Tyler and Michael discuss the Hill of Tara and the legendary high kingship associated with it, alongside the actual history and archaeology of the site.

Main topics addressed: Iron Age, Tara, sacred kingship, sovereignty goddesses, and rather odd job requirements.

This episode contains references to alcohol, sex, and nudity.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l7tgf2gkqBgVRw8D-awpWCYyDY3M9v0RUkmiNOrghXE/edit?usp=sharing

References and Suggested Media:

Bhreathnach, E. (ed.) 2005. The Kingship and Landscape of Tara.

Bhreathnach, E. and Newman, C. 1995. Tara.

Carey, J. 2005. ‘Tara and the Supernatural’ in The Kingship and Landscape of Tara, ed. by E. Bhreathnach (Dublin: Four Courts Press), 32-48.

Dillon, M. 1946. ‘Baile in Scáil: The Phantom's Frenzy’ in The Cycle of Kings, electronic ed. https://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/phantom.html

Grogan, E. 2009. The Rath of the Synods, Tara, Co. Meath: Excavations by Seán P. Ó Ríordáin.

Gwynn, L. ‘De Síl Chonairi Móir’ in Ériu 6 (1912), 130-143 (pp. 138-141).

Herbert, M. 1992. Goddess and King: The Sacred Marriage in Early Ireland in Women and Sovereignty ed by L. Fradenburg.

Hull, V. ‘Geneamuin Chormaic’ in Ériu 16 (1952), 79-85 (§10); available at Irish Sagas Online: https://iso.ucc.ie/Geneamuin-chormaic/Geneamuin-chormaic-text.html#Section_10

Koch, J. and Carey, J. (eds). 2003. The Celtic Heroic Age 4th edn: ‘Echtra Mac nEchach’ (The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedón), pp. 203-208 and ‘Togail Bruidne Da Derga’ (The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel), pp. 166-169 (§1-15).

Newman, C. ‘Procession and Symbolism at Tara: Analysis of Tech Midchúarta (the “Banqueting Hall”) in the context of the sacral campus’ in OJA 26/4 (Nov. 2007), 415–438.

Ó Bróin, T. ‘Lia Fáil: Fact and Fiction in the Tradition’ Celtica 21 (1990), pp. 393-401.

O’Sullivan, A. and Kinsella, J. 2013. ‘Living with a sacred landscape: interpreting the early medieval archaeology of the Hill of Tara and its environs, AD 400-1100.’ in M. O’Sullivan (ed.) Tara: from the past to the future, pp 321-344.

Stokes, W. The Rennes Dindshenchas https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/ws.rc.15.001.t.text.html

Wadell, J. 2022. The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland new edn, Ch.9.

What the Folklore? (comedy podcast) https://www.wtfolklorepodcast.com/