Tara: The Seat of the High Kings

The hill of Tara is a famous for the panoramicThe passage tomb of Dumha na nGaill (Mount of
views it offers up over Ireland. Situated in Countythe hostages) dates back to the third century BC
Meath, the hill of Tara is 155m above sea leveland was excavated during the 1950s. There are
and on a clear day you can see over nine Irishmore than 25 ring ditches on the hill of Tara,
counties and as far north as Antrim. Tara ormany dating back to the bronze age. In 1810 two
(Teamhair in Irish) means lofty height and thelarge gold artefacts were found and are now in
meeting place of darkness and light. The hill ofthe property of the National Museum.
Tara dates back to prehistoric times and wasRecently the hill of Tara has been involved in
called the seat of the High Kings in old documents.some controversy as Government plans to build a
From the hill of Tara an unbelievable twenty fivemotorway nearby have stirred many emotions.
other monuments can be seen and many moreFirstly there is the need to develop proper
have since been discovered by moderninfrastructure in Ireland and to provide Navan, the
technology using aerial photography and satellitecapital of Meath, with a motorway link to Dublin.
images. Fires could be lit on the hill of Tara toOn the other hand, the motorway may damage
signify important dates in the calendar orthe area surrounding this magical place and may
important events. These fires could be seen overdamage other historical sites in the vicinity which
a vast area ensuring the message is passed athave yet to be discovered. The problem is that
terrific speeds across much of the land. Examplesno matter where you dig or build in Ireland you
as to why the fire would be lit are the crowningare bound to come across sites of historical
of a new King or to mark the change of seasonsreference.
and hence the important agricultural dates.