The environmental group, An Taisce, has claimed the planned M6 motorway in Co Galway will run through the historic Battle of Aughrim site and be 'particularly destructive'.
However, the National Roads Authority has described the criticism as 'unjustified' and says the 1691 battle site will be avoided.
The NRA says that steps have been undertaken to avoid any impact on the site proper, and says it clearly stated this in the plans' Environmental Impact Statement.
The Acadamy for Heritage group has also criticised the routing, describing it as 'deeply alarming' and 'extraordinarily insensitive'.
