Tara: Irish origins of a name

This week's stopover is in Ireland. Tara is moored until next Friday at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, in the south of Dublin Bay. Thanks to her name she already has an exceptional reputation here.
  
In Irish mythology, Tara was the capital of Ireland, located in ancient Midhe (County Meath), on a hill in the center of this Celtic country. At the time, Ireland was divided into 4 provinces, and the city of Tara was where the reigning kings presided, advised by druids. All religious, political or judicial meetings were held here, including the coronation of kings. A coronation was a time for prodigious celebrations dubbed the "feast of Tara."

Tara was founded in the early Neolithic, at a time when local people were erecting an increasing number of megalithic constructions. These ring-shaped circles are still visible today, making it an outstanding archaeological site spread over two kilometers. Traces of human artefacts dating back 3,000 years were found everywhere in the hills around Tara since the recent discovery of this site in the 20th century. Tara is located only about 40 kilometers from Dublin.

The golden age of Tara spans the 4th to the11th century, when kings governed the logistics of the whole island from this city. Legend has it that Saint Patrick, holding a shamrock, met King Loegaire at Tara, and convinced him of the importance of converting Ireland to the Trinity. Loegaire then allowed Saint Patrick to begin preaching the gospel throughout the 'Emerald Isle'.

One last element before closing this chapter of Celtic and Irish history: on August 15, 1843, on the hills at Tara, the nationalist Daniel O'Connell, known as "the uncrowned king" organized a giant symbolic gathering of 250,000 people, to demand the revocation of the union with Great Britain. It was only years later that the Republic of Ireland was established.

Tara, or "Teamhair na Ri" in Irish, means 'hill of the Kings'. It was not until the famous movie "Gone with the Wind", many years later, that this name became known across the Atlantic. In this cult fiction, Tara is the family home, the anchor and the downfall of a family born of the Irish diaspora.

Vincent Hilaire