Solstice event planned to shine light on danger faced by ancient site
The upcoming Summer Solstice will see a series of programs aimed at highlighting the danger faced by the ancient Celtic site of Tara, which served as the place of the High Kings of Eire well into the Christian era. The site is presently under threat from government plans to drive a road through the area, which will damage Tara and the numerous tombs and other important places in the area.
A coalition of archaeologists, nationalists*, traditionalists, environmentalists and others have joined together to oppose Dublin’s plans. Given the long association with America — which pours massive tourist dollars into the Irish economy — the government of Eire is also open to protest from Irish-Americans and other European-Americans concerned about preserving our ancient sites.
Like all European nations, Eire had an “omphalos” — a national center — which was Tara (Gaelic: Teamhair na Rí, Hill of the Kings). Apart from being a political center, where High Kings were invested with their symbols of office, Tara also had religious and astronomical functions.The upcoming Solstice Celebrations will bring together activists, artists, poets and others on the important Midsummer holiday. Among the functions, Wednesday 20th June will see invocations and storytelling (in keeping with the Bardic traditions of the Celts); Thursday 21st: celebrate the sunrise and sunset of the longest day, with invocations, music, poetry, talks, and walking tours of Tara. Friday 22nd: Poetry evening; Saturday 23rd: harp and traditional music; Sunday 24th: tour of the valley and public meeting on the future of Tara.
Our Irish and other European readers should check here for http://www.myspace.com/summersolsticetara.
*The word “nationalist” has a unique meaning in Eire, where the word is associated with the multiculturalist politics of Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army. Sinn Fein support the non-white invasion, which has already given the island a non-Irish population of at least 10%. However, a growing number of indigenous people in Eire are waking up to nationalism in its genuine sense.