Tara

Introducing Tara

It’s Ireland’s most sacred stretch of turf, a place at the heart of Irish history, legend and folklore. It was the home of the mystical druids, the priest-rulers of ancient Ireland, who practised their particular form of Celtic voodoo under the watchful gaze of the all-powerful goddess Maeve (Medbh). Later it was the ceremonial capital of the high kings – 142 of them in all – who ruled until the arrival of Christianity in the 6th century. It is also one of the most important ancient sites in Europe, with a Stone Age passage tomb and prehistoric burial mounds that date back up to 5000 years.

The Hill of Tara (Teamhair) may look like a bumpy pitch ’n’ putt course, but its historic and folkloristic significance is immense: it is Ireland’s own Camelot. And like Camelot it’s had a lot of drama, most recently when a proposed route for the new M3 motorway would have gone right through the site. Years of arguing resulted in the government mostly ignoring the concerns of preservationists and deciding to ram the road right through the valley. Many laughed derisively when on the very first day of digging in 2007, an ancient site that could rival Stonehenge was uncovered. Work on the M3 was halted, although the government still seems set to put the needs of sprawl over the needs of heritage.

From the site, there are expansive views of the rolling green countryside and its web of hedgerows.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009