Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-18
THE TARA OF TODAY
Where the Kings of ireland
Held Court.
LAST DRIVEN FROM THRONE
Because He Refused to Punish q Re.
tainer for, Numbering a Monk.
BUILDINGS WERE VERY LARGE
Ruins Show They Were of Great
BUILDINGS WERE VERY LARGE
Ruins Show They Were Of Great
Dimensions-The Coronation
Stone the Pillow Of Jacob.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

the greatest warrior or the eldest man. "A
tribe" was larger group, consisting OF
several clans or septs more or less re-
lated to each other and occupying ols-
tinct and separate territory under the
command of a chieftain. Several tribes
composed a "ri," or nation, as the word
is used among the North American In
dams, ruled by a king. while the ard-ri,
or "over-king," supreme monarch with
Jurisdiction extending to the remotest
shores of Ireland, regned and resided al
Tara until the sixth century, with the
province Of Meath as his own exclusive
demesne for the use of his family ana
mis- court He received tribute from the
rulers of the RI and was elected by
their votes. Occasionally at his call. or
at stated intervals, the kings and chiefs
would assemble at Tara to consider mat
tiers of importance to all, to adopt laws
and regulations for preserving peace and
promoting the welfare of their subjects
and protecting their common interests
Several feasts, held here annually were
attended by kings, chieftains and nobies
who were followed by large retinues
Their warriors engaged in games and
sports and tournaments to encourage the
physical development of the race and the
arts of war. From the throne Of the ard-ri
DEGREES were promulgated, justice dis
pensed, proclamations read and prizes
awarded.
142 Kings Reigned at Tara.
According to the annals of those early
days 142 kings reigned at Tara during
period Of 1850 years, and the last king
was driven from his throne in the year
$50 in consequence of curse pronounced
upon him by st. Ruadhan of LORNA for
his refusal to punish Hugh Garry. one of
his officers. for the murder of monk. I'm
ell the time Of Cormac Mac Art. greatest
and most luxurious of all the ancient
kings of Ireland. the rulers who sat at
Tara were pagans, but he was converted
to Christianity and the annalists describe
in glowing lines the piety of his devottons.
According to the ancient laws, the King
Of Ireland could not have blemish upon
his person, and Cormac was obliged to
abdicate power and authority and retire
to the top Of the hill of Skreen, across the
valley from the Hill of Tara, because his
left eye was put out by an arrow shot by
Aengus, rebellious chieftain. who Is be-
lieved to have been under the influence of
Druid priests to punish Cormac for &C.
cepting Christianity.
Cormac's administration wa the golden
age at Tara, and although there was no
pretense Of architectural display In the
palaces of stone that were matched with
straw, nevertheless he and kings Of that
period possessed great wealth and made
gorgeous displays at the ceremonies of
banquet given by Cormac Mac Art to
100 kings, chieftains, astrologers.
bards and other distinguished men. at
which there We're twelve tables. sixteen
attendants at each table. and two oxen.
two sheep and two hogs were consumed
besides other and many varieties of food.
Beautiful was the appearance of Cor
mac" says the ancient manuscript.
flowing slightly. curling golden hair
upon him:
"A rod huckIar with stars and aninos ls
of gold and fastenings of silver upon him
"A crimson cloak in wide descending
folds upon him;
Fastened at his breast by golden
brooch set with precious stones;
"A torque of gold of curious design and
richly craven around his neck;
"a white shirt with a full collar inter-
twined with red gold thread upon him;
"A girdle of gold inlaid with precious
stones around him;
| Two wonderful shoes Of gold with trimmings OF
Two spears with golden sockets in his hand.'
In such attire did the king appear al
the banquet given in honor of his chief
tains-
The feis Of Temur each third year,
To preserve the laws and rules,
Was then convened firmly
By the illustrious King Of Erin
Buildings Were Very Large.
The buildings were very large. The
psychologists. judging by the ruins and
| the traces Of their walls. find that one
was 759 feet long by 90 feet wide; an
other was 2S5 feet long and go feet
wide: a third was 800 feet long and s.
| feet wide: another was 67j feet long and
| 43O feet wide, and 1t is apparent tina,
| they were surrounded by walls of stone
| intended both for privacy and protec-
| ton.
hD WITT I'd
| Tara Hill was the Rath Na-Seanadh OF
kings chair. occupied by the monarch
upon occasions of ceremony. 1t was there
that early Psychologists discovered the
Lila Fail" or Stone of Destiny upon
which for ages the monarchs of ireland
| sat when they were crowned. This stone
according to tradition, was the pillow OF
Jacob when he dreamed his dream and
when the angels descended and ascendet
| golden ladder at his head. 1t was pre-
served by fugitive Israelites at the de-
struction of Jerusalem and the dispersion
| of the tribes. was brought to Ireland with
| the ark of the covenant and passed into
the possession of the early kings. When
Tara was destroyed by the Danes and
the Scots this stone Was carried to Scot
land and preserved at Scone until Edward
! l took it to London for his coronation
and ever since his day 1t has been the
seat of the coronation chair. All of the
kings of England have sat upon 1t while
the crown OIL sovereignty WIS pIdceQ upon
their heads from Edward [ to Edward
VII, and any one may see 1t IN the coro-
nation chair at Westminster Abbey.
A Rude Statue of st. Patrick.
Upon the summit of the hill where the
coronation stone once lay is now a rude
statue of st. Patrick carved in granite
by Mr.. Curry, a stone cutter In one OF
the neighboring towns, and erected at the
expense of local contributors many years
ago. 1t bears no likeness to any human
being. but the motive which erected 1t
was pure and patriotic, and in a meas
ure it Is appropriate. because, on Easter
morning in the year ABB, ST. Patrick pro-
claimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to the
pagan priests and the King of Tara and
his court. standing upon the Stone OF
Destiny upon the very spot Row occupied
by his statue. Father Mathew once de-
lfvered temperance speech from that
holy spot, and In 1913 Daniel O'Connell
addressed a monster meeting attended
by a quarter of million people, many
hear him advocate the political emanci-
patton of the Roman Catholic population
of Ireland. The meeting lasted two DAYS
and O'Connel spoke twice. 1t was one OF
his last meetings before his arrest and
Imprisonment at Dublin
Across the valley on the Hill of Skreen
where Cormac took refuge after his alb
dication, Father Mathew lived for several
years, and the ruins of an abbey NAV be
found there still.
So firmly convinced were the ANTIGUA
rians who have investigated this place of
the truth Of the traditions of the corona
Il Al