in its entirety or simply as a move to add extra capacity but according to Mr Durney Bremore is not a natural harbour and would require large scale engineering work and even then “could be vulnerable in northeasterly winds in the same way Rosslare is”.

He also mentioned the concerns regarding Archaeology of the North Co Dublin/ east Meath coastal region and pointed out that Bremore headland is the location of several unexcavated Neolithic burial sites protected by the Fingal Development Plan. Another issue is the visual impact of the Bremore development “ in an area of pristine plain and coastal landscape”. Other apects for consideration would be the absence of road infrastructure in the area especially a road link to the M1 Motorway. There is also an absence of a rail connection. Mr Durney said the Dublin Bay infill proposal was “ the best option in environmental and operational terms”.

Dublin Port already has a good connection to the M1 and M50 and “was at the hub of the railway system and is strategically placed to offer connectivity to a more sustainable form of transport that is likely ti increase in future years”
Mr Durney also said that Dublin was the most suitable site for an expansion of the State’s unitised container handling capacity.

by Countryman Mon Sep 07, 2009 15:12

It was good to see opposition to the Bremore port proposal coming from another direction as in Saturday's Irish Times article, especially the mention of the visual impact of the development on the pristine coastal landscape, remarks which encompass all aspects of the site including archaeology, geology, scenery, natural history, amenity value, the lot.

This coming Wednesday is the last day for submissions. Remember, anyone can send comments to the Department of Transport and it is not necessary to have seen the actual document in Drogheda. Basically it says that it is proposed to develop a port at Bremore and here's the map. You can view a map of the area concerned in a previous post here. So if you are against the proposal, do make a submission, even if its only one sentence. Details of where to send the submssion are in previous posts and links but here they are again anyway.

Mr Garret Doocey, Maritime Transport Division, Department of Transport, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2.
Email to
garret.doocey@transport.ie.

by Countryman Mon Sep 07, 2009 15:19

There is a good interactive plan of the proposed port on the Dublinstreams blog. Link below. You can click on 'Passage tombs', rezoned land, satellite view=google earth etc etc.

And this is just Phase 1.

by Aengus Young Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:08

That's an excellent blogspot - the maps etc are great. We need a formal discussion group if anyone would like to organise it?

by Tara Tara Tara Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:55

Many thanks to Johnathan for creating a space for debate and discussion. New members welcome, please spread the word.

by Carmel Diviney Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:58

Play Clip- Hidden Artefacts at Bremore

by Carmel Diviney Thu Sep 17, 2009 16:03

Dear Carmel,

Please find attached copy of P.Q. I placeD in the Dail to the Minister for Transport, in relation to the viewing of plans for the proposed deep water port at Drogheda

Best wishes

Willie Penrose TD

Dáil Question
No: 571

*To ask the Minister for Transport the reason that interested parties who wish to view the plans for the new deep water port prepared by the Drogheda Port Authority must do so at Drogheda Garda Station, which only allows for a limited time, and whereby they are not allowed to make photocopies of any of the documents; the way same can constitute a legal public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Willie Penrose.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 16th September, 2009.

Ref No: 31791/09

Answered by Minister for Transport
(Noel Dempsey T.D.)

REPLY

I propose to answer Question Nos. 550, 548, 561 and 571 together.

In July this year Drogheda Port Company made an application to me for a Ministerial Order to alter the company’s harbour limits, as provided for by section 9 of the Harbours Act 1996, as amended by section 3 of the Harbours (Amendment) Act 2009.

A public consultation with respect of such orders is not a statutory requirement. However, such a public consultation was carried out prior to a previous alteration of the company’s harbour limits in 2004 and the company has conducted a similar consultation in this instance.

The procedure by which the consultation document was made available for public viewing for 21 days at the local Garda Station is the same as that followed with regard to the previous proposed alteration of the harbour limits in 2004.

The consultation period concluded on 9 September and the documentation has now been returned to me with a confirmation from the Gardaí that it was on public display from 19 August for a period of 21 days. I have received a number of submissions in response to the consultation and will give due consideration to these before making my decision.

The proposed alteration of the harbour limits would extend them to the area around the proposed location for a new port at Bremore. However, a planning application for the new port has not been made as yet. Any such application would follow all the usual planning consultations.

.......................................................................

Hi Willie,

Thank you for posing the question and your swift communication with me. Minister Dempsey is lying when he says that the documents were on view for 21 days- this was reported by a Drogheda Independent reporter who could not gain access to them.

http://www.drogheda-independent.ie/news/port-developmen....html

I look forward to hearing from you again shortly. Thank you.

Carmel Diviney.

by thegreenspirit - private Mon Sep 21, 2009 14:35

http://bremore.blogspot.com/

by No Port Here Mon Sep 21, 2009 16:36

There will be an Archaeology Walk 'n Talk Tour on Sunday 11th Oct of the many Archaeological features in the Gormanstown Co Meath area led by local Historian Brendan Mathews. We will meet in the car park of the Huntsman's Inn at 2pm.

The Huntsman is on the R132 (previously known as the N1). Best directions are:

‘’Take Exit 7 off the M1 (near the North City Hotel) and follow signs for Gormanston and Balbriggan’’ or ‘’Latecomers – come directly to Delvin Bridge on the R132, under the large ‘Fáilte Go Fingal’ sign’’ . We will leave there to begin our Walk 'n Talk no later than 2.15pm beginning with the Delvin Estuary.

All welcome.

by An Coibhi Drui - Dal na Drui Tue Sep 22, 2009 18:13

Watch out for a detailed report on Bremore coming up in The Drogheda Independent - Reporter Alison Comyn was in touch with me .

by No Port Here Thu Sep 24, 2009 08:28

Controversy over public consultation on port plans
CONFUSION OVER WHEREABOUTS OF PROPOSAL IN STATION

Wednesday September 23 2009

CONTROVERSY is still raging over the validity of the public consultation procedures in relation to proposals for the alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company at the proposed new deep water port of Bremore.

