Ignoring the history of
Tara
Dear sir - I live a few short miles from the M3 site in
the Tara Valley, and have been watching the works there
on an almost daily basis since they began a number of
months ago when the first excavator arrived to clear
topsoil.
That the scene of the final battle of Na Fianna, and the
burial site of Cú Chulainn’s remains is
being dug up to facilitate a reroutable motorway is
something which reflects badly on our respect for our
origins.
Historically, Tara was more than a hill with a few mounds
on its peak. Lest its importance be underestimated, Colum
Cille caused a huge battle to be fought over Tara in
which some 20,000 men died, near Sligo. In more recent
times 500 Croppies died in the valley in 1798. And
indeed, one of the 1798 men killed in the battle of Tara
was chosen as the unknown pikeman for the memorial of
Tulach an tSolais on Oulart Hill, Co. Wexford a number of
years back.
In 1902, whilst on an excursion to Tara with 300
children, Maud Gonne hijacked a bonfire planned to
celebrate the coronation of Edward VII by the local
landlord. Campaigning at that time to stop the
destruction of Tara by the British Israelites, Maud Gonne
looked at the bonfire and "felt it would serve a better
purpose if burnt in honour of an independent Ireland".
She lit it and sang "A Nation Once Again".
In Frank McDonald's article in the Irish Times on 27th.
November 2004, Bertie Ahern said he couldn't even see the
hill from where he was standing on its route.
This "laddish" comment by our Taoiseach purposefully
misses the point that Tara was a large settlement that
stretched out along the valley in both directions towards
Navan and Dunshaughlin, and that Tara stretched not alone
over the hill but also the valley. Both were surrounded
by defensive fortifications, evidenced by when Malachi
defeated the Vikings at Tara in 980 to became High-King
of Ireland, only to lose that title to Brian Boru some
years later.
Whilst Tara relies on its rich literature and
associations, those that are insistent on this route rely
on our ignorance of this same rich literature and
associations. Whilst there is an almost unique abundance
of history and lore associated with Tara, our Government
has neglected it whilst sites such as the Céide
Fields and Brú na Boinne have flourished, been
respectfully developed and protected. Hopefully Cú
Chulainn may yet be saved from turning in his grave,
literally, during the valley's excavation.
Is mise,
Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa,
Navan,
Co. Meath.
© The Meath Chronicle, 13th. August 2005.
