Event Detail
During the era before the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the Hill of Tara was the focal point of the tribes for celebration and dispute settlement. Every year at this seat of the High Kings, a huge banquet known as a feis was laid out for more than 1,000 guests. Princes, priests, warriors, athletes and druids came from all around the island – to be entertained by the finest musicians and jesters. The festivities continued for nearly a week.
The feis took place in an enormous hall, and was also a forum for discussion and decision-making in matters of tribal dispute, government, and war and peace. The last feis took place in 560 AD, and an interesting tale accompanies this ending and the subsequent decline of Tara as a power centre.
According to the religion of the druids, fires were forbidden on the eve of the Spring festival. As the feis began in darkness atop the Hill of Tara, all assembled witnessed a burst of flame ignited at a distance. This was St. Patrick, lighting the fire of the Easter Vigil, at Slane. The druids predicted that the fire would destroy Tara, and thus began its decline, in correlation with the spread of Christianity across the country.
When you visit the Hill of Tara today, bring your imagination in order to experience its former splendour. None of the wooden halls remain, but there are some interesting ancient pillar stones and exhibits, as well as a breathtaking view of the Irish plains, and even the distant mountains of Galway.
Tour the Visitor Centre before going to the site, as the information you’ll receive there helps you to understand the layout of the remains. There is an imaginative audiovisual presentation, exhibits, and a coffee shop in the centre, housed within an old Church of Ireland building, near the entrance to Tara.
Of the surviving remains, you can see those of a fort from the Iron Age, which was destroyed in the 9th century by Englishmen searching for the Ark of the Covenant. Also of interest is the Mound of the Hostages, a passage grave from the Neolithic Age.
Malachy II was the last king to sit at Tara, until his death in 1022. A modern statue of St. Patrick has also been erected on the site.
Getting There:
The Hill of Tara lies to the west of Dunshaughlin, just off the N3/M3 road, about 40km northwest of Dublin. It is clearly signposted.