The Mystical Hill of Tara: A Guide to the Hill of Heroes
Walking Tour
Walking Tour
60 mins
0.9mi
About the Tour
About the Tour
The Hill of Tara was the famous seat of the High Kings of Ireland. In fact, it’s been an important site for rituals since the stone age, and when Saint Patrick came to Ireland, it’s no surprise that he came to Tara to confront the druids. But it’s seen rallies and violent clashes in the name of liberty in more recent times too – and it boasts fantastic views over an ancient landscape.
On this walking tour, you’ll discover why Tara was and still is an important spiritual center. My story brings you all the way from the arrival of the first farmers in the Boyne Valley through to the dawn of Christianity. We’ll explore the essence of Celtic spirituality and peer through a window into Ireland’s Iron Age, a time of druids, saints and kings.
You can look forward to:
• One of the oldest Stone Age passage tombs in Ireland and other archaeological discoveries at the Hill of Tara.
• Portals to the otherworld of the fairies and other folk traditions associated with Tara.
• An introduction to what archeology here has taught us about the burial practices of Neolithic and Bronze Age people and other insights into how our ancestors viewed the world, including how they used stars to predict the future.
• The search for elusive Sheela Na Gig carving among the gravestones at the Hill of Tara.
• Testing your courage – and your stomach – against the trials of being a king in ancient Ireland and the unsavory practices associated with kingship here at the Hill of Tara
And if you’d like to take part in an Irish tradition then please bring a piece of degradable cloth with you on this walk. All will be revealed!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Derek Spillane
Derek is a qualified Failte Ireland Tour Guide and holds a BA (Hons.) Degree in History and Heritage Studies. He can trace his Galwegian roots back to 1776. Throughout his life, he has travelled extensively around the world and realised even then, the value of a good guide to bring a place alive. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so Derek realised all that is special and unique about the history and culture of Galway, City of the Tribes.
Map
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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The Hill of Tara
Directions to Starting Point
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins a the entrance to the Hill of Tara site
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Maguires Cafe, Old and Rare Bookshop, and the Tara Open Studio
Best time of day
The site is available to access anytime, but the the visitors centre is subject to Covid restrictions and is open 10am - 6pm, 7 days a week. You don't need access to the visitor's centre to take the tour. Any time is a good time, however, the morning for watching when the dew lifts and the evening time as the sun goes down are sublime
Precautions
There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing, so come prepared with a rain jacket and good footwear
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I thoroughly enjoyed this walking tour and learned what is special and unique about tara.it was great to be able to explore at my own pace socially distanced during these strange covit 19 times.j would highly recommend .a great idea for Christmas present .
Nora mitchell
Hello Nora. I'd like to thank you for taking the time to review the tour and I'm delighted you enjoyed your time on the Hill of Tara
I enjoyed the content and learned a lot. Can I suggest you add in a few more photos so the tour can be better enjoyed remotely.
Hello David, I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and you learned a lot. The story of Tara is truly a fascinating one and something I have researched for many years. The physical infrastructure at Tara is minimal and therefore leaves much to the imagination of how the site functioned and what were rituals that went on there. Tara has such a close connection with the surrounding landscape that it's difficult to comprehend unless you visit this site. That is why it's a place that needs interpretation and I agree that for remote visitors more background images would enhance the experience. Thank you again, David
This was an amazing tour that you can complete at your own pace Very insightful and very interesting to hear about the mystical land and history surrounding Tara . Would highly recommend for anyone visiting Tara
Thank you for positive feedback. For me it was a total pleasure creating this tour and I'm delighted you enjoyed it