Samhain at Tara 2007 - 2010

Lighting the Sacred Flame on the Hill of Tlachtga, Samhain 2007
photo courtesy tarataratara.net

Many of you reading this have been involved in the struggle to preserve the Tara-Skryne Valley from destruction. While some of the sacred sites in the valley have been irreparably damaged by construction of the superhighway, the struggle continues to preserve the rest of the valley from development. Earth-honoring peoples in Ireland are also working to preserve the ceremonial centers that remain, and to re-establish the old customs and rites that our ancestors observed at these sacred sites.

Many of you also participated in the 2007 Samhain event where we re-established the old custom of lighting the signal fires on Tlachtga, Tara, and the surrounding hills. Want to do it again? Carmel Diviney, one of the main Irish coordinators of this international event, weighs in with this update:

SAMHAIN AT TARA 2007 -2010

A very special Samhain Celebration was held at Tara in 2007. Tara campaigners came together to resurrect an Ancient Irish tradition based on evidence from Tara’s history and mythology.

Tara was always associated with Samhain and in Ancient times a tri-annual Feis (Festival) was held there, the Feis Teamhair. According to some researchers, a Beacon Fire was lit first by a woman (a personification of the Goddess) at Tlachtga now known as the Hill of Ward in Athboy. From there, its flames were sent by a fleet of chariots to Tara to where the High King and his assembly awaited their arrival. The High King then lit the Sacred Fire at Tara from the flames of Tlachtga’s heart. Once this had been done, Tara’s seven surrounding hills were lit with flames from the Tara fire. From hill to hill and on every high place, beacons were lit in response throughout the land. It is said that no hearth in Ireland could be lit until it was lit by a brand from the fire at Tara. Some accounts say that the feasting and celebrations that occurred with this triennial celebration could continue for two weeks.

Based on this story, Tara campaigners created a Global Chain of Light on Oct 31st 07 with beacons being lit not just in Ireland but in countries worldwide to draw attention to the plight of the Tara Skryne Valley.

In a massive show of support for our cause, Fire Pledges came pouring in from people lighting their fires in conjunction with ours in the following places:

Ireland
Armagh, Antrim, Cork, Down, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, West Meath and Wexford.

Worldwide
Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Scotland, and Wales.*

USA
Arizona, California, Colorado, Conneticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, new York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.**


This year, 2010, we will light the Fires again (smaller scale perhaps) and ask that you join us and encourage others to take part also. We celebrate our rich history, tradition and culture as we honour the Ancestors together this Samhain. We will be doing a very special Ceremony at Collierstown- more details nearer the time. If you cant be here please remember Tara as you light your fire wherever you are. Please help to spread the word.

Carmel

Join us on the Sábháil Teamhair (Save Tara) list for updates, and we hope to see you on Samhain, whether in person or in spirit.


Samhain on the Hill of Tara, 2007
photo courtesy tarataratara.net

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Note: Additional areas where the ceremonial fires were lit, that we heard about after the fact, include:
*Countries: England, Portugal, Saudi Arabia
**US States: Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri