Madam, - The three articles on Tara, by Gabriel Cooney, Ian Russell and Pat Cooke, in your Weekend Review last Saturday moved the debate onwards to deal with the reality following construction of the M3. Unfortunately, none of the articles dealt with the human aspects of the controversy - the effects on the people of Co Meath, particularly the residents of the beautiful living landscape of the Tara/Skryne Valley.
Protesters, commentators and certain politicians have lost sight of the human requirements of the Meath people who live and breathe in the county. Gabriel Cooney captured my own strong view - that of my colleagues on Meath County Council and the vast majority of the people of Meath: "The motorway does not spell the end of the Tara landscape." - Yours, etc,
Cllr NICK KILLIAN, Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council, Navan, Co Meath.
Madam, - I read last Saturday's articles on the Tara debate in search of enlightenment. I enjoyed and agreed with Gabriel Cooney's contribution. I was absorbed by Pat Cooke's treatise until he sprinkled his last few paragraphs with words such as "reify", "a priori" and "palimpsest". But for academic pomposity, Ian Russell's lengthy, rambling and obscure sentences would take some beating. This confirms my impression that some academics live on a lofty plain from which they are reluctant to descend to communicate effectively with the less erudite. - Yours, etc,
BARBARA LIGHTFOOT, Milltown, Dublin 6.