The Hill of Tara

If you’ve never heard of the Hill of Tara before, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, if it wasn’t for Arrow, I would probably still not know what it was. I have a feeling that unless you’re Irish or from the British Isles, you might not know about this vital part of Ireland’s history

The Hill of Tara has been a sacred place for the Irish for a very long time. It was where their ancient kings were both crowned, where the arc of the covenant was once hidden, and it also serves as a memorial for some 400 Irish troops which were ambushed there by British soldiers in 1798. It was one of many violent conflicts in which Ireland was hashing out its identity, culminating in what you probably know as The Troubles.

Everywhere you look you can find evidence of it’s rich history, and each mound has a story to tell. There’s the banqueting hall, the Mound of Hostages, the Mound of Women Mercenaries, and several Bronze Age burial mounds that I must say, please don’t climb or stand on top of them! Many tourists do this and it is slowly degrading and destroying them. Remember too that that is a place of burial. There were, and likely still are human bones in there, they deserves your respect.

You’ll also find a stone on one of the mounds called the Stone of Destiny. It’s been moved from its original location but it still stands as an important feature for the hill. The rulers of Ireland would have to drive a chariot past the stone and legend has it that if they were the true monarch, the stone would roar three times. This story is likely true, according to the guide Arrow and I had when we visited the hill. He put it the following way:

If you’re driving your chariot, and your wheel knocks the stone, the stone should ring out. You’ll hear it hit. You don’t want a ruler who avoids it like it’s going to jump out at them, or an idiot who crashes into it. You want someone steady and confident.

Makes pretty good sense to me!

If that sort of ancient history isn’t your thing there is a little church nearby, though I’m not sure if you can go in, or if you’ll have time. The guides Arrow and I went with are very thorough and informative, so you’ll likely want to stick with them. Down the road there’s also a little spring called St. Patrick’s well, which is also worth a peek at!

If you do go with this tour group, which I highly recommend, make sure you use your “free time” at the Hill of Tara stop to use the bathroom, as the next stop is New Grange and it can take a bit to get there.

If you’re on your own, take your time and wander the hill. There’s something deeply sentimental about Tara, and even if you’re not much of a history buff it’s a lovely place for a picnic, and the view always spectacular.

Either way, bring boots (it can get muddy), sunscreen (ain’t much shade) and your imagination (all the better to see the halls with)!