The plans should have been freely available for public viewing at the front office of Drogheda Garda station for a period of 21 days, but the Drogheda Independent has been contacted by a number of people who said the gardaí were either unaware of what was being asked for, or people could only view the proposals in a private room and in the presence of several gardaí.

They were also not allowed to photocopy or photograph the plans.

When this reporter went to view the plans, there was initial confusion as to the whereabouts of the folder, and it was thought they had been sent back to get the time extended.

However, it transpired they had been moved to a different location within the station.

'It is outrageous that these plans were not in a library in Balbriggan, or somewhere like a planning office more accessible to the general public,' says Dr Mark Clinton, a Howth-based archaeological consultant for An Taisce.

' When you see the advertisements that were placed in the Drogheda Independent, you would not think there was any connection to Bremore as it just mentions 'alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company'.

'However, this actually proposes to put a great big harbour in a beautiful part of north County Dublin, and I'm sure if people knew about it, they would be interested to see if it affects them.'

It took Dr Clinton three attempts to get to see the plans, and he says he wasn't personally intimidated by the surroundings of the garda station, but he has spoken to some who were.

'Asking for the Superintendent's office is a big deal to some people, and I can't see why they needed to be kept there,' says Dr Clinton.

'I actually think the gardaí have many more important things to be doing, and it is outrageous these proposals weren't on show in a library or other more public building.'

- Alison COMYN

by thegreenspirit - private Fri Sep 25, 2009 12:45

I feel we are getting waylaid here. If Dempsey is right and there was no statutary obligation to display these plans then they could have put them up in the toilet. It will make no difference.
Better to enquire about the accuracy of the reports and surveys that are being used to promote the building of the port.
"Where is the report which clarifies the need for a new port at Bremore" Lets have a look at that, if this report were to be opened then we could take it line for line.
Do these figures still match up with the present circumstances or is it like the M3 toll figures, figures never accurate and now totally out of date.
Also the huge and impressive burial place at Knocknaggin is not a protected structure. Why?
If we can act as a group and get Fingal CoCo to correct this then it lends more importance to the area.
To have this structure used as an eating place for cows is a scandal.
Remember we are oblidged by the EU to protect these places, they are now European heratige sites.
Does anybody know the departments in the Eu which deals with this? If so then lets go there.
Step by step like this we can and should build up our case.

by Brendan Matthews Tue Oct 13, 2009 19:31

Imagine going into a book shop to purchase a book on your favourite topic, fact, fiction, mythology, romance, etc, etc, and after you brought the book home and opened it you discovered that the first chapter had been torn out?
Well, in my opinion, that is exactly what is happening to the Neolithic landscape of Bremore and Knocknagin.The tourists who will arrive in this country will be greeted with the same scenario. It is the heritage, traditions and culture of the Irish nation that brings such visitors to Ireland: the Book of Kells, Newgrange, Rock of Cashel, Hill of Tara, Clonmacnoise and Fourknocks: however, the forerunner of all of the above-mentioned sites and monuments, is that of Bremore and Knocknagin. This, hugely important, site is the first chapter in our history of a settled people, the first Neolithic agriculturalists to arrive in Ireland from the Iberian Peninsula to become our first coastal settlers after the Mesolithic (hunter-gatherer) people. These new settlers were expert, not only in agriculture, but also architecture and with a very impressive knowledge of astronomy, geology, mathematics and seafaring. The very cradle of activity such as planning, engineering, development and from whom we derive many of our skills of today. You cannot build a ten-story building without foundations just like you can’t build upon our heritage and historical past without having a solid foundation of where we have come from and, in the case of Bremore and Knocknagin, it is now being proposed to destroy our foundations; the first chapter; torn out and confined to a skip bin. This is the reality that is facing the Irish nation; the tourist arriving to be presented with a well-scripted version of our past, all be it, from the second chapter onwards. It isn’t just about the monuments, or the remains of the monuments that can be seen at Bremore/Knocknagin either, it’s about the more serious issues of what lies beneath the soil; after-all, isn’t that what archaeology’s all about? i.e., the study of human activity in the past through the material remains that are left behind and which is mostly found beneath ground level? Nobody has a monopoly on our history or heritage, it belongs to all of us and, no matter how many times land changes hands or how much it is sold for, we are only the custodians of that landscape; where future generations have the right, just like us, to view the very foundations of where we have come from, but only for as long as we can retain that custody. Any archaeological work carried out prior to any proposed development will also be that of `Rescue` excavation, where, unlike that of Research archaeology, you only get one chance at it; there’s no going back here on a seasonal basis for future and further research; it, like every other `Dig` in the past 15 years will therefore be carried out in great haste to suit the developer, throw all the finds into bags as they creep one step ahead of the dumper trucks, take the finds back to the lab and perform an analysis and an interpretation of the complex site and deliver the `crap`results to the awaiting public whenever that might be and, not even a local primary school class would be brought on tour of the, by now, destroyed site, because, as they will tell you, “ We can’t do that for insurance purposes”. I have walked this landscape since the early 1970`s; I’m part of this landscape with an interest in the whole topography of that landscape, it’s natural along with it’s built heritage, wildlife, flora and fauna; my ancestors left it intact for me to view and, in turn, I would hope that perhaps someday my descendants will also be afforded that opportunity. No one is against progression but to progress with caution is a must; to sit down and listen to everybody’s views: isn’t it ironic that someone actually came up with the idea of locating a deep-water port at Bremore which will allow ferry boats bring tourists into Ireland from abroad and, on entry, I bet the tourist will be directed to the `Great Boyne Valley`; “ just up the road, you’ll love it”. The Drogheda Port Company need to wake up, was it not bad enough that the dredging of the estuary of the River Boyne ended the Mussel fishing there and took away the livelihood of a whole community; a community that sustained itself here for millennia with this tradition. Remember this;
If all we have left is a memory, then what will become of our identity?

by The Green Spirit Fri Oct 16, 2009 09:24

New web site

by Carmel Diviney Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:48

"From Lismullin to Bremore - Fingal Mythology"

Sean Gilmartin will be giving a talk to the Balbriggan & District Historical Society next Tuesday, October 27th at 8.30pm in the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan.

