Mound of the Hostages, Tara, Co. Meathhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara023/56448087_Lcgm9-Ti.jpghttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/gallery/1206516_JSw2D/2006-11-17T07:09:23ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugThe Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is the oldest surviving monument above ground at this place where over 100 of the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. The hill and valley had be ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is the oldest surviving monument above ground at this place where over 100 of the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. The hill and valley had be ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448087_Lcgm9" title="The Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is the oldest surviving monument above ground at this place where over 100 of the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. The hill and valley had be ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara023/56448087_Lcgm9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is the oldest surviving monument above ground at this place where over 100 of the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. The hill and valley had be ..." title="The Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara is the oldest surviving monument above ground at this place where over 100 of the High Kings of Ireland were crowned. The hill and valley had be ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:16:26ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara023/56448087_Lcgm9-Th.jpg2006-02-12 18:45:39Home 's photo<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a> </p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#94928838_n6SAN" title="Home 's photo"><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara766/94928838_n6SAN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Home 's photo" title="Home 's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-08-05T00:56:45ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara766/94928838_n6SAN-Th.jpg2006-09-03 20:03:32Lit by the light of the full moon, 7/9/06. The constellation Ursa Minor can be seen above in the night sky. (Click on the photo for a larger version, the click back to return).<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />Lit by the light of the full moon, 7/9/06. The constellation Ursa Minor can be seen above in the night sky. (Click on the photo for a larger version, the click back to return).</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#94928839_gyvDP" title="Lit by the light of the full moon, 7/9/06. The constellation Ursa Minor can be seen above in the night sky. (Click on the photo for a larger version, the click back to return)."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraNight834sm/94928839_gyvDP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Lit by the light of the full moon, 7/9/06. The constellation Ursa Minor can be seen above in the night sky. (Click on the photo for a larger version, the click back to return)." title="Lit by the light of the full moon, 7/9/06. The constellation Ursa Minor can be seen above in the night sky. (Click on the photo for a larger version, the click back to return)." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-08-05T00:17:45ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraNight834sm/94928839_gyvDP-Th.jpg2006-09-07 21:38:02This is a view of the earthworks known as 'The Kings Seat' or 'An Forradh' in gaelic. This mound surrounded by concentric banks is where the Lia Fail or 'Stone of Destiny' stands, beside a m ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />This is a view of the earthworks known as 'The Kings Seat' or 'An Forradh' in gaelic. This mound surrounded by concentric banks is where the Lia Fail or 'Stone of Destiny' stands, beside a m ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#94928840_Jpvie" title="This is a view of the earthworks known as 'The Kings Seat' or 'An Forradh' in gaelic. This mound surrounded by concentric banks is where the Lia Fail or 'Stone of Destiny' stands, beside a m ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraNight837sm/94928840_Jpvie-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="This is a view of the earthworks known as 'The Kings Seat' or 'An Forradh' in gaelic. This mound surrounded by concentric banks is where the Lia Fail or 'Stone of Destiny' stands, beside a m ..." title="This is a view of the earthworks known as 'The Kings Seat' or 'An Forradh' in gaelic. This mound surrounded by concentric banks is where the Lia Fail or 'Stone of Destiny' stands, beside a m ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-08-05T00:19:58ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraNight837sm/94928840_Jpvie-Th.jpg2006-09-07 21:56:27A similar view in daylight.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />A similar view in daylight.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#94928841_brArh" title="A similar view in daylight."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara732/94928841_brArh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="A similar view in daylight." title="A similar view in daylight." