Its antiquity its chief attraction--Beautiful view from its
ruined ramparts--The most historic spot in these islands--
Proof of the general correctness of early Irish history--Dr
Petrie's great work on the antiquities of Tara--His map of
it--Its adaptation for a seat of government in ancient
times--Its profanation by the erection of modern buildings
on it--Tracks of its principal monuments--No trace of stone
buildings found--Its praise sung by Gaelic poets--Was the
most important place in Ireland--The roads that centred
there--The Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny; prophecy
concerning it; was brought from Tara to Scotland; now under
the coronation chair at Westminster; Petrie's mistake about
it; proofs that it was removed from Tara; the stone there
now not the Lia Fail; is the Lia Fail a meteoric stone?--
Tara the great political centre of ancient Ireland--The
Leinster Tribute--Slaughter of 3030 maidens--Indifference
of the Irish heretofore about their history and literature--
Many valuable gold ornaments found in Tara--The "Tara
Brooch"--King Laoghaire buried in Tara; his face to his
foes, the Leinstermen--The old feud between Meath and
Leinster not yet quite forgotten--Tara terribly uprooted--
Saint Patrick's goat--Last King that reigned in Tara--Its
vast antiquity worthy of credence.