Hope there will be a good turnout as Sean is a fascinating speaker. Please spread the word.

by Bremore baby Wed Nov 04, 2009 18:20

Under the heading, "Bremore - A New Tara", the new issue of Village magazine contains a major probe about this, 3 pages long... Some very worrying points are emerging -

John Gormley/ Department of Environment has failed to put in any submission to the Department of Transport during the recent consultation!!

It appears that a private company, Treasury Holdings, may also do very well out of the lands being compulsorily purchased at agricultural values - rather than the development value!

by No Port Here Thu Nov 05, 2009 17:19

Dáil Question
No: 340

*To ask the Minister for Transport if an environmental assessment has been
completed for the proposed deep water port on the Bremore Gormanstown coastline,
County Meath; if so, if it is available for the public; and the status of
application P0039.
- Maureen O'Sullivan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2009

Ref No: 37904/09 Proof: 178
Resubmitted from (DFA) 22/10/2009 -- White No 507 -- Old Proof No. 192

Answered by Minister for Transport
(Noel Dempsey T.D.)

REPLY
Drogheda Port Company, together with their private sector partners Castlemarket
Holdings, are continuing to progress their plans to develop a deepwater port
facility at Bremore.

I understand that pre-planning consultations have taken place with An Bord
Pleanála. However, to date no planning application has been lodged in respect of
the development. Any such planning application would be subject to the normal
requirements regarding environmental assessment for such projects.

by No Port Here Fri Nov 06, 2009 08:34

Background

http://www.balbrigganchamber.ie/latest-news/BremorePort.php

to this news from the Meath Chronicle Wednesday 4-11-09

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2009/1...g-pre\
dicted-in-duleek-over-plans-for-orbital-route/

PLANS for a new 80km motorway - the Leinster Orbital Route - displayed
at a Meath County Council meeting this week would be greeted with "an
uprising" when it was seen by the people of Duleek and East Meath, a
councillor declared.

The plans for the road, which would sweep from Drogheda to Slane, Navan,
Trim, Kilcock, Naas and Kilcullen, are at an early planning stage and
got a heavily qualified welcome from council members. However, serious
doubts were raised over the need to keep a 2km-wide corridor of land
open while consultations take place over the choosing of a final route
for the motorway.

Councillors expressed concern that extensive land masses would be
sterilised and out of bounds for development while planning for the
motorway went on.

Doubts about the plan - shown to members by two senior National Roads
Authority (NRA) officials - were raised by Cllr Jimmy Cudden who said
that he had viewed them on the internet. He said that he lived in
Duleek, where they already had the Irish Cement factory and an
incinerator under construction, and it appeared to him that the proposed
new motorway would be "squeezed in between the cement factory and the
Drogheda-Navan railway line".

But most of his reservations centre on the Commons area of Duleek, "a
national heritage area", and a nearby residential estate, High Meadows.
"I am very familiar with the place having driven a coach and delivered
children to school from there and there is a very small space between
the estate and the railway line".

"When this plan is seen by the people of East Meath and Duleek I can
only envisage that there will be a total uprising on this. This proposal
won't get through". He said that a 2001 plan for the orbital route had
shown that it would "avoid the village of Duleek altogether".

In their presentation to councillors, the NRA officials Nigel O'Neill,
senior project manager, Strategic Planning Unit and Hugh Creegan, head
of PPP, Commercial Operations and Strategic Planning, said that the plan
was supported by the regional planning guidelines, A Platform for
Change, Transport 21, National Development Plan 2007-2013.

There had been previous studies in 2001-2002, a feasibility study
2006/2007. It had been issued to the Department of Transport in March
2007. There had also been a recent exercise undertaken at likely
junction locations to identify possible land protection to preserve
viable routes.

The officials were unable to give a cost for the project or project when
it might get under way.

They said that constraints had been mapped so as to identify potential
corridors. There were also significant archaeological constraints on
picking a route and there were other topographical, ecological,
development and environmental constraints.

In deciding the route for the motorway, there were limited options
between Navan and Drogheda but more variation in route corridors south
of Trim. There would also be a significant challenge in connecting with
the M3 at Navan. The officials said that a feasibility study had shown
that the orbital route would be beneficial for the region in terms of
strengthening links between key development centres, assisting economic
development and improving the overall transport network.

After the study had been completed, the officials said, the
recommendation of the NRA to the Department of Transport was that the
scheme should be progressed to the next stage of development - the
preparation of the statutory documentation for the project.

Cllr Eoin Holmes said he wanted to know the status of the plan and how
the "corridor" for possible routes had been chosen. He said it would be
very hard for people to get their heads around the whole project and he
would like to have seen a more detailed outline of the route selection
process.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy raised questions over the possibility of having a
2km-wide corridor preserved along an 80km route. Was it the case that no
planning permission could be granted within that 2km corridor, he asked.

Cllr John Farrelly said he believed that more clarity was needed about
the plan. They had to be careful that they did not tie up a 2km sweep of
countryside while waiting for a final route to be selected. He said that
some people had been "very busy" in coming up with a number of drafts up
to June 2007 (when the General Election had been held) but they had not
heard anything after that from people who were making decisions about
the motorway.

