Saving Cú Chulainn from turning in his grave, literally

meath | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Sunday August 14, 2005 13:40

by Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa

0863213755

Tara neglected whilst sites such as the Céide Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished

'That the scene of the final battle of Na Fianna, and the burial site of Cú Chulainn's remains is being dug up to facilitate a reroutable motorway is something which reflects badly on our respect for our origins.'

Excavations in the Tara Valley

I live a few short miles from the M3 site in the Tara Valley, and have been watching the works there on an almost daily basis since they began a number of months ago when the first excavator arrived to clear topsoil. That the scene of the final battle of Na Fianna, and the burial site of Cú Chulainn's remains is being dug up to facilitate a reroutable motorway is something which reflects badly on our respect for our origins.

Historically, Tara was more than a hill with a few mounds on it's peak. Lest it's importance be underestimated, Colum Cille caused a huge battle to be fought over Tara in which some 20,000 men died, near Sligo. In more recent times 500 Croppies died in the valley in 1798. And indeed, one of the 1798 men killed in the battle of Tara was chosen as the unknown pikeman for the memorial of Tulach an tSolais on Oulart Hill, Co. Wexford a number of years back.

In 1902, whilst on an excursion to Tara with 300 children, Maud Gonne hijacked a bonfire planned to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII by the local landlord. Campaigning at that time to stop the destruction of Tara by the British Israelites, Maud Gonne looked at the bonfire and "felt it would serve a better purpose if burnt in honour of an independent Ireland". She lit it and sang A Nation Once Again.

In Frank McDonald's article in the Irish Times on 27th November 2004, 'Bertie Ahern said he couldn't even see the hill from where he was standing on its route.' This ladish comment by our Taoiseach purposefully misses the point that Tara was a large settlement that stretched out along the valley in both directions towards Navan and Dunshaughlin, and that Tara stretched not alone over the hill but also the valley. Both were surrounded by defensive fortifications, evidenced by when Malachi defeated the Vikings at Tara in 980 to became High-King of Ireland, only to lose that title to Brian Boru some years later..

Tradition says that Hugh O'Neill in the 16th century, after his march to the south, encamped his army on the Rath or Fort of Ringlestown, to be assisted by the spirits of the mighty dead who dwelt within this rath.

And Daniel O'Connell held a monster meeting on Tara which attracted a crowd of more than 750,000, establishing the national significance of Tara once again.

Whilst Tara relies on its rich literature and associations, those that are insistent on this route rely on our ignorance of this same rich literature and associations. Whilst there is an almost unique abundance of history and lore associated with Tara, our Government has neglected it whilst sites such as the Céide Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished, been respectfully developed and protected. Hopefully Cú Chulainn may yet be saved from turning in his grave, literally, during the valley's excavation.

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Comments (4 of 4)

More on 15th August 1843 Meeting From Blanket

by archivist

Sun Aug 14, 2005 14:20

Extract:

The British were perplexed at what to do regarding the 'Monster Meetings' - were they a 'safety valve' at which the 'agitators/rebels' could let off steam in a more-or-less harmless fashion, or were they a possible recruiting exercise at which the more militant element could 'plot and plan'?

However, after the 15th August 1843, the Brits decided to take action; for it was on that date that between 800,000 and one million people gathered on the Hill of Tara in County Meath for a 'Monster Meeting'. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . on 15th August 1843, another one of the 'Repeal' Movements' 'Monster Meetings' was held - this time on the Hill of Tara, in County Meath; the Brits, already worried at the level of support for these meetings, made their move. . . . . . .

The 'Young Irelanders' newspaper, 'The Nation', put the figure for those in attendance at the Hill of Tara 'Monster Meeting' at three-quarters of a million people "without fear of exaggeration"; Daniel O'Connell himself claimed it was at least one-and-a-half million people, while another newspaper of the day ('The Times'?) reported -

"The whole district was covered with men. The population within a days march began to arrive on foot shortly after daybreak and continued to arrive, on all sides and by every available approach, 'till noon. It was impossible from any one point to see the entire meeting. The number is supposed to have reached between 500,000 and 700,000 persons."

Older Research Thread (Long): Pan for Nuggets, Clean 'em and Put Them Here.

by tara skryne valley boys (bluegrass massive) - sick and indigent song club

Sun Aug 14, 2005 14:33

Well the radio's got nothing new to say
& the TV news
seems the same as yesterday
somebody got caught
& somebody died
some days it does a person no damn good, to try & hide
from what their hearts try to tell them
between each beat
between the things we think are true
& what we know we need

& I'm panning for gold
in the litterbox

Any lore like this about Tara?

by Lore golore

Tue Aug 16, 2005 21:22

http://www.cloughmoremvc.co.uk/finn.htm

Interesting nugget

by There ya go

Tue Aug 16, 2005 21:37

"The Hill of Tara had five names. The first was Druim Decsuin, or the Conspicuous Hill; the second was Liath Druim, or Liath's Hill from a Firbolg chief of that name who was the first to clear it of wood; the third was Druim Cain, or the Beautiful Hill; the fourth was Cathair Crofinn; and the fifth name was Teamair (now Anglicised Tara, from the genitive case Teambrach of the word), a name which it got from being the burial place of Téa, the wife of Eremon, the son of Milesius." from Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, by Eugene O'Curry, Dublin, 1873.

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Saving Cú Chulainn from turning in his grave, literally

Comments (4 of 4)