Hill of Tara, Teamhair na Rí, Hill of Kings.

The quintessence of all Irish legends from the pre-Christian period to the present day.

If Ireland has a heart, this is where it beats.

However, the opinion that Tara was once the residence of Irish kings is wrong. High kings ruled Ireland for a long time, and in fact, they were not kings. In Celtic times, the island's North was ruled by the ancient clan Ui Neill (ancestors of the modern O'Neill family). They were based in the town of Tara, co. Meath.

The nearby Hill of Tara has become a center of religious rituals. The hill tomb, Dumha na nGiall, is one of the oldest monuments in the world and dates back to 3200 BC. - this burial contains the remains of inhabitants of communities from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The entrance to the tomb is positioned to receive the rays of the rising sun on Samhain, or Halloween.

The standing stone is called Lia Fáil - Stone of Destiny. According to legend, during the inauguration of an Irish or Scottish king, he would place his foot on a stone, and the stone would scream (!), confirming the legitimate rule.

From the sky, the round ditches surrounding the two hills are clearly visible; they form a figure 8 on the green meadow. These ditches date back to around the 1st century BC.

Tara gained fame precisely at the turn of the pre-Christian and Christian eras. Although in various sources you can find mentions of the enormous throne halls built on the hill, where the kings of Ireland feasted, there is no historical evidence of this. However, the Hill of Tara has always been a special place for everyone on the island.

In 433 AD, Saint Patrick preached here. The last high king left Tara in 1022, after which the Hill of Kings lost its ritual significance in the context of coronations but remained the stage for many historical events.

The rebels defending their country from the British were camped there. Daniel O'Connell held a peaceful political demonstration here, emphasizing the importance of Tara in Ireland's destiny.

Nowadays, the Irish government owns the hill, and it is open to tourists free of charge. Here, you can touch the ancient history of Ireland and enjoy the surrounding views - a panorama of a good half of the island opens from the hill.

In my childhood, I read about Tara in the novels Gone with the Wind and Scarlett. Could I have thought I would stand on the Hill of Kings, exposing my face to the warm October sun and winds and admiring the impossibly green country around me? Goosebumps!

In difficult times, it is essential to seek all sources of vitality and inspiration to move on. Hill of Tara is one of the few magical places on the planet that breathe with energy - you can feel this, even if you are a cynic and skeptical and do not believe in otherworldly phenomena.