Sir, – Tim O'Brien (News Agenda, March 18th) refers to the controversy that arose some years ago when it was proposed to build the M3 near the Hill of Tara.
In his recent book, The Civic Visions of Frank Gibney, Fergal MacCabe gives an account of an earlier proposal which would have had a devastating effect on the archaeological heritage of Tara if it had been carried out.
In 1942 Dáithí Hanly, later Dublin city architect and designer of the Garden of Remembrance, drew up plans to relocate the capital of Ireland to the actual Hill of Tara, complete with new parliament buildings, theatres, a cathedral and even a railway station.
Fortunately, there were more urgent priorities in terms of State finances in 1942 and apart from the preparation of the grandiose plan, little more was heard of the proposal. – Yours, etc,
LOUIS O’FLAHERTY,
Santry, Dublin 9.