128 Mr. Petrie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 



take their title from this distinguished place from the death of Dermot till the 

 extinction of the monarchy, it seems quite certain that it was never after used 

 as a royal residence. This remark was necessary, as some popular modern his- 

 torians, finding the title of King of Temur applied in the ancient authorities to 

 the later Irish monarchs, have fallen into the error of supposing that their 

 residence was still at Tara. It appears, however, that these monarchs had never 

 after any fixed or common residence, but that, as the Book of Clonmacnoise 

 states, in the extract just given, and also according to the Leabhar Buidhe 

 Lecan, — col. 321, — each of them chose for himself a residence most convenient 

 or agreeable, which residence was usually, if not always, within their own 

 hereditary principalities. Thus the kings of the family of the northern Hy-Niall 

 appear to have resided chiefly at their ancient fortress of Aileach, near Derry, 

 and those of the southern Hy-Niall, first, at the Rath, near Castlepollard, now 

 csXledt. Dun-Torgeis, having afterwards become the residence of the Danish king, 

 Turgesius, and subsequently at Dun-na- Sciath, on the margin of Loch Ainninn, 

 now Lough-Ennell, near Mullingar. 



From the preceding historical notices, it will not appear surprising that a 

 spot of such ancient importance as Tara should have been a favourite theme not 

 only with the ancient bards, but also with most of the modem antiquaries and 

 historians of Ireland ; or that the latter should indulge in the common, though 

 foolish national vanity of exaggerating its claims to architectural splendour, by 

 vague references to ancient authorities which they never allowed to see the light. 

 To expose the errors in the accounts given of Tara by O' Conor, Vallancey, and 

 others, would be but an idle combat with shadows. However gratifying they 

 may have been in their day to the Milesian national vanity, they have made but 

 little impression on the cooler minds of the uninterested, or unprejudiced, and 

 are now wholly disregarded. The existing remains, though but time-worn ves- 

 tiges, are the best evidences of the original character and extent of the works 

 which a people not far advanced in civilization raised in distant ages ; and what- 

 ever claims to truth the ancient accounts of the place may have, they must now 

 rest on their agreement with these vestiges. 



It will be seen from the accompanying plan of the earthen works still exist- 



