Irish Kings of Tara
80Bounty of Mother Earth, Natural Pagan Beliefs
Bogmen
Music and dance abound in this rainy land
so often draped by a rainbow band
coasts lashed by hotlantic storms
fields licked lush by manmouth worms
mummies rising from the bogs
petrified people logs
slain sacrificial lambs
iron-age ghosts of Ireland.
ooOOoo
© 2008-2011 Gerry Gilligan,
pseudonym- sligobay
All photos, poems and articles © 2008-2011 Gerry Gilligan
Sketches of the ancient past
Ancient Ireland
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Arial view of Tara Hill during human harp demonstration
Paganism gives way to Christianity
Prehistoric Ireland
Archaeological evidence dates human habitation in Ireland to the ‘middle stone age’ Mesolithic period. Flint tools from the seventh millennium B.C. have been uncovered primarily in the Northeast but as far Southeast as Cork. The discovery of a settlement of hunter/gatherers near the River Bann, MountSandel and porcellanite quarries in other locations support the time-line.
Irish archaeology research collectively supports the conclusion of nomadic Irish tribal existence with flint axes and simple tools for two millennium. The Irish began planting crops and keeping livestock around 4,000 B.C., which are the touchstones of the Neolithic or new stone age.
The next thousand years saw the introduction of forestry, pottery, cattle, sheep, rectangular dwellings with thatched roofs, trade, travel and contact with people inhabiting the British Isles and perhaps beyond. The stone age continued for another 1200 years until about 1,800 B.C.and saw the building of burial mounds and stone circles for unknown purposes, possibly assembly or ritual. More than 1,200 burial sites from mounds, wedge tombs, court tombs, passage tombs, portal dolmens, megaliths, collectively known as cairns, criss-cross the countryside. ‘Queen Maeve’s’ Cairn on Knocknarea overlooks the City of Sligo. The sunrise of winter solstice negotiates the passage into the tomb chamber at County Meath’s Newgrange, the burial ground of the earliest Irish high kings of Tara.
The copper age saw early metallurgy during the second millennium at mine-shafts of MountGabriel, Cork. Tin was probably imported from Cornwall to smelt with the copper by the alchemists to create bronze at the turn of the millennium. Bronze facilitated the manufacture of weaponry by 1000 B.C., metal cauldrons, hinges, horse-bits and bridles, horsemanship, warfare, fortresses, and the arms race was joined to our collective detriment.
The iron age followed around 600 B.C. and corresponded with a climate change that reduced arable land and expanded the peat bogs. The hill-forts of Clogher, CountyTyrone, was a location for iron manufacture but bronze gave way reluctantly on this island. The iron age preceded the early historic references to the Celtic race and Hibernia, the Roman name for Ireland.
Tara, in Co. Meath, may be the most important archaeological site in all of Ireland. The ‘fort of kings’, Rath na Riogh, is a passage grave dating back to 2130 B.C. and is a low oval mound that is part of this complex site. Tara’s many layers, levels, aspects, elements and structures have not been fully explored, scientifically examined or fully described or documented by archaeologists. Tara had served as the seat of the high kings of Ireland for thousands of years and is the ‘royal mound’.
In the absence of recorded history, Ireland’s early history is recorded in its rich oral tradition of heroic mythical figures and legendary exploits. Ancient provincial rivalries among Connacht, Ulster, Munster and Leinster are carried forward in amateur sporting divisions established by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
To be sure of the conversion of pagan Ireland to Christianity during the fifth century A.D., Saint Patrick used this ancient site of pagan ritual,Tara, to conduct a Christian gathering, the “Rath of the Synods”. Tara remains the heart and soul of Celtic people of this land.
The Eve of Destruction
Six thousand years before Christ and two thousand years after Christ, Tara survived as a place held sacred by pagan and Christian alike. Undisturbed since the upheaval of the last ice age, Tara has withstood the test of time.
Tara has outlasted the invasions and conquests by internal and external geopolitical forces, climate changes of the iron age, religious crusades, plague, pestilence and famine. It is the repository of heritage and history of the Celtic people from eons ago.
But since the turn of the century, the twenty first century, Tara, has succumbed to the conquest of the "global economy", modernization and convenience. The government and its business partners are building a sixty km highway across its face and through its heart. If ever a place on this blessed earth earned the name, "heartland", Tara is that sacred place.
The lyrics of a popular American tune come to mind: "...they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. ....you don't know what you've got 'til its gone."
