Scholarstown Rd - Archaeological Dig - Ballyboden Tidy Tow

VIDEO DESCRIPTION:

Play, download and edit the free video Scholarstown Rd - Archaeological Dig - Ballyboden Tidy Towns April 2019.

Background Information: In the process of preparing a Heritage Map for the area, Ballyboden Tidy Towns discovered two more 'structures' that warrant further investigation on the nearby Dargle Wood green space (in the charge of SDCC) that abuts the Ardstone Site (former Liam Cosgrave Lands) on Scholarstown Road, Ballyboden, Dublin 16 - located close to Junction 12 (M50).

Realising that there may be a 'group significance' between the two adjoining sites we commissioned a photographic study assisted by many local residents to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of our Local Heritage. The professional advice we have received to date, is that SDCC should carry out a geophysical survey of the surrounding area and that there should be an independent survey of the sites.

We have concerns about the type of license granted to Ardstone, the developer, by the National Monuments Service (NMS) that is commonly known as 'to record but not preserve'. We believe the quality of the Archaeological Dig & the incomplete report submitted to SDCC for the purposes of a planning application to be of a poor standard and needs to be reviewed independently. We do not believe that the proper oversight was given by the National Monuments Service to this important site as residents reported skeletal bones left behind, open to the elements, on earth piles, clearly visible.

It is a final resting place for human beings regardless of the developmental potential and should have been afforded the appropriate respect for this burial ground. We do not believe that proper procedures and best international practice was followed and are mindful that the NMS is underfunded. We have written to the NMS and to Minister Josepha Madigan and expressed our concerns. We trust that appropriate action will be undertaken.

Pertaining to the current planning application (Reg.Ref:SD19a/0088) we do not believe that a foul sewer should be relocated straight through the site of the actual Archaeological Dig of a burial site.

We note that the Developer chose not to enter into a pre-planning consultation with SDCC. We believe this is a missed opportunity for SDCC, for residents and has compromised the cultural, heritage, economic and tourism potential of the County as a result.

We are concerned that SDCC has no Archaeologist in house, no current Heritage Plan, no Biodiversity Officer, no Biodiversity Plan and that the SDCC Heritage Forum has not met in two years. We note that the Heritage Officer's position is not a full-time position.

We hope this video will serve a purpose in the understanding and appreciation of the landscape and heritage (both built and natural) we live in.

Download, play and edit free videos and free audios from Scholarstown Rd - Archaeological Dig - Ballyboden Tidy Towns April 2019 using RedcoolMedia.net web apps