TARA

TARA was a loyalist group founded by William McGrath in 1966.Abstracts on Organisations - 'T', CAIN Web Service, University of Ulster, accessed 16 October 2010.
According to Roy Garland,Tara emerged in November 1966, when McGrath took over as chairman of a ginger group previously called 'the cell'.Roy Garland, Drawn to Fundamentalism, The Irish Times, 13 April 1982.
The title 'Tara' reflected McGrath's idiosyncratic British Israelite interpretation of Irish history. Unlike many unionists, McGrath emphasised Irish identity, albeit within the context of the United Kingdom.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
The organisation forged links with the British Israelite movement and later with the right-wing International Council of Christian Churches in Holland.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
In 1969, McGrath told Garland that a number of leading unionists had agreed to meet at his home to discuss loyalist unity, but this was apparently cancelled because of the refusal of Norman Porter to attend. According to Garland, a number of senior unionists, including James Molyneaux did subsequently meet McGrath at his home.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
At a meeting in the summer of 1969, it was decided that Tara should purchase a printer to produce its own literature. Along with Ian Paisley's church secretary, Garland financed the purchase in McGrath's name. The printer was later used in August 1971 to print a call for the formation of platoons in loyalist areas.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
In the early hours of 14 August 1969, McGrath, Paisley, Garland and a man called Black from Armagh met the Northern Ireland Prime Minister James Chichester-Clark to call for the formation of a "people's militia".Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
The call for a people's militia arose out of a meeting largely involving members of Paisley's Ulster Constitution Defence Committee at his offices at Shaftesbury Square.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982. 
McGrath then turned to the Orange Order. After he raised the militia idea with leading Orangemen in November 1969, one offical asked why he and Garland did not go ahead on their own initiative. McGrath interpreted this as encouragement.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
By January 1970, the new paramilitary Tara was meeting at Clifton Street Orange Hall. Some of those involved were members of the Unionist Party, while others were associates of Paisley. According to Garland, the Hall Committee was not aware of the real nature of the meetings, held under the name of "The Orange Discussion Group". The meetings were attended by sergeants representing platoons which were largely autonomous.Roy Garland, Tara sets out to reconquer Ireland, The Irish Times, 14 April 1982.
 
By 1971 Roy Garland had become disillusioned with McGrath's opposition to equal rights and his financial and sexual conduct. He was also concerned about McGrath's position at the Kincora Boy's Home. He approached Rev. Martin Smyth to do something about McGrath's position. He also made attempts to contact Paisley.Roy Garland, 'Your blood is on your own head now', The Irish Times, 15 April 1982.
On 25 November 1971, Garland received a death threat in the words: "Your blood is on your own head now finally." The following year he left the Orange Order, feeling he had become an outcast because of his opposition to McGrath.Roy Garland, 'Your blood is on your own head now', The Irish Times, 15 April 1982.
Garland also raised McGrath's sexual activities with a policeman in 1972 or early 1973. He met Ian Paisley in January 1974. According to Garland, Paisley did not wish to know about McGrath, but asked Garland to talk to a prominent DUP figure who was an associate of the Tara leader. This meeting never took place.Roy Garland, 'Your blood is on your own head now', The Irish Times, 15 April 1982.
==People==
*William McGrath - Commanding Officer
*Roy Garland - second in command circa 1966-1971
*Frank Millar JuniorChris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.73.
*Clifford Smyth - Intelligence Officer.Chris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.73.
*David BrowneChris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.73.
*Charlie SimpsonChris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.118.
*Ian DawsonChris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.119.
*Alan GinglesChris Moore, The Kincora Scandal, Marino Books, 1995, p.73.
==External Resources==
*CAIN, 'PROCLAMATION' published by TARA (n.d.,1973?)
==Notes==
Category:Northern IrelandCategory:State Violence and Collusion Project