The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-24
IRELAND.


clara Of tho Kings''-DicI< Sheridan, the
Guide-The stone Of Destiny-Thc "Hilp'
aud Surrounding Scenery-The Monster
Meeting OF '42-The Harp Still Hanging mt
the ssAncien mt Hull.o
TARA, June 9, 1870.
Tara OF the Kings. What memories are assoc-
ated with the name Where Is the irishman who
has not heard Of the gores Of the Old hill OF Tara
on the brow OF which am now penning this letter.
There Is not think, such person IN existence
The dust Of Tara is halowed earth in the opinion OF
Irshmen. They flock to 1t, day after day, from all
parts OF the country, and even the descendants Of
Irishmen in every land, whenever they visit the
home OF their fathers. certain to find their way
- that venerable hill, which was, from immemorial
tlme the abode of the IRISH kings.
TARA
Is situated nearly In the centre or county Meath
and commands most extensive view Of the sur
rounding country. drove out here on jaunting
car from Trim, distance OF about eight miles.
Frank Farrell was both the owner and the driver Of
the vehicle, and more honest soul than the same
Frank is not to be found In the county Meath. He
had been drinking hard' last night and was unable
to attend the Mullingar races this morning which
was. he told me, great loss to him. but his wife,
who appeared 10 have more sensethan her husband,
said that ''poor Frank had very bad liver entirely
and suffered dreadfully from y for years" Every
was greeted with all sorts Of good wishes al we
drove along. When we reached Tara Frank knew
the right place to "put up and that was at Dick
THE KING AND GUIDE.
Dick Sheridan is very celebrated character In
this part Of the world and Is known to all the
try around the King OF Tara, title which he APP
pears TO ENJOY. He Is the sole guide to Tara, and, TO
| 40 him justice, an excellent one he 49, "And why
wouldn't heS Sure he's been shown all the great
people OF the world the place since the battle
OF Waterloo statement WINCH considering Dicks
i OuOh A
full OF al the legends and stories OF the place; knows
the history OF every stone mound and hollow;
ancient councils, ana omlts nothing worth knowing.
! To stranger who wants to know something Of
| for his palms. but will expect half one Of whis-
key when he brings you back to his house. His con-
i speed o. Win words u ens
OF which,, to say the least, are enormously
applied; He showed the Duke Of Wellington
considers his Grace after O'Connell, to be the
greatest man that ever lived. Lord John (EarD Rus.
sell honored Dick with visit on TWO occasions, and
when the latter told his ordshp that he Dick was
relative OF Richard Brindsley Sheridan" the
Prime Minister shook his hand warmly while the
receiving a sly wink from his countrynan burst out
into the most immoderate At Of laughter. He likes
to show the nil to the Americans, because they
leave more money in his house than any other
peoples the Irish ARE generous enough-too much
so, for that matter-but they haven't ut; but the
English--them English, have II, aud they won't
spend it,
l
After pacing for few perches the field al the back
| of his house, Dick stopped short and said, ''There
is the dining nall Of the ancient palace OF Tara, SO
celebrated In history" And curious dining hall 1t
certainly was 1t appeared to be several perches
long and only few yards wide. At present i con.
depth, and is surrounded on all sizes by grass
| covered mound.
CORONATION.
| A few yards further on Is tile coronation chair,
| which consists Of small mound OF round or circu-
lar figure Here the kings Of Ireland are said to
nave been crowned, and here also was deposited the
famous Lila FAN, or stone OF destiny, to which 80
many marvellous qualities were ascribed. TIE his
have Seen the stone upon winch jacob rested the
Celts carried 1t with them in their mgratons west.
ward, and placed It on the hill or Tara In the early
ages Of Irish history the kingy dignity was elective,
and although the crown was, for the most part, re-
tanned In tie one family there was no rule OF heredi-
family who was best calculated to carry on the
affairs OF the nation was usually elected bnt mis-
election was not unlrequenty opposed and ciyil
| to settle all disputes. The claimants for the crown
were made to stand separately upon the stone, and
when the rightful claimant set foot upon IT, the stone
| gave forth q sound, after which the coronation
Of the victor was Immediately proceeded with This
stone was Afterwards taken INTO scotland and the
| crowned upon 1t nj Scene. Edward L., OF England
brought it 10 London and placed 1t under the coro
nation chair in Westm Qser Abbey, Where " may be
| seen AZ the present day.
Queen Victoria was crowned upon the ''stone Of
| destiny"
The pillar which is erected at ''Croppy Hi' az 1t IL
! called, is not, many are inclined to think, the
stone Of desIlny, but the 'st0ne OF the hostages.
About thirty years ago 1t was removed from small
mound on Tara TO larger one, in order to mark the
spot where rebels, who had been shot down In 1913
| were buried.
O'NEIL'S GRAVE.
The grave, or mound. which contains the ashes Of
| The O'Neil is the highest point on Tara Hill. When
any public rejoicngs take place in the county
bonfire ID certain to be lighted on the grave OF The
| 0'Ne
HISTORY PAST AND PRESENT
Should stranger visit Tara In the hope OF seetnp
any extraordinary sights he Will, | assure him, b(
| sadly disappointed. There Il nothing to distinguish
Tara from any other Irish HIT but number OF SINAI
trenches and mounds, which, but for their history
would not clam moments consideration Not
stone fragment remains to call to mind the famOu.
halls Of Tara, whose glores have been waited to The
| ends OF the earth in the melodies OF Moore. 1t Il
| now generally believed that the Palace OF Tara wa
composed OF wood and earth; 'but" as NJ. Moore, II
his ''Hstory OF Ireland observes. "tnIs fact Is D,
| no means conclusive, either against the elegance o
tner Stractple OF the CIVILIZATION to certain exten