Colour image from upcoming book
โThe Irish Tricolourโ
The Hill of Tara, Meath, Ireland
The location was a political and religious centre and seat of ceremonial kingly power across 5000 years
It was considered a place where the Gods dwelt, associated with various legends. Its surface is littered with Neolithic passage tombs, later ring forts and the Lia Fรกil, or โStone of Destinyโ, a carved standing stone said to roar when the true King touched it.
Even Saint Patrick was linked with a visit
When we think of Irish identity, perhaps no other location represents this better than the Hill of Tara. It expresses an all island spiritual, legal and political identity that long predates modern nationalism
As the nations flag, the tricolour represents Ireland taking its place in the landscape of nation states. But this is the modern manifestation of a much older concept of identity, one adhering to more formal symbolic demands
Interestingly, the two conjoined rings of Forradh and Tech Cormaic (the royal seat and Cormacโs house) have seen modern use as a symbol, inspiring the design for visitor brand โIrelandโs ancient eastโ
Pic: Noel Meehan - Copter View