Tlacghta

Tlachtga, now known as the Hill of Ward, is an important prehistoric site near the town of Athboy in Co. Meath. It comprises a quadrivallate enclosure (with four banks and ditches). From the hill, views may be enjoyed towards the other important hills of Meath, including Tara, Loughcrew and the Hill of Lloyd. The hill took on the name of Ward after a local landowner who was ousted from the area by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century. 

The Mythology of Tlachtga 

Legend has it that during the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the hill took its name from a sun goddess called Tlachtga. She was the daughter of the druid, Mogh Ruith and in one legend Tlachtga died giving birth to three sons; Dorb, Cuma and Muacth and was buried on the hill. 

According to Geoffrey Keating, a 17th century chronicler of Ireland, Túathal Techtmar (a semi-legendary high-king) built the hillfort of Tlachtga. Keating recounts how a fire festival originated here on Tlachtga at the time of Samhain (which we now call Halloween). Samhain marked the harvest and was a time of transition, with feasting and celebration as the long winter nights approached. 

The Archaeology of Tlachtga 

Recent archaeological surveys and excavations at Tlachtga suggest this ancient hill was used for feasting and ceremonies from the late Bronze Age (1200BC – 500BC) through to the early medieval period. It continued in importance into the historical period, marking the border between two kingdoms. It was an important assembly point in the ancient kingdom of Midhe alongside Tara, Teltown and Uisneach (now in Westmeath). 

Additional History of Tlachtga 

In the mid-twelfth century Tigernán Ua Ruairc, chief of Breffni, had been granted east Meath by the High King and was not prepared to give this up to Hugh de Lacy who had arrived with the Norman English in the early 1170s. A meeting on Tlachtga was arranged between the two men. Both were to come alone and unarmed to discuss the limits of their territories. Two men went up the Hill of Ward to negotiate but only one came back down – Hugh de Lacy. On one side it is asserted that Ua Ruairc produced a battle axe from beneath his robe and attacked de Lacy while on the other side it is alleged that Ua Ruairc was treacherously killed and beheaded. His headless body was sent to Dublin and gibbeted with the feet upwards on the northern side of the city with his head erected over the door of the fortress. 

Arriving in Ireland in 1649 it is alleged that Cromwell camped on the Hill of Ward. One story is that Cromwell had his cannon turned on the Plunkett family as they approached the Hill of Ward to discuss truce terms. All the Plunkett family were killed in an instant. Lady Plunkett who was watching from the tower of Rathmore Castle saw what happened and was so shocked that she fell to her death. There is tradition that John Bligh received Rathmore Castle and estate from Cromwell on the Hill of Ward. It was believed that Bligh was granted all the land he could see from the top of the hill. He could see Rathmore, Athboy, Ballivor and Kildalkey, 28,000 acres in all and his descendants held the lands until 1909. 

Halloween/Samhain 

According to Irish folklore, Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain. The old Irish for ‘summer’s end’, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the start of the New Year. Athboy is an important hub of Halloween tradition. Old manuscripts tell us that Tlachtga, was a site of great Samhain gatherings. It was at Tlachtga that the ancient Irish lit a fire from which all the fires in Ireland were rekindled. 

The belief in the closeness of the Otherworld and the Return of the Dead was associated with Halloween. Wearing costumes and masks offered protection as the fairies couldn’t abduct you and you got to frighten your neighbours. Tricks were played on the unsuspecting, which may be the origin of the ubiquitous ‘trick or treating’.

Is suíomh réamhstairiúil tábhachtach é Tlachtga atá in aice le Baile Átha Buí. The Hill of Ward a thugtar air i mBéarla. Ceithre ciorcal agus díoga taobh istigh dá chéile atá ann. Tá radharc ar chnoic ársa eile uaidh Thlachtga, ina measc, Teamhair, Sliabh na Caillí agus Mullach Aiti. Tá an cnoc ainmnithe i ndiaidh Tlachtga, iníon Mogh Roith. Ward ab ainm don úinéir talún a bhí ann sular dhíbir Cromail as an áit é sa 17ú haois. 