Council chairman Bill Carey said he hoped that the people of Meath would
not be left "dangling on a string" for 10 years awaiting decisions on
the motorway.

Cllr Joe Reilly said that what they had to do was ensure that the
project was included in the National Development Plan. However, they
would first have to ask if the project was actually needed. Would they
not be better spending money on a public transport system, he asked.

Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said, "What I can see here is a whole stretch of
land in Co Meath being tied up for ever and a day". He also asked if the
road would be tolled. Cllr Tommy Reilly said that he had been shouting
for 10 years about the need for an outer orbital route. The motorway
would "open up the county" and bring development, a regional college,
hospitals and industries. He hoped there would be a quick decision on
the selection of final route. They had talked about a railway line from
Navan to Dublin for 20 years and a local TD, Noel Dempsey had put up the
money to get the project under way.

One of the NRA officials promised councillors that when the NRA
developed up the route process, they would first show it to them before
putting it on display to the public.

by No Port Here Wed Nov 18, 2009 17:58

Bremore- A New Tara by Ruadhán Maceoin

....But bthere are substantial archaeological and environmental concerns that have not yet been adequately broached by the developers in the public domain. The proposed extention of the predominantly maritime area of control by the Drogheda Port Company includes a stretch of coastal land including the legally protected Bremore Passage Tomb Cemetery, elements of the area of the Gormanstown Passage Tomb Cemetery , the unclassified monument in the intermediary townland of Knocknagin and the mid 16th century Newhaven ( in the townland of Bremore). As with Tara it is likely the landscape is rich in other less visible sites also. According to Archaeologist Mark Clinton of An Taisce's Antiquities Committee there is a cemetery of five tombs on the Dublin side of the site, with the sites of four others on the Meath side and, " the likelihood is that the builders of these tombs were the near ancestors of those who built the near by world acclaimed tombs of Brú na Bóinne", one of the largest and most important prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe.

Dr Clinton told Village that " the two cemetery complexes must be considered within the greater context of other passage tombs nearby at Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange", and also that " it would be more appropriate that the World Heritage site of Brú na Bóinne be extended to include the Bremore- Gormanstown complexes rather than Drogheda Port extended to include them.In terms of archaeoloical importance Bremore is comparable with Tara: Tara started with a passage tomb ( known as) The Mound of the Hostages and developed over different periods: likewise the Bremore tombs would appear to be the start of Brú na Bóinne. The parallel is clear- no Mound of the Hostages no Tara: no Bremore no Newgrange"

Dr Clinton's concerns have been endorsed by other Archaeologists. According to Professor cooney of UCD " there is agreement across the archaeological community that if they were bulldozed it would be a national loss given the number of sites we know, the potential significance if them and the fact there's a complex of them" ......

..................Unlike Tara, which Green Party Leader John Gormley accepted as a “done deal” when entering coalition government, Bremore is clearly on his watch. Moreover, rumour has it that he has voiced his concerns privately to a number of people- and given that he was notified by both Dr Clinton and Prof Eogan, Mr Gormley should be on top of the matter- yet this does not appear to be the case. Dr Clinton said that “ Gormley’ s Department have and should still make it clear that development at this area is not desired, this is a blcak and white issue.”

The main opportunity for Minister Gormley to speak out and act on this matter in keeping with his party’s mandate would have been when the boundary extension was proposed at the end of July under the act passed during Mr Gormley’s time in office.

However despite the centrality ofB remore to Mr Gormley’s offi ce, there has been no official comment to date from the Dept of Environment regarding the extension. No submission was made to the Dept of Transport by the DOE and an enquiry by Village to the Environment Dept regarding their handling of Bremore and the additional query as to whether there had been interdepartmental consultation led to the following comment : “ There is not a requirement under the legislation to consult with the Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at this time”.

It was also stated by the DOE that “ The Developers are in pre application consultation with An Bord Pleanála as this is a strategic infrastructure development”. A Press Spokesman from the Dept went on to confirm that “ The Department has had pre application discussions with the Drogheda Port Company and their partners in the new port development on the archaeological implications of developing a new port at Bremore/Gormanstown”. According to the same source, “ An Environmental Impact Statement is in preparation. It would be pointless to say more until the EIS is complete.”

However Dr Clinton disputes this appraisal by the DOE “ They are totally missing the point” he said, “ the Strategic Environmental Assessment directive (SEA) makes it explicitly clear that a plan or a programme that is likely to have a significant effect on the environment requires a full assessment, prepared and placed before the public prior to the advancement of any planning proposal” The planning procedure continues to raise questions about the piecemeal approach to planning in this country and leaves questions as to whether Mr Gormley has learnt the lessons of Tara.

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain Thu Nov 19, 2009 21:49

Two points worth noting in the piece above, it says of Tommy 'pots and pans' Reilly:
Cllr Tommy Reilly said that he had been shouting
for 10 years about the need for an outer orbital route. The motorway
would "open up the county" and bring development, a regional college,
hospitals and industries.

This is exactly what the M3 was said to be for so why is there another one needed?

And this also say:
Council chairman Bill Carey said he hoped that the people of Meath would
not be left "dangling on a string" for 10 years awaiting decisions on
the motorway.

This man is the father of Sara Carey, journalist, who has made some pretty inane comments on the M3 and thinks the NRA are brilliant. In her book the Nat. Museum are the villians!

by No Port Here Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:08

Field Monument Advisor Scheme

The Heritage Council is working in partnership with Local Government and the farming community to provide advice to farmers on the management of archaeological monuments on privately owned land.

Farmers are the day-to-day managers of our landscape and are the private landowners of the majority of archaeological sites. Ancient monuments are protected by the National Monuments Act 1930–2004, yet recent surveys have revealed damage due to land reclamation and the intensification of agriculture.