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-08-05T00:35:36ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara732/94928841_brArh-Th.jpg2006-09-03 19:24:29The short passage and chamber is quite small and in proportion with the rest of the mound, it has a small stone 'basin' at the rear and when excavated it was found to hold the remains of hun ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The short passage and chamber is quite small and in proportion with the rest of the mound, it has a small stone 'basin' at the rear and when excavated it was found to hold the remains of hun ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448089_cdqww" title="The short passage and chamber is quite small and in proportion with the rest of the mound, it has a small stone 'basin' at the rear and when excavated it was found to hold the remains of hun ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara029/56448089_cdqww-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The short passage and chamber is quite small and in proportion with the rest of the mound, it has a small stone 'basin' at the rear and when excavated it was found to hold the remains of hun ..." title="The short passage and chamber is quite small and in proportion with the rest of the mound, it has a small stone 'basin' at the rear and when excavated it was found to hold the remains of hun ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:45:54ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/Tara029/56448089_cdqww-Th.jpg2006-02-12 18:53:50During his research into neolithic art, passage tombs and astronomy, Martin Brennan noted that its passage was orientated so that the cross quater days sunrise (half way between the solstice ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />During his research into neolithic art, passage tombs and astronomy, Martin Brennan noted that its passage was orientated so that the cross quater days sunrise (half way between the solstice ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448098_GTyQw" title="During his research into neolithic art, passage tombs and astronomy, Martin Brennan noted that its passage was orientated so that the cross quater days sunrise (half way between the solstice ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise056/56448098_GTyQw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="During his research into neolithic art, passage tombs and astronomy, Martin Brennan noted that its passage was orientated so that the cross quater days sunrise (half way between the solstice ..." title="During his research into neolithic art, passage tombs and astronomy, Martin Brennan noted that its passage was orientated so that the cross quater days sunrise (half way between the solstice ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T01:06:14ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise056/56448098_GTyQw-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:19:28From outside the mound, a few metres from the entrance you can already see the backstone is brightly illuminated.
The shortness of the passage means that the alignment is not as accurate ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />From outside the mound, a few metres from the entrance you can already see the backstone is brightly illuminated.
The shortness of the passage means that the alignment is not as accurate ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448096_Y9nrv" title="From outside the mound, a few metres from the entrance you can already see the backstone is brightly illuminated.
The shortness of the passage means that the alignment is not as accurate ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise043/56448096_Y9nrv-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="From outside the mound, a few metres from the entrance you can already see the backstone is brightly illuminated.
The shortness of the passage means that the alignment is not as accurate ..." title="From outside the mound, a few metres from the entrance you can already see the backstone is brightly illuminated.
The shortness of the passage means that the alignment is not as accurate ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:39:29ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise043/56448096_Y9nrv-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:11:51The bars of the gate partially block the suns light on the backstone, this photo was taken at about 4 minutes past 8am.
Continue on to page two to see a sequence of photos of this event.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The bars of the gate partially block the suns light on the backstone, this photo was taken at about 4 minutes past 8am.
Continue on to page two to see a sequence of photos of this event.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448091_QPDMC" title="The bars of the gate partially block the suns light on the backstone, this photo was taken at about 4 minutes past 8am.
Continue on to page two to see a sequence of photos of this event."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise009/56448091_QPDMC-Th.jpg" width="105" height="150" alt="The bars of the gate partially block the suns light on the backstone, this photo was taken at about 4 minutes past 8am.
Continue on to page two to see a sequence of photos of this event." title="The bars of the gate partially block the suns light on the backstone, this photo was taken at about 4 minutes past 8am.
