Lying just a dozen miles from Tara, the ancient ceremonial site of Tlachtga, also known as the Hill of Ward, served as a significant hub for Celtic religious practices over two millennia ago. Although Tlachtga is often eclipsed by its more illustrious neighbor, it deserves recognition as a site of considerable historical importance.
Historically, Tlachtga was pivotal to the Great Fire Festival that heralded the arrival of winter. The rituals conducted here by pre-Christian Irish communities provided a source of comfort, suggesting that the forces of darkness would be vanquished, allowing the vibrant powers of light and life to regain prominence. This site was central to the veneration of the Celtic sun deity, especially at the year’s conclusion.
Numerous customs established at Tlachtga have persisted into contemporary practices, albeit in transformed yet recognizable forms. To grasp the ritualistic and political significance of Tara fully, one must also appreciate the sanctity of Tlachtga in the spiritual lives of the pre-Christian Irish.
Introduction
This book synthesizes four years of investigation into Tlachtga’s history, archaeology, and mythology. Regrettably, Tlachtga has received little attention, both academically and physically. Interest was briefly sparked in the late 19th century when Eugene O’Growney, a cleric and Irish professor at Maynooth College, published insights about Tlachtga. However, following his untimely passing in 1899, interest waned, causing Tlachtga to recede from public consciousness, heavily overshadowed by Tara’s fame, located merely twelve miles away.
Collaborating closely with the Athboy Heritage Forum over recent years, I aim to elevate Tlachtga’s importance. This book aspires to engage readers in discussion, potentially leading to archaeological exploration of the site. Although resources are sparse and varied, I believe I have constructed a coherent representation of Tlachtga. The primary goal is to spark dialogue, ultimately driving the need for an archaeological study. While literary, historical, and mythological narratives are vital to understanding Celtic Ireland, the complete image of Tlachtga will likely require insights from archaeological endeavors.
Celtic Meath
Throughout the verdant Meath landscape, evidence of human activity stretches back to the earliest epochs. Among the oldest structures are the remarkable passage tombs at the Bend of the Boyne, situated in northeast Meath, estimated to date back to 3200 BC. This site is home to over forty monuments, with the most notable being Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. The tombs feature a burial chamber constructed with upright stones accessed via a corridor that is covered with a mound of loose stones and turves, supported by a perimeter of massive slabs.
Newgrange encompasses an area of approximately one hectare. An intriguing feature uncovered during archaeological examinations in 1963 suggests the builders’ advanced capabilities. Although initially thought to serve merely as a burial site, discoveries by Professor O’Kelly revealed more complex purposes. Above the tomb’s entrance, he identified a one-meter-wide opening that directs sunlight into the chamber during the Winter Solstice.
This revelation has inspired numerous theories regarding its function. While it undoubtedly served as a burial site for cremated remains, its role likely encompassed more than that. Analogous to today’s cathedrals that house the remains of clergy while primarily serving as places of worship, Newgrange might have functioned both as a mausoleum for the deceased and as a temple for the living. Such a site would evoke reverence and admiration, possibly influencing its builders deeply. The construction of Newgrange may have been as much an homage to the deities as a dedication to the deceased.
The central ceremony at Tlachtga involved lighting winter fires during Samhain, marking the crucial seasonal transition.
Another perspective posits that the chamber functioned as a sophisticated calendar. As noted by O’Brien, the Winter Solstice marks the sun’s most southerly rising position along the eastern horizon before it shifts direction—a phenomenon unseen to the naked eye. This turning point signifies the year’s shortest day, after which sunlight begins to extend, heralding spring. The chamber’s design makes it an ideal place for tracking this solar movement. Shortly after dawn on the Winter Solstice, sunlight first enters the chamber, elongating until it reaches the back.
As this beam reaches its maximum length, it indicates the sun’s southernmost point. Eventually, as the sun recedes, the chamber returns to darkness. For ancient communities reliant on seasonal changes for survival, this event was vital. Recognizing the sun’s shifting trajectory, eagerly anticipated by its observers, reassured them that light would once again dominate, sustaining life for another cycle.
