Mound of the Hostages
A passage tomb from about 3200 BC.
Martinvl — CC BY-SA 4.0 · August Schwerdfeger — CC BY 4.0 · Rob Hurson — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rob Hurson — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Qwertzu111111 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bernard Ladenthin — CC BY 4.0
The Hill of Tara is an ancient ceremonial and burial site in County Meath, identified by tradition as the inauguration place and seat of the High Kings of Ireland. It holds monuments from the Neolithic to the Iron Age, and it is a protected national monument in the care of the Office of Public Works, looking out over wide green plains. Some 20 monuments are visible today, and aerial surveys have found at least three times that number. The oldest in view is the Mound of the Hostages, a passage tomb built around 3200 BC. The Irish name probably means a sacred space set aside for ceremony, or perhaps a height with a view. A standing stone on the hill is believed to be the Stone of Destiny, and legend says it cried out at the touch of the true king. Do not expect palaces or walls. What you see is grassland rippling with earthen rings and small mounds, which takes a little imagination. You pass the Mound of the Hostages with its small gated stone entrance, then climb to the great ring to see the Stone of Destiny. From the top the view runs across fields in every direction, and the wind is usually strong. A church and graveyard stand at the edge of the hill. The site is 9.2 km in a straight line south-east of Navan, 34.7 km north-west of Dublin and 16.3 km from Newgrange. The ground is open all year and can be muddy, so wear suitable shoes. Respect the stones and do not climb them. A guided tour helps a great deal, as the place is hard to read without explanation.
A passage tomb from about 3200 BC.
A standing stone wrapped in legend.
Green fields in every direction.
Near Dunsany, Navan, County Meath
Earthen rings, grassy mounds and a standing stone, not palaces, so a guided tour helps.
Yes, they are 16.3 km apart in a straight line, but book Newgrange in advance.