Royal sites of Ireland

The royal sites of Ireland served as the seats for the Gaelic kings of Ireland. Historical sources associate these sites with various medieval Irish kingdoms while archaeological investigations show that many royal sites were culturally significant thousands of years before recorded history. Ancient monuments, such as Neolithic burial mounds, standing stones, and cairns date back thousands of years and indicate the recurring—or even continuous—significance of these sites through millennia. The concept of a royal site goes back to medieval texts that describe these places as the titular seats of Irish kings where assemblies, athletic games, and inaugurations were held.

Each Irish kingdom is thought to have had its own royal site, but six sites are considered to be the most important. Four of these served as the royal sites of the four major provinces of Ireland. Cashel for Munster, Navan Fort for Ulster, Dún Ailinne for Leinster, and Carnfree of the Rathcroghan for Connaught. The Hill of Tara served as the seat for the Kings of Meath and the seat of the High King. Respectively, these sites are known in medieval sources as Caisel, Emain Macha, Dun Ailinne (Knockaulin), Cruiachain (Cruachu), and Teamhair.Uisneach represented the union of the provinces and may have served as a meeting place for the kings. The major sites, excluding Navan Fort (located in Northern Ireland), have been listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These primary sites might be associated with less prominent sites that served other purposes for the kingship. For instance, the King of Tara presided over assemblies at Tailtiu (Teltown) and Tlachgta (the Hill of Ward) during the Lughnasadh festival.

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