What was the Hill of Tara?

Question

I heard about it a couple of months ago. I know it is near the River Boyne. I also heard it has something to do with the ancient high kings. And why are they building a motorway near it for, they’d destroy the site.

(I am a Protestant who lives in Londonderry in Northern Ireland, but I’m learning about Paganism and the past).

Answer 1

Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. No idea why the government is allowing the destruction of this to happen, unless they wish for Ireland's Pagan past to be destroyed - if this is the case, they have quite a job ahead of them!

Answer 2

The Hill of Tara ("Hill of the King"), located near the River Boyne, is a long, low limestone ridge that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland. It contains a number of ancient monuments, and, according to tradition, was the seat of Árd Rí na hÉireann, or the High King of Ireland.

The M3 motorway currently (2007) under construction will pass directly through the Tara-Skryne Valley. The distance between the motorway and the exact site of the Hill is 2.2 km (1.37 miles). This development is intensely controversial and in late 2006, between the Christmas and New Year's holiday, works began despite protests.

Answer 3

This might help. --->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tar...

This is a picture of it--->http://www.sacredsoils.com/tara2.jpg

= )

Answer 4

Rather than a short-answer here, put your search engine to work and do some research. LOTS of history at that place...sad to hear it may be destroyed or "changed" due to a road being built.

How much history has been lost over the years, to make way for modern conveniences? *sigh*

Answer 5

The Hill of Tara was the Coronation place of Irelands pre-Christian kings, and is one of Irelands more famous sites. This was not an hereditary Kingship, the kings either won it in battle or were chosen for it. Although no buildings survive there are a number of large earthworks still remaining on the hill, some are inside an even larger iron age enclosure known as a Hill Fort. In the middle of this enclosure are two linked ring forts, to the East is Cormacs House and to the West is The Royal Seat.

In the centre of the Royal Seat stands a pillarstone which is believed to be the Lia Fail (stone of Destiny) or Coronation Stone. The pillarstone, a prehistoric phallic symbol, originally stood in the Northern part of the enclosure near the 4,000 year old neolithic passage tomb known as the Mound of the Hostages. According to legend, this stone was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha De Danaan and when the true king of Ireland stood on the stone, it would roar.

The small passage tomb known as the Mound of the hostages or Duma na NGiall dates to around 2500BC. The tomb gets its name from the custom of Irish kings taking important people hostage, one of these kings was known as Niall of the Nine Hostages who had taken hostages from all of the provinces of Ireland and from other countries. The passage tomb is one of only two monuments at Tara that have been excavated.

As for the moterway - don't get me started!  Its a complete joke.

For more info, try these:

http://www.megalithicireland.com

http://www.m50.ie/

Enjoy! : )