Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-05

ible mighty moat and ruins of castles and
churches. A little way down the Boyne is
Slane, for 20 years in the 9TH century the re-
treat OF Grimoald's victim, Dagobert, king of
Austrasia, the olden Hermitage of St. Eric of
the 9Th century, and full of historic ruins.
Below towards the sea is Oldbrige, where
faint-hearted James, Just 200 years ago, lost
Ireland to the Irish people. And but two
Drogheda, ancient Droichead-atha, ''the bridge
of the ford" with its precipices, walls, and
towers, the landing place of the earliest Mile
slams; rendezvous Of half Q thousand opposing
armies; and, in 1649, the scene of the most
horrible and appalling massacre, by the heart
less Cromwell and his men, known to any age
or time.
THE HILL OF sLANE. i
Indeed, could one view the landscape for .
miles, instead Of but half that distance-sat
where Slieve-na-Ca lliagh lifts it's peaks, grouf
ing the most extraordinary prehistoric remab
and megalithic sepulchres to be found in wet
ern Europei and in the misty distance is fairly
seen the Hill of Slane, upon whose browE.
Patrick first raised the beacon of Christianif-
there cannot be discerned by human eyes wi1in
the same radius in all the world such anffs-
founding array Of ruined castles, crumtbng
fortalices, lofty round-towers, majestic crises
and monuments, ivy-grown and solitary Wins
OF abbey, monastery, palace, half-hidden tfhs,
duns, and cromlechs, and sepulchral tum4t of
such imposing and colossal character y are
only equaled In impressiveness and grsdeur
by the pyramids Of the Egyptian kings. There
are not In any land more striking speciutns of
former greatness than the massive scuAtured
crosses rising above the ruins of Monaste boice,
an hours walk from Slane. These prod Of Q
SURPRISING Irish Christian art were imtrisha-
bly, wrought just one thousand years al.
At Mellifont, three miles nearer, th1octago-
nal baPtlstry, the most unique str,5fure in
Ireland, belonging to period priof to the
first Anglo-Norman invasion. is word a thou
sand miles travel to any lover of rcbtectural
and ecclesiastical art. "Hag's Mountain"
Slieve-na-C alliagh, not Is miles di1snt, will
furnish the archaeological searcher bto pre-
historic past more majestic stone epulchres
surmounted by cairns and enclosed in circles
donna and Gaul together. At b(h Beehive
Abbey and Gladly, neither of With are five
miles from Tara, are found amot the ruins
saAae OF the grandest artstudies in
Earope. While at Dowth and Nejgrange, be-
tween Slane and Drogheda, perhaps sixteen
miles from Tara you may viet prehistoric
est form known to the world; hat of New
grange rising to height of ovf 70 feet, with
inner chambers and recesses as beceptacles for
sarcophagi eighteen feet in height, and bear
ing calculated superincumbeG stone weight
of 1SO, 900 tons; the whole as wpderful as, and
W,
the mighty tomb Of Agamemnoa at Mycen@.
TARA's ANCIENT PAlbCEs.
All this is but the faintest glimpse of the
marvellous surroundings whicbgrew out of the
ancient royal glories of Tap-now desolate.
grass-grown, all but obliteratd. But through
the lifelong labors of Petie, that king of
master-teaeher and philolEist, and the re-
searches Of host Of lesser but none the less
devoted, antiquarians, not Pnly are the sites,
and dimensionso Of Tara's ancient
palaces now as clearly dSned as before st.
Rudhan's curse caused its 6esertion and decay;
but the almost living presSces Of the rude and
majestic personages Of tlpse who were once
here, with their customs, manners, laws, little
nesses, and greatnesses, bve been revived and
rehabilitated with mathless and startling
fidelity, so that you and J to-day may wander
among the grassy hilloch and tumuli as one Of
all this strange departedcompany, through the
reaches Of ten centuries before the sixth of the
ton began.
FESTIVALS AND CONVENTIONS.
The most ancient psme Of Tara was Liath-
Teamhair, meant an eninence commanding a
noble prospect. A stil later name, and its last
as pagan royal place for great assemblies
from Thea. wife OF Heremon, the first pagan
king Of universal sway in Ireland, for which
queen splendid palace was built on the spot
The latter name nay also mean (from Tedh
and MUIR 1.-THE house of music" from Tara's
former celebrity FIR melody ''above all places
in the world" II any event ancient and un-
questionable authantic manuscripts clearly de-
scribe the uses of he halls of Tara as the royal
abode Of the fra monarchs of Ireland; the
place for convocakon of the assembly of states;
for festivals and councils for peace or war; and
for bardic instructions and lawgiving. So. too,
have authenticated manuscripts now accessible
been found which give exact information re-
garding customs at these great festivals and
conventions at Tara, and the ancient bards
have sung of the extraordinary grandeur of,
and especially Of the appearance Of monarchs
at these occasions.
THf PALACE OF TEMUR,
or Tara, it is told, was 900 feet square; its sur
rath was seven casts of the dart in
diameter; twAve divisions on each wing con-
tanned $50 apartments and $50 dormitories; it
was q cubitShigh; there were twelve porches,
as many enhances, 900 daily guests besides
princes. orators, modellers and artlicers-and
$50 drinking horns; while two oxen, two hogs
and two sheep were provided for each meal.
The festivHs OF Tara began on October %.
Three dayswere given to games and feasting.
On the thtd day and evening, corresponding
with Halloween, the great feast of Saman, or
the moon was celebrated; after which. in
struction, councils, and law-giving were begun.
At the assemblies the monarch sat on an ele-
waited dah in the middle of the great hall, fac
ing the west. The king of Leinster sat before
him, facng him. The king of Ulster was
placed a his right. On the left was the king
Of Munster. And seated behind him was the
king of Connaught. Each king wore his royal
robe and golden hemlet but not his diadem.
which was reserved for adornment in battle.
About them were princes, bards, druids, ollhmas.
brehors, and all the vast retinue of warriors
and retainers OF pagan court. As an illustra-
ton, the description of single monarch, King
Cormac, who reigned with great wisdom, JUS
tice. tnd splendor in the third century, may be
given He was of noble presence, and his
shield was Of scarlet with engraved devices.
golden hooks, and clasps of silver. His wide
folding cloak was of purple, clasped to his
bfeSst by gem-set gold brooch. A gold torque
vas around his neck. His shirt was white
cofhred and embroidered with gold. His Cir
die was golden-buckled, and studded with
precious stones. His sandals were Of gold net
work. His two spears had golden sockets and
many red-brown rivets. And he stood in the
full glow OF beauty, without defect or blemish.
THE GREAT HALL.
Even after thirteen centuries of decay the
foundation outlines Of Teach Midchuarta. or
the great hall Of Tara, are actually visible.
There can also be traced in lines, ridges and
mounds Of crumbling stones, where once stood
the walls OF Bath Riga or the Kings Fort en-
closing the mound Of the Forradh, Rath Cuel-
chon, beyond which are two raths nearly oblit-
Grated. one Of which is Rath Grainne, or the
Queens Rath, the Teach Cormiac or House of
Cofmac, the Dumha-na-N giall, or mound of