Construction workers have stopped work for now on the site of Carrickmines Castle. The workers have reportedly cut down a number of trees at the site which archeologists say rates as important as the site of Dublin¿s Viking settlement at Wood Quay.
The workers moved onto the site where a number of activists are demonstrating against the controversial development.
This morning's move comes as conservationists concerned with the preservation of the archaeological remains of Carrickmines Castle are planning court action to halt the construction of the South Eastern Motorway in south Co Dublin.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Séamus Brennan was criticised this week for giving permission for work to proceed on a controversial section of the M50 South Eastern Motorway construction project which crosses the historical site. The new section of road has been opposed by heritage groups and archaeologists as it threatens the recently uncovered archaeological remains of Carrickmines Caste.
Plans for the motorway interchange at the historically sensitive site have been opposed by bodies including An Taisce, Friends of Medieval Dublin, Fénechas, and the Brehon Law Project.
Archaeologists have found a well-preserved castle wall enclosing 1.5 acres of buildings, workshops, houses, kilns, wells and numerous ditches. Some 90,000 artefacts have been unearthed including 20,000 pieces of medieval pottery have been recovered, as well as coins, cannon balls, weapons, skeletons and textiles.