Several kilometers westward lies the Loughcrew passage grave cemetery, perched on the summits of Slieve na Callaigh (Hill of the Hags). This impressive collection of monuments is closely tied to the Newgrange builders, although they are believed to be separated by about eight centuries. According to De Valera, both Newgrange and Loughcrew were constructed by a group migrating from the Boyne Estuary, eventually reaching sites like Knocknarea in County Sligo over the next millennium.
These newcomers likely originated from Brittany, embodying the spread of Neolithic peoples across Europe in the fourth millennium BC. Notably, Cairn T at Loughcrew features abstract motifs on its backstone, strikingly similar to those at Newgrange. O’Brien correlates these designs with solar patterns evident during the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, suggesting a deliberate effort by the builders to align these tombs astronomically, reflecting a society with advanced knowledge.
The labor involved in erecting the mound around Cairn T signifies its profound ritual importance. Similarly, the connection between solar cycles and burial rites showcases the sacred nature of these sites within early settlers’ calendars. Though the intricacies of the corresponding ceremonies remain elusive, there is a discernible belief in an afterlife intertwined with solar reverence.
Focusing south of the River Boyne reveals Tara, the most renowned site in Ireland, located fifteen kilometers from Newgrange. Nestled between Navan and Dunshaughlin, Tara rises 155 meters above sea level and offers panoramic views of the Meath Plain, likely influencing its selection as a central ritual and political landmark. The site is rich in archaeological significance, with over thirty monuments, the oldest being the “Mound of the Hostages,” a passage tomb dating to around 3000 BC.
Other notable structures on Tara include Rath Laoghaire, believed to be the burial site of the High King Laoghaire, known for his encounter with St. Patrick, and several co-joined earthworks including Forrad and Tech Cormac, which are thought to have served as royalty’s quarters. The Rath of the Synods is significant due to its connection with an ecclesiastical assembly led by the Abbot of Iona, despite its partial destruction in 1899.
The Banqueting Hall consists of parallel earthen embankments, once thought to be remains of a grand royal hall but now interpreted as a ceremonial avenue linked with various burial grounds. Despite the rarity of such structures in Ireland, other possible analogs exist at Loughcrew and Newgrange.
The prominence of Tara in Irish folklore emphasizes its sociocultural importance. The modern County of Meath derives its title from this link to Tara and its royal legacy. Historically, it experienced decline following a saint’s curse in the seventh century, yet it retains significant symbolic value. The insurrectionists of 1798 congregated on its grounds, and Daniel O’Connell M.P. selected it for what became Ireland’s largest public gathering.
Fifteen kilometers northwest of Tara, Tailteann, or Teltown, served as a hub for the harvest festival of Lughnasa, paying homage to the god Lugh, an essential figure in the Celtic pantheon. Though presently underwhelming, the area once featured significant ritual activities centered around Rath Dubh. The “Teltown Marriages,” where couples lived together for a year after making a commitment through a wooden door, represent another facet of the site’s festivals that persisted until the late 18th century.
A discussion of Uisneach brings this exploration of Celtic Meath into full perspective. Although not geographically within modern Meath, Uisneach is historically regarded as the center of Ireland, situated twelve miles west of Mullingar. It features several earthworks, including burial mounds and fortifications. Crucially linked to the Beltainne Festival—a significant summer celebration—Uisneach served as a gathering point where cattle were driven through ceremonial fires to protect against malevolent forces for the year ahead. This site’s importance is underscored by legends of Lugh’s demise and its association with the second-century king Tuathal Teachmar.
The exploration of Celtic heritage in Meath remains barely scratched on the surface, with these sites acting as vital threads in the broader historical tapestry of Tlachtga. Further considerations of these interconnected locales will surface frequently in subsequent discussions.