In response to this, the Heritage Council — in partnership with Sligo, Meath, Louth, and currently with Fingal, Clare and Galway County Councils — has initiated the Field Monument Advisor Scheme which is aimed at preserving archaeological monuments located on privately owned farmland.

The objective of each advisor programme is to support landowners in the care of archaeological monuments in their ownership. An advisor in each County helps farmers by providing information on the archaeological field monuments of their land and by contributing to farmer training programmes. Information provided by Field Monument Advisors includes how to care for archaeological sites in farmland as well as details on the type and known date of a site. Farm visits can be spent working through management issues of the archaeology on the farm. Through the farmer’s interest and enthusiasm ways to care for archaeological sites can be identified as part of the day to day farming activity.

So if you farm or own land in Counties Clare, Fingal or Galway, and you require information on archaeological monuments, contact your Field Monument Advisor or your County Heritage Officer.

Contact detailsCo. Clare

Congella McGuire (Heritage Officer)
tmacconmara@clarecoco.ie

Michael Lynch (Field Monument Advisor)
cloandmike@hotmail.com
065-6846408

Co. Galway

Marie Mannion (Heritage Officer)
mmannion@galwaycoco.ie

Christy Cunniffe (Field Monument Advisor)
ccunniffe@galwaycoco.ie
091-509198

Co. Fingal, Dublin

Dr Gerry Clabby (Heritage Officer)
Gerry.clabby@fingalcoco.ie

Christine Baker (Field Monument Advisor)
Christine.baker@fingalcoco.ie
01 870 4455

by Countryman Sun Nov 29, 2009 21:47

Notice on the government website (e-tenders) 20/11/09 invites tenders for archaeological and cultural heritage services for construction of the port at Bremore. Scope of the services includes providing advice to the design team, preparing reports for the EIS, appearing at the Oral Hearing, replying to submissions etc. etc. etc. EIS services to be undertaken during the course of 2010/11.

The full tender document can be requested (see link below).

It lists work completed to date including LiDAR, geophysical and archaeological surveys, etc.

by Peggy Laytown Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:48

So its actually going ahead then? ! I cant believe this. How can they even consider it when the country is in the state it's in? I have been following this story on and off and worrying mostly about the view from my house though obviously I can appreciate that there are far greater considerations! I really didnt expevt this to go aheadconsidering the mess we are in. We cant afford decent hospitals or schools, we are in debt, so how can this be allowed to happen? As a taxpayer I am a[ppalled. A lot of people bought houses out here because of the beaufiful scenery and the great amenity of the beach and now we will see that destroyed while my husband cant even get a bed in hospital for a critical operation. Roll on the next election.

Peggy G.

by No Port Here Mon Nov 30, 2009 17:11

Thats a very worrying development indeed. Thanks for your sharp eye Countryman. Obviously Gormley has betrayed us yet again. He has no value on our heritage, that much is clear from Tara and now this! The whole Archaeological community should stand up and be counted . Or, will we see them queing up for jobs while our heritage is sold out for unnecessary development AGAIN.

There is a little thing called Karma......

The following article from the Sunday Buisness Post makes the whole thing even more unbelievable!

NPH

DDDA report to show €190m write-down in property assets
22 November 2009 By Cliff Taylor and Pat Leahy

The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) is to take a writedown of about €190 million in the value of its property assets, meaning it will have to call on financial support from the government for its continued survival.

The write-down, which relates to the DDDA’s investment in the Irish Glass Bottle site and other property deals, will be revealed in the DDDA annual report, due to be published shortly. It will leave a hole of €50 million to €60 million in the body’s finances, threatening its survival in the long term.

The cabinet is likely to discuss the financial crisis at the DDDA when it meets today. As the ultimate owner of the authority, the state could face underwriting any liabilities.

The DDDA, which has been chaired since March by Professor Niamh Brennan, is to tell environment minister John Gormley that it is best positioned to sort out the financial problems caused by the collapse in its property assets. It will also say that it is determined to investigate previous shortcomings in the DDDA’s operations, many of which are due to be revealed in two reports it has commissioned from independent experts. Further investigations of the authority’s activities are likely.

A firm of accountants, Ray King and Associates, is examining financial management at the DDDA, while planning consultant Declan Brassil will look at procedures in this area. In particular, the investigations are believed to have revealed significant shortcomings in the way the DDDA undertook its role in planning for the Dublin docklands.

The DDDA’s ability to act as a planning authority for its own developments became a subject of controversy in relation to the 25-acre Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend.

It gave developer Liam Carroll planning permission on another site which was subsequently overturned following a court challenge by developer Sean Dunne.

The agency has also been criticised for its links to Anglo Irish Bank, which financed many of its developments. Anglo chairman Sean FitzPatrick was a member of the agency board, and Anglo director Lar Bradshaw was its chairman.

In addition to the property write-downs, the DDDA is expected to report an operating loss for last year approaching €30 million.

It is believed that significant steps have been taken to bridge this operating deficit in recent months, with a large number of staff who have come to the end of contract terms not being replaced. Other costs have also been cut.

Developer Bernard McNamara, w ho bought the Irish Glass Bottle site with financier Derek Quinlan and the DDDA, is taking court action against the authority, claiming it did not deliver on commitments to get rapid planning permission.

In turn, McNamara is being sued by clients of Davy stockbrokers who lent him money to invest in the project.

by Carmel Diviney Thu Dec 03, 2009 16:49

I have huge respect for this man. Reading his words I am struck by how true his view on archaeology and heritage rings in my ears. Thanks Brendan. This came in responce to an email I sent to some of the locals asking for someone to front the campaign, be a spokesperson. ...

