The Irish standard., 1914-10-10

country, the settlement of tribal dis
putes, and the maintenance of Ma
tional militia or army for the protec-
ton of the country.
This Feis was annually held at
Samhain-tide, or November. 1t was
opened three days before November
The next famous Ri who occupied
the royal throne at Tara was Tuathal
Teachtmar. in whose reign two very
important proceedings took place.
The first was the formation of a fifth
Royal Province which was to belong
to Ard-Ri himself. This. as we know.
was called the Province Of Meath.
He also directed that an annual as
sembly be held in each of the other
four Provinces, apart from the tri-
ennial Feis at Tara.
One hundred and twenty years
later we have the noble Cormac Mac
ART reigning over Ireland, and it is
agreed that Of all the Pagan Kings
Cormac was the greatest and noblest.
He was not only a powerful and just
king. but he was, as we'll, a great
scholar, a sage. a warrior, builder.
and lawgiver. He was the hero
of more than one hundred battles;
he was great historian and chroni-
cler as we'll. The following works
are attributed to him: The Psalter
of Tara, The Seanchus NOR Cat least
the foundation of it), and Teagang-
na-Riogh, as we'll as several others of
lesser Importance.
During his reign, which lasted as
long as forty years, the royal city
underwent great changes and i'm
provements. He built the Rath-na-
Riogh, or palace of the Kings, which
was a double-stone-walled enclosure
of an oval shape. the center of which
was occupied by large hall in which
the High Court held it's sittings. He
restored and enlarged the great Ban
quet Hall, and he built what is agreed
to have been the first watermill in
Ireland.
It will not be out of place If give
just here a rough summary Of what
constituted the City of Tara about
Cormac's time. 1t had a resident
population of about 10000, which
number on different occasions-such
as the Feis mhor-was often dou-
bled. OF course all these did not
dwell on what is now known as the
hill; the city spread out and around
on every side for several miles. The
summit itself was crowned with the
Royal Cathair enclosed by the strong
stone wall which I have just men
toned. The High Court held the CEN
trail position. Cormac's house was
of an immense size and beauty, and
consisted of a central hall containing
one hundred and fifty apartments
with fourteen doors opening into it.
The Banqueting Hall, a massive
structure of oak, in which all indoor
entertainments were given as we'll.
stood near to the Royal Court. This
hall was some eight hundred feet in
width, and it is said that as many
as one thousand persons dined each
evening at the one sitting. It accom-
modated more than three times that
number at the holding of the Feis.
The great military barracks stood ad-
jacent to the Kings Palace, and
were always occupied by at least one
thousand soldiers; they were capable
Of accommodating seven thousand
five hundred men altogether, but that
large number was never necessary
there.
Dumha-na-nGiall, or Mound OF the
Hostages, stood near the palace also.
Here the Royal hostages were kept,
sometimes in letters of gold to indi-
cate their quality. Close by stood
the famous Lila Fail. pillar stone
some twelve feet in length. which I
have also already mentioned. It was
an imperative portion Of the corona
ton ceremony that the new Ri should
stand for moment on this stone.
Beyond the outer rampant stood
the Rath-na-Seanaide, or Rath Of the
Synods. in which st. Patrick, some
two centuries later, held Synod Of
the clerics and chiefs Of Erin. There
were as many as one thousand houses
in the city or central part Of Tara
what was called Cahir Cro-finn. Then
there were the Royal Colleges in
which the most skilled lawyers, ply
sicians, bards, masters of theology,
ETC.. taught, and to which came the
sons and daughters Of mobiles from all
parts. Men Of all trades and profess
! sions dwelt and worked in it. Rath-
builders, smiths, house-builders.
shield-makers, chain-makers. brazil
ers. carpenters. turner's, engravers.
shoemakers. cloth-weavers. dyers.
embroiderers, wood-carvers. etc..
were constantly employed in provid-
ing for the citizens. In fact Tara, as