Make a difference for once in your lifetime. Visit the links, sign the petition, send money to support the campaign and litigation. Write to your friends, to the media and to your representatives in government and voice your objection to this desecration. Physically go to Tara in Co. Meath and protest.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. Thank you for your help.
Save the Hill of Tara
- Save The Hill of Tara, the National Monument of Ireland Petition
Site describes the facts relating to The Hill of Tara as a protected Heritage site and the way in which people can get involved in the fight to save the Hil of Tara. - Irish Heritage video compilations | Irish heritage Videos
Irish Heritage video compilations - By Irish heritage Videos. Videos of Irish heritage,culture,GAA sport,horse shows,landscapes, seascapes, music, dance, events, and art. - Hill of Tara / M3 motorway
Site describes the political issues and civil disobedience in progress to save the Hill of Tara. - Sligo Bay Area video site
Video compilation of Irish heritage,culture,GAA sport,horse shows,landscapes, seascapes, music, dance, events, and art of the Sligo Bay Area. Blog discussion of current issues in modern Ireland.
Tara's Cultural Significance
poetry by Sligobay
- Firepoker
fire poker my heart dwells by your hearth like the cast iron fire tool, the warmth of your fire heats my metal slowly; then in the grip of your firm hand ignites me as the fiery ingot, ... - fifty
rollercoaster The approach to fifty is like reaching the top of the highest point on the roller coaster as your cart slows and struggles twice as hard to conquer the summit. Once you arrive at the top,... - shoppingcart
shopping cart shabbot shalom echoes the melody of the song of Solomon; reflections of the memories of Greek King Agamemnonon; what Pharaoh reigned Egypt when the Red Sea parted, chronology... - Irish Dirty Dancing
Not every Irish lad or lass is gifted to the same degree. Yet, on this westernmost edge of Europe, this tiny insular land of less than five million inhabitants, the populace reels in the heat of 'dance...
Writings by Sligobay
If you've enjoyed reading this poem or article , here are some convenient links to other poetry and writings by Sligobay.
- Alfie
John Alfred Sharkey was born in Roscommon, Ireland. He emigrated to New Jersey, USA, married Rita, and fathered and raised three lovely daughters who married and produced lovely grandchildren. Alfie spent... - Tuppence Invested Wisely In The Bank and Understandi...
Tuppence is two pennies worth of the British Pound Sterling. Many years ago, it was brought to my attention that this was a substantial amount of money which could be wisely invested in the Bank as savings or... - Maiden and Man-O-War
Honor and manhood have been entwined since the beginning of time. Acts of bravery and loyalty in conscious disregard of self interest and personal risk have been demanded of men while hunting and defending the...
An impassioned plea to save the Valley, as well
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Hey Sligoby, Great job in bringing this story to forefront. It's bloody madness what they are doing. No consideration what so ever. Great post!
excellent hub, good luck with your activism for preservation of Tara~
This is a well written hub that shares a sad predicament. You have done a great job at presenting this issue. Good luck in your work at raising awareness.
Jonathan
I'll second that. Keep raising the awareness and never give up.
Russell.
Hi Sligoboyo!!
great hub, great issue and very well presented. The last shot on the video of Tara was stunning. i want to go right now!!
caitriona
Thanks for letting the public know. I can't believe this special landmark if huge significance to so many is going to be desecrated for the sake of a few miles avoiding it!
Thanks for letting the public know. I can't believe this special landmark if huge significance to so many is going to be desecrated for the sake of a few miles avoiding it. I've just signed the petition!
Thanks to all the viewers and commentators for seeing, caring, forwarding, signing the petition, contributing and raising your voices and awareness. Pass this hublink along please. Cheers.
I hope you succeed - great hub!
Thank you for being a champion! Our responsibility to our past generations is its preservation for the future generations. Afterall how can we know where we are going if we do not know from whence we came?
Bravo!
Well done Sligobay! Good luck with your quest!
Never Stop the Quest!
Thanks for you support and encouragement but the roadway is winning. I need to do a new hub about the extent of the destruction of this world heritage site.
Excellent hub. Is there no historical society that can intervene?
Donna
There is litigation rejected in Ireland but now brought before the European Union Court for reversal of the Irish decision. Thanks for your comment and concern.
cool info and presentation. Love your writing style. Keep up the good work.
