Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Hill of Tara in Co Meath yesterday to form "the world's first giant human harp" photographed from the air. The event was designed to promote the campaign to reroute the M3 motorway.
Those who took part in the elaborate aerial art exercise were requested to dress in white and to "take nothing but memories and leave nothing but footprints" on the Tara site.
Amongst the participants were Irish actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Stuart Townsend.
The gathering was directed by the internationally renowned aerial artist John Quigley, who has completed similar aerial works in the Artic, the Amazon rain forest and Antarctica.
Campaigners also gathered outside Dáil Éireann on Saturday afternoon to continue their protest against the development of the M3 near Tara.
About 30 harpists assembled with their instruments on the streets outside Government Buildings in Dublin to demonstrate against the proposed route using the historic symbol of the State.
"Ireland is unique in having a musical instrument, the harp, as its national emblem," harper Laoise Kelly said.
"This shows the importance of the harp in Irish culture. The sites currently under threat have been linked with harping and bardic traditions for more than 2,500 years."
The harpers, who presented a petition letter to Minister for the Environment John Gormley, were joined in their protest by Stuart Townsend, Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains and MEP Kathy Sinnott. They all spoke out against the proposed M3 route.
Townsend said he understood how the locals did not want to spend time in traffic but he said there was a need to balance infrastructural progress "with environmental and heritage protection".
"I love visiting Tara. I find it a very spiritual and powerful place. "I couldn't bear the thought of hearing traffic in such a peaceful place. I would urge both the Government and public to take a look at the Meath Masterplan which is an excellent alternative," he said.
The plan includes upgraded coach services and a rail link to serve the expanding towns of Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells. It also suggests the conversion of the M3 to a toll-free road and modifying part of the route to protect the Tara landscape.
One female protester said: "The gathering of harpers shows that we face a musical and cultural loss with what is happening in Tara. The sound of Tara's harp should not be drowned by cars, traffic or toll plazas."
