The center of Irish mythology, Tara was the political and spiritual center of Celtic Ireland. Situated on a hill in County Meath, it was occupied by Ireland’s highest rulers. Seat of the kings, it was until the 11th century the Celtic Irish capital that defined how the rest of the island functioned, and according to legend, it was the place where Saint Patrick presented the concept of the Trinity to the Kings.
Aerial view of Tara hill – © MNStudio
Tara is thought to have been founded in the early Neolithic period, at a time when the local population was erecting more and more megalithic constructions (tombs, etc.). Tara is no exception to the rule, and many circular enclosures were built at this time.
According to historical texts, Tara became the royal capital of the island of Ireland from the 4th century onwards. At that time, Ireland was divided into several provinces:
Tara then became an important political center: it governed life on the island of Ireland, collected taxes from the other provinces, and became the official residence of the Ard Ri Érenn (supreme kings of Ireland). Tara is also the venue for major ceremonies (political, religious, cultural… etc.) and feasts, where the Kingdom’s most eminent personalities gather.
In the 5th century, Saint Patrick met King Loegaire, and presented him with the concept of the Holy Trinity using a shamrock… The king was then convinced, and facilitated the saint’s evangelization work in the rest of Ireland…
Much later, when Tara is no longer active and has been forgotten, Daniel O’Connell organizes a large-scale gathering on Tara Hill. Over 250,000 people gathered to call for the revocation of the Union with Great Britain.
Tara was not discovered until the 20th century, when numerous aerial photographs clearly revealed the presence of hitherto unsuspected archaeological remains (circular enclosures, stonework, etc.). Excavations soon began, and Tara became one of County Meath’s most important archaeological sites…
The Hills of Tara are located in County Meath, west of the center of the island. Here you’ll discover a truly exceptional archaeological site, dating back to the Neolithic period and comprising 5 circular enclosures stretching for 2km along the hillside. The 2 largest enclosures are Rath Lugh and Rath Maeve.
There are over 40 buildings on the hill, some of which have been destroyed as a result of the misdeeds of a former agricultural operation that was carried out on the land for several years before the remains were officially discovered.
Traces of human presence dating back 3,000 years were found all over the hill.
To discover them, it’s essential to get there on foot. Don’t be too surprised if you can’t make out much at first. The site seems less obvious from the ground than from the sky: its enclosures and relief are less discernible.
Then head for the highest mounds, and you’ll discover a Visitor Centre, which will introduce you to the different areas of the site, and their respective histories. Among the various places you can visit, we can count :
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