Cheers Marcus
The hill of Tara is an acient and sacred burial ground of which belongs to all the people of Ireland. this is also homeland of my people, and it is priceless where price tags can never be put upon it. Giving it all away for a Motorway to go through it is a national and international disgrace and sacralidge. Ireland has a very, very rich history that is connected from biblical times and a royal lineage of kings and queens. The Irish government should not allow this to happen. Ireland has suffered enough in the past as we all know. but we were always left with what we always faught for, and that is a land rich in historical history and freedom. what belongs to us.
excellent hub
Tara, I believe the biggest dream would to see Tara as it was a its height of glory, imagine the employment it would bring to Meath and the sourrounding counties.
Hope that the litigation has been successful. It is dreadful thing that such precious sites are often desecrated like this.
Love and peace
Tony
Heritage and culture are rarely on the priority list of most nations. Ireland usually truly values its past.
My husband and children are part Irish, it was a very informative hub, understanding the historical significance of this land. I enjoyed reading this.
Thanks for calling over, Sylvia. This was my very first Hub inspired by my passion to preserve the past which has been preserved intact for more than a thousand years. Glad you enjoyed the read. Cheers.
Hi, sligo, I know this is old so I hope they resolved it since then, it does make me so mad when they do this, I remember reading a story about a native american who said 'I never asked them to call me a native american, we are quite happy with red indian, because that is what we are, the thing that we want stopped is the desecration of our hunting grounds!' exactly! in a few hundred years they will pull up the roads and try and find the heritage! cheers nell
Conn is my ancestor as well and I wish you all the luck in the universe to defeat these multinational corporations. It will take all of us to defeat them. Tara is so sacred. Anything I can do to spark awareness will be done.
Thanks Bret but Ireland has another road with a big warehouse full of archeologic artifacts removed haphazardly. Sorry but this fight is long over and everyone lost - except maybe the toll collectors.
Hi Nell- Thanks for your visit and comment. "They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot" is an old lyric which comes to mind. Cheers.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all you sweet people who visit my Hubs. Health and prosperity to you all in Lucky '11. "Snickers all around, at the Candy Bar". Cheers.
Dia dhuit,my brother!!! :) truely wonderful hub.We,the Irish,owning the coolest culture of the whole Europe,MUST keep our ancient traditions,language,customs,values,
EVERYTHING!!!!!!! We shouldn't let any country to dictate us what to do and what not to do.I voted NO two times to Lisbon Treaty and I'm freakin' proud of it.Why other European so-called "civilized" countries have the right to tell us how to manage our own matters and laws?! We must allow same-sex marriage,abortion,become an atheistic, so-called"laicist" state,we must allow whoring gals,just like other european gals are,who sleep with thousands of fellows,then get rid of their bastards?! fill internet,media,television with so-called "irish porn"?! destroy the sacrosanct Hill of Tara,just for "modernizing" the area?! allow GM food on our irish bonny lush greeny island,to pollute our soil, filled with the blood and bones of our warriors,heroes and freedom fighters?! Is this a "modern developed" world,is this a democracy?! NO,NO AND NO!!!!!!!! for me,at least,it's not! it's a degradation,reduce our individuality and uniqueness.Neither Europe nor America don't have even the half of greatness of culture that we have,and they must pwn us?! NO,please,God,save us from that.... it's sad,how the stupid youth,influenced by such european things,scorn our customs,our beautiful Gaelic,make fun of our traditional values..I read a despicable comment on youtube below the video "Ireland-flying through the country" by Denver1928.Such "future of a nation" causes the death and desacration of everything that is beautiful and unique,and submits it to the global mass culture.
I tell you one thing: the fact that ALL europe does the same thing,does not care me at all.I don't give a :@:?:| :\ that abortion is legal,drugs are legal,porn is legal,all young people do what they want,be it good or bad,that EU imposes the "universal values" to everything,and that so-called "values" are in reality the dictature of false liberalism.If you don't behave like us,you can,but then,you're a white raven,an abomination,you can be yourself,but you're a weirdo,a loony for your ignorant and stupid way of life,you're a retrograde. Voila! THIS is a modern democracy,a TYRANNY OF EU,and I would be glad if we just get the hell outta there.
I don't know about other people,but personally I DON'T wanna see my Ireland submitted to global mass "culture",I wanna see eternally the proud,stern,free,unviolated Eireann,country of so many God-given amazing miracles,which decides HERSELF everything and doesn't need the "help" of others.
May God bless our beloved Emerald Island!!!! :)
P.S. Oh,I forgot to say that Northern Ireland is OURS,raped by english imperialists,and sadly by bloody unionists.:| We must never give up and continue fighting (of course without bloodshed),show that we won't surrender to another rule!!!!! :) Irish pride forever...
amen to you,Aoibhe.Yeah,Ireland won't be a country like Netherlands,place of prostitutes,drug consummers etc. you're totally right,the fact that every european country does the same thing,doesn't mean that we must copy their lifestyle..
