Druids gather on cursed Tara

PLANNING disputes regularly end in curses but the raging row over the M3 and the Hill of Tara may have been caused by a curse, according to some opponents of the motorway plan.

A team of determined druids yesterday set out to lift the centuries-old jinx which they believe was cast upon the ancient site in the middle ages by priests angry at the refusal of the reigning king to cede his authority to a member of the clergy.

The druids, enthusiasts of ancient Irish history, lore and law, held a series of ceremonies on the hill which attracted several hundred visitors from around the world for the annual summer solstice celebrations.

The curse-busting exercises began at sunrise at 4.30am yesterday morning and were due to continue all night, the shortest night of the year, right through to this morning.

Among the rituals performed were a full moon ceremony, which is credited with giving protection; the creation of a healing circle and the symbolic lifting of the blanket of darkness followed by a spell-casting ceremony called An Geis Triarach and a formal Celtic Druid’s blessing.

Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolchain, lecturer in Celtic Studies at NUI, Maynooth, and public relations officer with the Save Tara/Skryne Valley Campaign, said followers of the druid tradition were genuine in their belief that by invoking ancient rituals, they could influence events on the hill.

“People very sincerely believe what they are doing will help and certainly we are not even countenancing the possibility that this road will go ahead. We are determined to stop it,” she said.

But despite the fact that feelings are running high over the motorway plans, Dr Ní Bhrolchain said yesterday’s events were entirely peaceful and were intended as a celebration of Tara rather than a protest.

“There’s a very good atmosphere. These are not the sort of people to get angry. But there is a feeling of sadness. You can already hear the N3 from the hill and it’s frightening to think how much worse a motorway alongside it would be.

“We’ve asked that the most people do is come down to where the archaeological excavations have started and just make a silent pilgrimage to register their opposition.”

Some of the ceremonies were a little nosier, however, as the druids came with drums, dances and chants to keep the crowds on their (bare) feet throughout the all-night vigil.

The summer solstice attracts fans of Tara in their droves every year but worldwide publicity generated by the motorway dispute meant visitors began arriving as early as last Friday. While some made daily trips to the hill from nearby towns, others came prepared to camp out for the week.