Recently in Hill of Tara Category

Terry, protestor at Rath Lugh camp, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

Terry, activist from Cork, standing beside a stream that now runs under the partly built M3 motorway that is controversially cutting through the national monument of Rath Lugh, an ancient promontory fort that was a defensive position for the Hill of Tara, the sea of the High Kings of Ireland. Behind Terry is a large mound of construction rubble. The trees in the photograph will be cleared by the motorway construction.

The woods at Rath Lugh, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

The Woods at Rath Lugh, near Skryne or Skreen Co. Meath. These woods on the the esker and beside the promontory fort of Rath Lugh that are currently being threatened by the construction of the M3 motorway between Dublin and Navan.

The Woods at Rath Lugh, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

The Woods at Rath Lugh, near Skryne or Skreen Co. Meath. These woods on the the esker and beside the promontory fort of Rath Lugh that are currently being threatened by the construction of the M3 motorway between Dublin and Navan.

Tara activist JP Fay in his hut at Tara, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

Tara activist JP Fay in his hut at Tara. Fay, from Trim has been one of the long-term activists in fighting the M3 motorway's path through the Tara area. He and other proposed an alternative route that was turned down, and was one of the "Tara Four" jailed for refysing to bail conditions to stay away from the construction site.

Poet and Tara protestor and poet Kieron Murray, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

Poet and Tara protestor Kieron Murray, also known as Kyrie Murray, reading poetry in a hut at the Hill of Tara.

The Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny at The Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, originally uploaded by blather.Get the high resolution version »

The Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny at The Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland until the 6th century AD. This standing stone is on the Inauguration Mound, and in legend it was the Coronation Stone for Irish High Kings into the 6th Century AD.

The Hill of Tara is located near Dunshaughlin and Navan, and the River Boyne.

Also in legend, the stone was supposed to have been brought to Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann - a magical race who once ruled Ireland. The Lia Fail itself was supposed to have magical properties - when a rightful king put his feet on it, it would roar for joy, and would rejuvenate a king to give him a long reign.

Cúchulainn split it with his sword when it failed to cry out under his protegé, Lugaid Riab nDerg, and from then on it never roared again, except under Conn of the Hundred Battles and Brian Boru.

You've got to admit though, it's a bit of a phallic symbol - author Michael Slavin suggests that the king had to wed the Goddess of Sovereignty. However, it appears she was wearing a strap on!

The Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

The Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland until the 6th century AD. It's located near Dunshaughling and Navan, and the River Boyne.

The Mound of the Hostages at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

The Mound of the Hostages at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath Co. Meath, ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland until the 6th century AD. The Mound is an ancient passage tomb, from between 2500 and 3000 BC, and has impressive spiral artwork inside. Facing directly east, the door is matched with sunrise on both equinoxes. Despite being quite small, some 250-500 bodies were buried inside, this continued right up to 1600-1700 BC.
Bizarrely, the mound was dug up in the early 20th century by the British Israelites, we thought that the Ark of the Covenant was buried inside!

The Mound of the Hostages at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

of Tara, Co. Meath

The Mound of the Hostages at the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath Co. Meath, ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland until the 6th century AD. The Mound is an ancient passage tomb, from between 2500 and 3000 BC, and has impressive spiral artwork inside. Facing directly east, the door is matched with sunrise on both equinoxes. Despite being quite small, some 250-500 bodies were buried inside, this continued right up to 1600-1700 BC.
Bizarrely, the mound was dug up in the early 20th century by the British Israelites, we thought that the Ark of the Covenant was buried inside!

Security men on the slope of Rath Lugh, where the M3 Motorway cuts through it, originally uploaded by blather. Get the high resolution version »

Security men on the slope of Rath Lugh, where the M3 Motorway cuts through it. Rath Lugh is an ancient bronze age promontory fort currently tagged for considerable damage destruction by the construction of the M3 motorway between Dublin and Navan. Protestors are camped in the woods, in oposition to the construction work.