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Seat of the Kings of Ireland from the Neolithic days (we're talking 5,000 BCE) to the 6th century CE (and onward to the 12th, in a little less style); crucial in history as well as mythology, home of the Tuatha Dé Danann, no less, (the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Ireland, the Old Gods, I guess) - then HQ of the kings of Meath who feature centrally in much Irish Legend. On top stands a standing stone, the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) on which the High Kings were crowned.
It stands within the matchless Boyne Valley, one of the world's greatest accumulations of ancient religious sites (New Grange and her sister sites), a sacred landscape of international significance. At one time it was even a capital offense to make a fire within sight of it. And now the Irish government proposes to ruin its peace with a Motorway barely three quarters of a mile away! Legal steps have been taken to try and stop it but that's apparently not enough (it could be road protest camp time, boys & girls). Stonehenge road developments are terrible, and important, yet this is somehow worse (and worse for being in Ireland, you might say).
Take a look at www.tarawatch.org, follow the links to find out all you need to know and much more (wikipedia is also a viable place to start).
If you find yourself in range of the place, go take a look now and see who you find. And if you should find yourself within range of any Irish authority figures, from politicians to the Tourist Board, make sure they know what you think!!
"The harp that once through Tara's halls the soul of music shed, Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls as if that soul were fled ... "
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