Gaeilge

Seanchas Thlachtga 

De réir an tseanchais, tá an cnoc ainmnithe i ndiaidh Tlachtga, bandia na gréine in aimsir na Tuaithe Dé Danann. B’iníon í leis an draoi Mogh Ruith. Fuair sí bás ag breith triúr mac, Dorb, Cuma agus Muacth agus adhlacadh í ar an gcnoc. Dar le Seathrún Céitinn, staraí ón 17ú haois, gurbh é an tArd Rí Túathal Techtmar a thóg an dún ar Chnoc Tlachtga. Déanann an Céitinneach cur síos ar Fhéile Tine na Samhna a thosaigh anseo fadó, féile a thugtar Oíche Shamhna anois air. Ceiliúradh an fhómhair a bhí ann, aimsir idirthréimhse sna séasúir, tráth a raibh féastaí agus ceiliúradh ann le linn oícheanta fada an gheimhridh. 

Seandálaíocht Thlachtga 

Tugann na suirbhéanna agus na tochailtí seandálaíochta is déanaí a rinneadh ar Thlachtga le tuiscint gur úsáideadh an cnoc ársa seo i gcomhair féasta agus searmanais ón gCré-Umhaois Dhéanach (1200 – 500 R.Ch.) suas go dtí an tréimhse luath-mheánaoiseach. Bhí tábhacht ag baint leis sa tréimhse stairiúil chomh maith mar mharcáil Tlachtga an teorainn idir dhá ríocht. Ba phointe tábhachtach tionóil é i sean-ríocht na Mí, chomh maith le Teamhair, Tailteann agus Uisneach (atá san Iarmhí anois). 

Stair Thlachtga ar Lean 

Is ann a baineadh an cloigeann de Thighearnán Ó Ruairc. Sa darna haois déag, bhronn an tArd Rí oirthear na Mí ar Rí Bhréifne. Ní mó ná sásta a bhí Ó Ruairc a ríocht a scaoileadh uaidh le Hugh de Lacy agus na Normannaigh a tháinig go luath sna 1170í. Tháinig an bheirt le chéile ar chnoc Thlachtga. Bhí sé socraithe go mbeadh an bheirt ina n-aonar agus gan airm ag aon duine acu chun teorainn a dtaillte a phlé. Chuaigh beirt suas ar an gcnoc an lá úd ach níor fhill ach duine amháin – Hugh de Lacy. Deir daoine áirithe gur tharraing Ó Ruairc tua chatha óna chulaith agus gur ionsaigh sé De Lacy ach deir daoine eile gur baineadh a chloigeann den Ruairceach agus gur marú fealltach a bhí ann. Cuireadh a chorp go Baile Átha Cliath agus crochadh é bun os cionn ar bhalla thuaisceart na cathrach. Crochadh a chloigeann os cionn doras an chaisleáin. 

Deirtear gur ann a champáil arm Chromail sa bhliain 1649. Tá sé ráite gur dhúnmharaigh saighdiúirí Chromail muintir Phluincéid an Rátha Mhóir le gunna mór ar thaobh an chnoic nuair a bhíodar ag teacht chun sos cogaidh a phlé. Maraíodh an clann uile ar an bpointe. Bhí Bantiarna Pluincéad ag breathnú ar an eachtra ó Chaisleán an Ráth Mhór. Deirtear gur cailleadh ar an bpointe í le briseadh chroí. 

Deirtear gur ar Chnoc Thlachtga a bhronn Croiméal Caisleáin an Rátha Mhóir agus an t-eastát ar fad ar John Bligh. Is éard a bronnadh air ná a raibh le feiceáil aige ó bharr an chnoic, sé sin, An Ráth Mhór, Baile Átha Buí, Baile Íobhair agus Cill Dealga, 28,000 acra ar fad. Bhí na tailte seo i seilbh a shliocht go dtí an bhliain 1909. 

Samhain 

Is i dtraidisiún ársa na gCeilteach atá bunús Oíche Shamhna.‘Deireadh an tSamhraidh,’ an sean-bhrí a bhí leis an bhfocal ‘Samhain’. Cuireann Samhain deireadh le séasúr an fhómhair agus tús leis an mbliain nua. Tá Baile Átha Buí i gcroílár na scéalta seo. 

Tá sé ráite sna sean-scríbhinní gur chruinnigh na sluaite ar Thlachtga ar Oíche Shamhna. Is ann a lasadh an tine mhór as ar las muintir na hÉireann tinte úra na bliana. 

Creidtear go bhfuil dlúthchaidreamh idir ‘beo agus marbh’ ar Oíche Shamhna. Chaití cultacha agus púicíní mar chosaint in aghaidh an tSlua Sí ar an oíche sin, ar fhaitíos go bhfuadóidis thú! Chuirtí faitíos agus d’imrítí cleasanna ar na comharsain chomh maith agus ár ndóigh, nach é sin bunús ‘bob nó bia’ sa lá atá inniu ann.