These money hungry evil people that are poisoning this world, at what cost are they doing this, and what will they gain when they do the whole world like this, and everybody is sick from the from the air pollution, etc. It angers me, and I feel that some one is trying to destroy our world on purpose.
Ireland is trying to develop as a modern country which requires modern roads. Their choice as to the placement of the road is the objectionable part. Thanks for your comment.
sligobay, i have traveled the world except 2 places i must go, why i am not sure. Ireland is one of them. This hub is now one of a few I am getting through that you have structured in a creative historic means.
It beats any travel website for sure. I am learning much. But most grateful that it is coming from you as your execution is so fascinating to learn.
I thank You
Kimberly
Hello Kimberly: Thanks for the visit and hope that you make it to my Homeland some day. This happens to be my most visited Hub and also my first published Hub. I guess that it was beginners luck. I become a part of each Hub through my poetry. My muses select my subject matter at random and I let them. Your words are lovely and too gracious. It is ironic to reply on the day of the royal nuptials in Britain on this very Irish article site. Good luck and best wishes to William and Kate. May they not be tyrants!
Best wishes indeed!
Thank You
My grandfather use to always ask me scratching his head, 'Kimberly have you ever seen an ugly bride" no grandpa of course not "Then why with all the beautiful brides, where did all the ugly wives come from?"
ha
;)
What a hoot grandpa must have been! Of course my beloved brides remained beautiful wives and so I can't answer his question and scratch my own head at the quandary! LOL
The royal wedding is underway at Westminster Abbey and I do wish these young people happiness that was denied to Princess Diana. To know that her blood infuses this 'mating'is an elememt of Hope. "Blessed pair of sirens" plays on the classic radio station as I type. It is one musical selection for the wedding. I prefer the viral video clip by Team Mobile which is funny as anything! Hugs for you my dear.
great work...irish
Thank you for posting this hub! I have recently began researching my ancestors and have developed an interest on this subject. It is sad to learn that developers would want to destroy an ancient artifact in this way. After reading your hub, I decided to sign a couple of petitions to help save Tara.
Thanks NikkiBC for your visit, your comment and your support. Slainte.
Gerry, the following you wrote just breaks my heart and greatly saddens me:
"But since the turn of the century, the twenty first century, Tara, has succumbed to the conquest of the "global economy", modernization and convenience. The government and its business partners are building a sixty km highway across its face and through its heart. If ever a place on this blessed earth earned the name, "heartland", Tara is that sacred place."
You know I have never lived in Ireland, but I feel it is my spiritual home. I love to read, research, and write about ancient Ireland, have many books about it, and I just know Ireland is where my spirit will always dwell.
Is there any way to put a stop to continued invasion of the ancient lands and sacred places like Tara?
voted UP, Awesome, Beautiful, Useful, Interesting
How are you doing, my darlin'? Are you healing from the loss of your brother? My Mother just passed on two weeks ago and I know healing takes a long time. Hugs and prayers for you.
Thanks Phyllis for your visit and lovely words. Sorry about your loss of your Mom. My own loss of my brother continues to bring grief which seems inconsolable. Hugs and prayers returned.
- Irish Dirty Dancing
Not every Irish lad or lass is gifted to the same degree. Yet, on this westernmost edge of Europe, this tiny insular land of less than five million inhabitants, the populace reels in the heat of 'dance fever'.... - corrupt
CORRUPT Say that your thoughts are so impure and that your actions brutely injure, Say that your words speak dishonesty and that your wishes bode antipathy; Say that you've murdered men in their beds... - mindbend
French Quarter Smile photo by sligobay ties lovely tears pooling the wells of our eyes, springs of joy swelling the knells of our cries; rings of love clanging the bells of reprise, ... - departed
Dearly Departed from every pore cursed pain cries daylight daggers stab dreary eyes, body recoils with mournful sighs worn will embraces last goodbyes; restless heart pines for loves undone ... - Firepoker
There are so many aspects of relationships that have been experienced since the beginning of time. Though our civilization continues to advance and change, human nature and our passions seem to be timeless. ...
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happyexplorer Level 1 Commenter 4 years ago
Bravo for airing this issue! It's astonishing that they're able to do this. Out of all the places in the world they could build the road, why run it right through here, one of the most sacred sites in the country? The world has millions or roads - here, there, and everywhere, but only one Tara. Thanks for the post!