02/07/2008

Celebrities Join Tara Motorway Opposition

International celebrities have weighed in on the controversial plans for a motorway near the historic Hill of Tara.

Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron has been joined by famed Irish Poet Seamus Heaney in challenging the M3 proposals.

Nobel prize winner Heaney has offered a number of rare pieces of work for auction, to raise funds for the campaign.

A one-off drawing of South African-born Theron will also be sold off to support the plight of locals.

Funds raised will allow experts on the matter to visit a Unesco summit in Canada next month.

There they hope to lobby on behalf of the historic Tara site, which they believe is of archaeological importance.

The Tarawatch Action Group received a letter from Heaney last week, offering work for the auction, according to Vincent Salafia.

"We are honoured and inspired by Mr Heaney's patronage," group leader Mr Salafia said.

"With Heaney and le Brocquy on board, and Aosdana supporting, we see this as the entire Irish arts community rowing in behind us," he added.

Poet Heaney has donated a signed limited edition collection of poems and two highly collectible works: In Their Element, by Heaney & Derek Mahon; Moore's Melodies, edited by David Hammond, with an introduction by Seamus Heaney, both of which are signed and a first edition of Selected Poems 1966-1987.

In his letter, Heaney said: "The Moore selection includes The Harp That Once [Through Tara's Halls], so it seems right for the job."

Heaney's contribution will add to the collection, which also included a unique pencil portrait of Oscar-winning film star Charlize Theron by artist Jim Fitzpatrick and a Louis le Brocquy print of 'Human Image XIII'.

Campaigners hope the UN body will designate Tara, which is already included in the World Monuments Fund's 2008 Watch List of the 100 most endangered sites, as a world heritage site.

See: Stop M3 Route Over Hill, Says Tara Campaigners

(PR/JM)

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