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Tlachtga - Hill of Ward
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Tlachtga where the Great Fire Festival at Samhain was celebrated.
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Tlachtga on the Hill of Ward near Athboy is 12 miles from the Hill of Tara,
the earthworks which are about 150 metres in diameter are most impressive
from the air. Tlachtga was the location of the Great Fire Festival begun
on the eve of Samhain (eve of the 1st November). The festival
probably lasted for least several days and centred on the god Lugh.
Tlachtga dates from approximately 200 AD and is named
after a sorceress who died there giving birth to triplets. Tlachtga is
clearly visable from Tara and the fire lit on the eve of Samhain may have
been a prelude to the Samhain Festival at Tara.
With the coming of Christianity the festival was incorporated into the
Christian calendar as a time of remembrance for the holy souls, so the
Samhain festival of the ancestors retained it relevance. The customs of
Samhain that didn't fit into Christianity survived as Halloween. It was the
Scottish and Irish who brought Gaelic folklore and customs to the US and
Canada, popularising Halloween.
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The Festival of Samhain was the great festival of the dead. It also marked
the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The Winter fires were lighted when
the sun went down on the eve of Samhain.
Larger View
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The earthworks seen on the Hill of Ward today represent the last phase of
development about 2000 years ago. The remains of an older barrow burial
have been incorporated in the earthworks. It is likely that the hill
was the centre of ritual activity long before the Celtic period.
Larger View
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Loughcrew is clearly visible from Tlachtga,
the cairns at Loughcrew are about 5000 years old. At Cairn L the samhain
sunrise illuminates a standing stone in the chamber of the cairn.
Larger View
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