Continue on to page two to see a sequence of photos of this event." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T01:04:30ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise009/56448091_QPDMC-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:00:56The illumination moved very slowly across the back stone towards the right side of the chamber walls and in all the illumination lasted almost an hour.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The illumination moved very slowly across the back stone towards the right side of the chamber walls and in all the illumination lasted almost an hour.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448094_jSaVC" title="The illumination moved very slowly across the back stone towards the right side of the chamber walls and in all the illumination lasted almost an hour."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise026/56448094_jSaVC-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="The illumination moved very slowly across the back stone towards the right side of the chamber walls and in all the illumination lasted almost an hour." title="The illumination moved very slowly across the back stone towards the right side of the chamber walls and in all the illumination lasted almost an hour." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:27:52ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise026/56448094_jSaVC-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:05:04From this angle you can see the carvings on the orthostat on the left hand passage wall and the brightly lit backstone.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />From this angle you can see the carvings on the orthostat on the left hand passage wall and the brightly lit backstone.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448093_ZPpSa" title="From this angle you can see the carvings on the orthostat on the left hand passage wall and the brightly lit backstone."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise013/56448093_ZPpSa-Th.jpg" width="103" height="150" alt="From this angle you can see the carvings on the orthostat on the left hand passage wall and the brightly lit backstone." title="From this angle you can see the carvings on the orthostat on the left hand passage wall and the brightly lit backstone." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:24:42ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise013/56448093_ZPpSa-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:01:31At about 8.40 am the light begins to move off the backstone and onto the chamber wall.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />At about 8.40 am the light begins to move off the backstone and onto the chamber wall.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56448100_vnLn5" title="At about 8.40 am the light begins to move off the backstone and onto the chamber wall."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise066/56448100_vnLn5-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="At about 8.40 am the light begins to move off the backstone and onto the chamber wall." title="At about 8.40 am the light begins to move off the backstone and onto the chamber wall." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:38:31ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise066/56448100_vnLn5-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:28:51The Kings Seat or 'An Forradh' as it is in Gaelic is where the 'Stone of Destiny' or Liá Fáil is now located.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The Kings Seat or 'An Forradh' as it is in Gaelic is where the 'Stone of Destiny' or Liá Fáil is now located.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56775348_mPmof" title="The Kings Seat or 'An Forradh' as it is in Gaelic is where the 'Stone of Destiny' or Liá Fáil is now located."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunset025filtered/56775348_mPmof-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The Kings Seat or 'An Forradh' as it is in Gaelic is where the 'Stone of Destiny' or Liá Fáil is now located." title="The Kings Seat or 'An Forradh' as it is in Gaelic is where the 'Stone of Destiny' or Liá Fáil is now located." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T01:51:45ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunset025filtered/56775348_mPmof-Th.jpg2006-02-18 18:14:31The 'Stone of Destiny' or Lia Fáil as it is also known is a slender, rounded standing stone which originally stood just north of the Mound of the Hostages but was moved to this position to c ...<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The 'Stone of Destiny' or Lia Fáil as it is also known is a slender, rounded standing stone which originally stood just north of the Mound of the Hostages but was moved to this position to c ...</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56449987_ydd3u" title="The 'Stone of Destiny' or Lia Fáil as it is also known is a slender, rounded standing stone which originally stood just north of the Mound of the Hostages but was moved to this position to c ..."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise080filtered/56449987_ydd3u-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The 'Stone of Destiny' or Lia Fáil as it is also known is a slender, rounded standing stone which originally stood just north of the Mound of the Hostages but was moved to this position to c ..." title="The 'Stone of Destiny' or Lia Fáil as it is also known is a slender, rounded standing stone which originally stood just north of the Mound of the Hostages but was moved to this position to c ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T01:43:24ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise080filtered/56449987_ydd3u-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:41:48The 'Rath of the Synods' is typical of the earthen banks and ditches spread all around this site. This view is from the top of the Mound of the Hostages.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />The 'Rath of the Synods' is typical of the earthen banks and ditches spread all around this site. This view is from the top of the Mound of the Hostages.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56450850_mnXzT" title="The 'Rath of the Synods' is typical of the earthen banks and ditches spread all around this site. This view is from the top of the Mound of the Hostages."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise071/56450850_mnXzT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The 'Rath of the Synods' is typical of the earthen banks and ditches spread all around this site. This view is from the top of the Mound of the Hostages." title="The 'Rath of the Synods' is typical of the earthen banks and ditches spread all around this site. This view is from the top of the Mound of the Hostages." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:47:34ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise071/56450850_mnXzT-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:36:09A second shot of the Stone of Destiny, in colour this time.<p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com">Home </a><br />A second shot of the Stone of Destiny, in colour this time.</p><p><a href="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/1206516_JSw2D#56454270_zeXtq" title="A second shot of the Stone of Destiny, in colour this time."><img src="http://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise073/56454270_zeXtq-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="A second shot of the Stone of Destiny, in colour this time." title="A second shot of the Stone of Destiny, in colour this time." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T00:41:02ZHome http://cianmcliam.smugmug.comhttp://cianmcliam.smugmug.com/Ancient-Ireland/Passage-Tombs/Mound-of-the-Hostages-Tara-Co/TaraSunrise073/56454270_zeXtq-Th.jpg2006-02-15 09:38:52