Beannachtaí Grianstad an tSamhraidh oraibh (blessings of the summer solstice to you). The remarkable good weather continues here in Ireland, we are into the second week of very hot weather and an abundance of growth, with fruits rippening earlier than usual.
Whatever way you choose to celebrate we wish you health, happiness and abundance. Events will take place at the Hill of Tara (shown above), and other places all over the country this weekend. On the East coast it is more customary to hold events for the sunrise, and on the West coast it's the opposite, events are for the sunset. With the day at it's maximum length that means a very early or a very late ceremony, although many choose to celebrate at midday - often with a traditional bonfire on a hilltop.
At the Hill of Tara (Teamhair or Cnoc na Teamhrach), many will gather at the stone known as the Lia Fáil at the Inauguration Mound, or the near-by ringfort mound known as Cormac's House (Teach Chormaic), after Ard Rí (high king) Cormac Mac Art. Also within the enclosure known as Fort of the Kings (Ráith na Riogh) you'll find the oldest monument at Tara, which is called The Mound of The Hostages (Dumha na nGiall) at the northern end of the site. It is thought to date to earlier than 3000 BCE.
The Tara excavation project began in 1952. In 1956, after two seasons excavation at the mound, project leader Prof Ó Ríordáin became ill and he died in 1957. His successor, Professor Ruaidhrí de Valera completed the excavation of the Mound of the Hostages in 1959. The final report on the excavation was published in 2005 and the finds from the site were transferred to the National Museum of Ireland in 2006. Dr Muiris O’Sullivan completed the task of publishing the excavation's details in his book "The Mound of the Hostages, Tara".
A non-invasive geophysical survey of the whole site (including the Mound) was completed in 2002, using advanced geophysical imaging techniques, which found traces of an enormous circular structure, thought to be as old as 4,000 years and 300ft wide around the perimeter of the site. This is believed to be a “henge” - a massive ceremonial enclosure, which was built from timber, encircling the top of the hill. No visible structure remains above ground today. During the 2010s the Mound of the Hostages was closed to the public while OPW carried out repairs, due to fears that the roof of the monument would soon collapse. It was dismantled and reconstructed in such a way to ensure that it would not collapse due to people walking on top of the mound.
Tara is focal point in Ireland for the modern 'wheel of the year' but it is of course one of many sacred sites, for the solstices and the other 6 traditional festivals, that are dotted all over Ireland. The solstice can be celebrated anywhere, ideally on high ground if possible, where you van see the sun (weather permitting). It is a time of celebration and abundance, but this is not the case for all of humanity rightnow. Perhaps now is also an apt time to remember those less fortunate, those is danger and to pray for peace in the world.