Carmel

Hello Sean, Carmel, John, everyone and i would be extremely grateful if this link could be passed on; Apologies for not being in touch of late; I was involved in some other, serious stuff, and Bremore, important and all as it is, had to be placed down the scale of my agenda. Who are you actually referring to when you suggest that more locals need to become involved?; as far as I can make out, there are very, very, very few locals from Drogheda to Duleek, to Skerries that have little or no interest and dont care if the whole complext is bulldozed into the Irish Sea. Also, there are a few people who have contacted me in recent months offering to this, that and the other, but they dont wish to be seen, publicly; why not?, what`s the problem in stating what you believe in publicly; I for one am certainly not afraid to speak and denounce what is happening and I have a huge problem in folk who will not stand up and say it like it is. Archaeologists have walked with me over this beautiful landscape and were expressing their " horror" at the suggestion of the tombs being destroyed; however, where are they now?: now that the time is getting closer to filling in an application form for an expression of interest in helping to dig it up at a huge cost, a cost that can never be recouped, ever. In the past I have come up against all sorts, individuals, companies, associations, local government, etc and it`s always the same; no straight answers, bare-faced lies, patronising bastards, falsehoods and so, in the end, I reverted to doing things on my own; recording the demise of our heritage and lamenting our cultural past so that it may be read by a people tomorrow; written and recorded by a person who knows the landscape and its people of the later 20th and early 21st century; a person who by now is tired, disgusted and sickened by government actions, both local and national and in colusion with the " wealthy, Greedy and Powerful" numbskulls of this island. The real folk of this country dont matter, they never did; the laws are made to keep you and me in our place, where we have no representation left of any kind, where we have no access nor resources from the land anymore and where we are now more oppressed and surpressed than at any time in our past: rotten from the inside out: we talk about " Ancient Ireland", but yet we are only a " Free State" since 1922 that`s a mere 87 years young and look at us, Industrial schools, Corrupt Police, Church, State Leaders, etc. In simple terms: Bremore has been the landing spot for the first industrialists to this island, the first farmers, the first settlers, the first economists/traders; the entire landscape along the coast here is one of huge heritage values; not of " Archaeological Importance"; not any more and, maybe its time we omitted the word "Archaeology" in association with Bremore because the same people who, supposedly, represent that of archaeology are helping in a huge way to destroy the very thing we are fighting for and there`s never a word about the huge cost that this, so called, knowledge, a knowledge that wont even be passed on to local schools, community groups or historical societies; a knowledge that will be stored away in boxes in the deepest dungeons of the N.M.I. At this point, I could go on for hours, but I`ll end now with this; It`s not a matter of " throwing in the towel", someone can only be accused of that if indeed they have the " towel" in their grasp in the first instance: Revoloution or a lost cause?

by No Port Here Fri Jan 15, 2010 18:29

There will be a meeting at the Huntsman's Inn Sunday 7th Feb 2.30pm all welcome.

We wish to hear people's opinions and ideas with a view to mobilising greater awareness among locals of the direct impact this proposed port will bring. By that date the archaeological contracts will be assigned and so it is with greater imperative that all those interested should attend.

They have changed the laws to allow this port to go ahead while we cannot cope with what could be considered minor national emegencies ( ahem ) telling us they do not have the money to deal with these issues now ...and perhaps into the future. Yet within 6 weeks of issue date for submissions, contracts for archaeological excavations will be concluded.

Please spread the word.

Thank you.

by Countryman Sun Jan 31, 2010 21:38

An Taisce's submssion to Dept of Transport objecting to the extension of Drogheda port to Bremore is now viewable on the An Taisce website (link below).

It deals with the Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas in the vicinity of the proposed harbour zone. Also contains detailed information on the (known) archaeological monuments at Bremore and Gormanston.

by sliproad Fri Feb 05, 2010 20:07

Can you please get you facts right and stop trying to post things that are inaccurate.I have been reading with interest of what ye are trying to put across but what does get me is where has all the sudden interest in Bremore come from ?
I live really close to the proposed site and never seen anyone only locals walking dogs in his area. Now there is all this interest in the area by groups like yourselves.I have even seen photos posted on another part of this site that is on gormanston beach claiming to be where the proposed port is.I am sure Brendan brought you to his beloved Gormanston and Stamullen may be I am mistaken but i was sure Bremore is in county Dublin not county Meath.Also i have been reading some reports here about the new port might be vulnerable to north easterly winds and seas.Then not to far away from that comment there is people wondering where their sign is gone,the one shaped like a paddle and held up with a couple of stones.Ye make me laugh......
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe ye should stick to hanging around coursing meetings and then get on to charitys about the money raised for the disaster in Haiti....
If this is the way some of you think I suggest you take a long look at youself before trying to influence people
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a report about it....

GOAL rejects Clonmel coursing donation
Money raised during the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel has been
rejected by GOAL.

Boylesports bookmakers sponsored a number of charity bets during the 3-day event to raise money for Haiti.

However, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports contacted GOAL about the
source of the donation and a GOAL official contacted Boylesports to say it did not wish to be associated with coursing.

The charity’s Head of Fundraising, Lisa O’Shea, has since told the Irish Times that GOAL would be happy to accept the donation, saying people in Haiti should not suffer because some people objected to the activity.

It’s not clear how much the donation was worth.

by No Port Here Mon Feb 08, 2010 13:12

"Can you please get you facts right and stop trying to post things that are inaccurate.I have been reading with interest of what ye are trying to put across but what does get me is where has all the sudden interest in Bremore come from ?"

It is not a sudden interest. People have been working on this for years. Maybe its only now that you are becoming aware of it. Local did you say?

"I live really close to the proposed site and never seen anyone only locals walking dogs in his area."

Isnt that wonderful! I have spent many a day along that stretch not having to bump into morons with loud music and BBQs littering up the place. It is an unspoilt place, a place of amazing beauty. You must be very proud to be from the area and unless you have been offered large sums of money to sell your land or will benefit financially in some other percieved way by the industrialisation of this area, it would be logical that you do all you can to protect it. Then again you could be one of those people who have absolutely no regard for the environment or heritage and would be more at home on Portmarnock Beach or Dollymount perhaps with a six pack of breakable bottles and a stereo attached to your ear. Unfortuantely those types have over run our few beauty spots in County Dublin.

