VIRTUAL HISTORIC TOUR OF IRELAND COUNTIES KILDARE & MEATH

This course brings you on a “virtual” history tour of Kildare and Meath.

Cill Dara, Kildare-the cell or church of the oak. The region is associated with the ancient kingdom of the Uí Dúnlainge. The rise of Kildare sept the Uí Dúnlainge after 633AD helped promote the cult of St Brigid, as she was related to that dynasty, giving her status as one of three ‘national saints’ of Ireland. The Fitzgerald dynasty controlled the House of Kildare from the 13/14th century and are identified in The Annals of the Four Masters as being “more Irish than the Irish themselves” or Galls, due to assimilation with the native Gaelic aristocratic and popular culture.

Bru na Boinne, Meath- The area is thought to be the burial grounds of the ancient Celtic High Kings and the dwelling place of the Tuatha De Dannan. Tradition has it that the Lia Fail was the original Jacob’s Pillar which was brought to Ireland by the Milesians. Tara – meaning house of music- was famous all over the world and dates back over 4,000 years. Every three years an assemble was held at Tara at which laws and customs of the land was discussed and instituted The decline of Tara began as Christianity took hold. In 1843 Daniel O’Connell held his famous “Repeal the Act of Union” rally at Tara attended by about one million people. Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth were built over 5,000 years ago – older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. A bronze statue in Ardee commemorates the mythological four day battle between Cuchulainn and Ferdia. The Battle of the Boyne took place in July 1690.