"Now there is all this interest in the area by groups like yourselves.I have even seen photos posted on another part of this site that is on gormanston beach claiming to be where the proposed port is.I am sure Brendan brought you to his beloved Gormanston and Stamullen may be I am mistaken but i was sure Bremore is in county Dublin not county Meath."

But you have provided no links so I can only assume that you are referring to the Archaeology Walks ,one of which was to Gormanstown- a seperate Archaeology Walk from the one to Bremore which funnily enough is because they are two sepearate places. A simple map will answer your queries. Better investigation on your part will answer the rest of your musings before you fire the next volley.

The rest of your post is not worthy of reply. If your interest is in coursing then I suggest you start up a seperate thread and entice people on to it with a better attitude.

by No Port Here Tue Feb 23, 2010 18:37

The Irish Times - Tuesday, February 23, 2010
New deepwater port may be moved north to avoid tombs

Port developers anxious to avoid ‘very significant’ neolithic complex,
writes FRANK MACDONALD , Environment Editor

A PROPOSED deepwater container port at Bremore in north Co Dublin may be
moved farther north to Gormanston, Co Meath, to avoid encroaching on a
neolithic complex of passage tombs.

A spokesman for Treasury Holdings, which is planning to develop the new
facility in partnership with Drogheda Port, confirmed yesterday that one
of the options now being considered was to “shift it off Bremore
headland” for archaeological reasons.

He said it had become clear at an early stage that the neolithic complex
at Bremore was “very significant”, and the developers would be anxious
to avoid it by examining alternative locations, such as Gormanston.

However, no final decision has been taken.

One of the constraints is that the Gormanston site is partly covered by
an EU-designated special protection area (SPA) for wild birds.

It is also believed to contain another archaeological complex, though
this is not thought to be as significant as the one located at Bremore.

“We’ve done a significant amount of preliminary work, including
archaeological investigations by Margaret Gowen and Company,” the
spokesman said, adding that Treasury would now be taking on an
environmental specialist to assess the Gormanston option.

Treasury acquired options to purchase several landholdings at Bremore
before entering into partnership with Drogheda Port, but it is
understood the company holds none for Gormanston.

Land in the area would be cheaper to acquire now due to the property crash.

“We now have to work through the environmental issues as well as the
cultural heritage and archaeological issues,” the spokesman said.

He added that Treasury and its partners would be consulting with “all
the various interests”, such as An Taisce, which it has met already.

It is likely to be autumn before a firmer proposal will be put out for
consultation.

“Ireland needs a deepwater port; the IDA (Industrial Development
Authority) is conscious that we are losing projects because we don’t
have one,” according to the spokesman.

An Taisce’s monuments and antiquities committee has warned that any port
development at Bremore would “completely obliterate a passage tomb
cemetery of neolithic date with affinities to Newgrange and a mid-16th
century historic harbour site”.

Commenting on the possibility that it could be relocated to Gormanston,
committee chairman Dr Mark Clinton said it would be likely to affect a
sandy beach “most beloved in the locality” and shoreline that forms part
of the river Nanny SPA.

Any such plan would require a full assessment of its environmental
effects to be prepared and placed before the public prior to being approved.

“It would appear that the exact opposite of these legal requirements is
in motion,” Dr Clinton said.

He also queried the need for a new port, noting that throughput at
Drogheda Port had fallen by 50 per cent in 2008, according to its most
recent set of accounts, while business at Dublin Port was down by 10 per
cent.

“There is no need for a new deepwater port,” he said.

by No Port Here Wed Mar 31, 2010 13:35

There will be a Demo outside the Fingal Co Co Offices, Main Street, Swords this Friday 1-2pm
Please join with us on the day that the Draft Development Plan goes on display.

NO PORT HERE!
SAVE OUR HERITAGE!

Spread the word, thank you.

by No Port Here Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:28

from Demo yesterday

by No Port Here Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:49

Web pages have been changed since yesterday- this is the link that will bring you to the text and maps of the Draft Plan.

by No Port Here - Save Bremore Heritage Mon May 17, 2010 08:55

FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor: Irish Times 17-5-10

NO EXTENSION of Drogheda Port into north Co Dublin will be approved by the Department of Transport at least until after the proposed deepwater container port at Bremore/Gormanston goes through the planning process.

In a letter to An Taisce, which had objected to the proposal, the maritime division of the Department said: “Having considered the matter further the Department has decided not to proceed with the extension of the harbour limits for the present.” The letter made it clear that “the most appropriate juncture for such an extension [of the harbour limits] to be considered would be after the proposal has been through the planning process” — and this is now at a preliminary site investigation stage.

Calling the decision “commendable”, An Taisce said it expected that the proposed development by Drogheda Port in partnership with Treasury Holdings would be subjected to strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in line with the Lisbon Treaty.

An Taisce’s Monuments and Antiquities Committee had expressed concern that the associated development of a deepwater port at either Bremore or Gormanston would “seriously impact” on neolithic passage tomb complexes in both of these locations.

Dr Mark Clinton, the committee’s chairman, noted that Gormanston “lies at the southern end of a renowned stretch of sandy beaches. These beaches cater for a broad catchment area, stretching from the hinterland of east Meath into north Co Dublin”.

Meath County Council has conceded that the wastewater situation in east Meath “is deteriorating due to capacity issues in the treatment plants in Drogheda and Ringsend, Dublin. This results in a serious constraint in the servicing of zoned lands in east Meath”.

Last February, a spokesman for Treasury Holdings said the developers were anxious to avoid the “very significant” archaeological site on Bremore headland and were considering the option of locating it in the less sensitive Gormanston area, to the north.

But one of the constraints there is that the likely site is partly covered by an EU-designated special protection area (SPA) for wild birds.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision shortly on controversial plans by the port to infill a further 52 acres of Dublin Bay. The port company’s application attracted more than 100 objections, including one from Dublin City Council calling it “premature”.

by Peter K Wed May 19, 2010 09:47

That's good news at least. Perhaps it is the recession rather than concern for heritage issues that stops this development for now but either way, well done to all who voiced their opposition. I recieved a letter some days ago on the subject from the Maritime Transport Division in reply to my objection. Slow responce but welcome news.

by No Port Here Mon Apr 11, 2011 16:52

Drogheda Port Company revisits €300m expansion at Bremore
06 March 2011 By John Burke Public Affairs Correspondent

Drogheda Port Company has re-submitted a major plan to extend the port’s boundary and develop a €300 million deepwater facility at Bremore in north Dublin.

The semi-state company made an earlier bid to develop the Bremore project, but critically it failed to obtain the approval of the former transport minister Noel Dempsey in 2009.

Any approval given to Drogheda’s plan might be seen to disadvantage Dublin Port, amid questions over whether the capital’s port should be expanded to meet future needs.

Drogheda Port Company is developing Bremore in a joint venture with Castlemarket Holdings, part of the Treasury Holdings Group.

The project would require a Ministerial Order from the next transport minister to sanction the widening of its boundary.

Drogheda Port Company carried out a public consultation in September 2009 on a proposed alteration of its harbour limits to include the area around Bremore.

No planning application has been made in relation to the project, but the joint venture partners are engaged in preplanning preparations.

Both Drogheda Port Company and Dublin Port Company are included on the list of semi-state bodies, including Bord Gáis and the ESB, whose assets and liabilities were the subject of a review by economist Colm McCarthy, with the potential for some of those agencies to be sold.

The previous bid to develop Drogheda Port boundary was complicated by legal concerns that were expressed by the Attorney General, Paul Gallagher.

Gallagher warned the government that it would be ‘‘legally problematic’’ to extend Drogheda Port’s boundaries into north Dublin to permit it to develop the Bremore Port plan, given constraints that existed at the time on the powers which the minister possessed to make such a decision.

However, the Attorney General’s concerns have been surpassed by the enactment of the Harbours (Amendment) Act 2009,which extended ministerial powers to alter a company’s harbour limits.

http://www.thepost.ie/news/drogheda-port-company-revisi....html

by No Port Here Mon Apr 11, 2011 16:54

Attend at least one of these meetings please:

Fingal Heritage Plan 2011-2017
Public Consultation Meetings are being held for the new Fingal Heritage Plan 2011-2017 at the following venues:
Monday 4th April 2011
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, 7.30 p.m.

Wednesday 13th April 2011
Hamilton Room, Balbriggan Town Hall, 7.30 p.m.

Written submissions are also invited and should be posted to:
Heritage Officer, County Hall, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin
or emailed to heritage@fingalcoco.ie by 22nd April 2011.

by Countryman Tue Apr 26, 2011 23:31

The Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 is at the pre-draft stage. Public consultations have been held around the county in the last few months. A Strategic Issues Paper has been prepared; see link below, or follow links on www.meathcoco.ie

The proposed port at Bremore/Gormanston features on pages 16-17

Submissions should be made to Meath Co Council by 29th April, that's this coming Friday. It's early days yet but no harm expressing environmental concerns now.

by No Port Here Wed May 25, 2011 14:51

Many thanks to everyone who turned up to our recent Arcaheology Walk at Bremore. Amazingly we are still awaiting clarification from Minister Varadkar on a very confusing statement issued by him in which he states that the port will be going ahead at Bremore rather than the anticipated move to Gormanstown.

Port's future given Ministerial boost
By Fiona MAGENNIS fiona@drogheda-independent.ie

Wednesday May 18 2011
THE Minister for Transport has congratulated Drogheda Port on its 'solid trading performance' in 2010 and said he supports the company's plans to develop the new deepwater port at Bremore.

Leo Varadkar TD said he supported the company's plans to develop both the existing port and the new deepwater port at Bremore.

He said the overall structure of the State's ports will be reviewed later this year as part of the current Ports Policy Review and will take account of the recent recommendations of the McCarthy Group.

However, he said irrespective of the outcome, 'well managed and profitable ports such as Drogheda will continue to play an important role in serving the market and facilitating industry and jobs.'

The Minister's comments come as the port revealed at its AGM that trading was up by almost 20% for the first quarter of the year.

The annual report and trading results for 2010 was presented to its shareholders last week in advance of publication later this year.

Volumes of cargo through the port increased year on year by 4% in 2010 with notable increases recorded in agri-imports.

Addressing Drogheda Port Company's AGM, Chief Executive Paul Fleming, Chief Executive, said the quarter on quarter increase of 18% was driven primarily by export volumes of existing and new commodities, making it the best performing port in the first quarter of 2011.

'While the outlook for the Irish port sector for 2011 looks likely to be testing for the domestic ports and shipping sectors, Drogheda Port is projecting above average volume increases for the period, and we will continue to manage our cost base carefully to retain our competitive edge in a very challenging market,' he added.

In his annual review to the board and shareholders the company's chairperson, Sean Gallagher, said: 'The company continues to develop plans for Bremore Ireland Port with substantial progress made during the year and I look forward to helping drive that agenda,' he said.

'The company's commitment to the development of a new deepwater port at Bremore has not diminished, nor that of our partners in the project.'

- Fiona MAGENNIS fiona@drogheda-independent.ie

Special thanks to Brendan Mathews for entertaining and educating us on the Walk and for giving his time so readily. Much appreciated Brendan.