Yes this is quite a big site and does indeed put most
of there royal site to shame. There is so much Archaeology here, and all intertwined with myth and legend. An emclosure near by called Rathnatarbh is suggested to be the fort of teh Bulls and where the
white bull of Connaught was kept and was from
Rathcroghan that the Tain Bo Chuailgne.
You have Rathnaree (fort of the Kings, a burial ground)
The Famous Mucklaghs, two massive earthen banks, that
I would say acts as a cermonial walkway from the outer
reachs of the complex, blocks your view on either side
until you emerge at the main ceremonal area, all part of
the rights of passage for kings,I suppose it would be
similar to the long "banquet hall" at Tara. The cave is
worth seeing, a few of the lintels are actually ogham
stones with inscriptions. When we were there,the owner was in dispute with the planning authority as they would not let him build something on his farm,it appears the planning offive was being stubborn,so the owner dug
his heels in and it was a case of "get orrf my Laaand" so
no one was allowed there. That was a while ago,it may have changed since.
I have loads of info on this site but all at home packed away after the exams. The Professor of Archaeology at
NUIG is the main man on this place, he has taken it
appears to be his baby, John Waddell is his name, gives
a good lecture. As mentioned I have a lot of stuff at home, I think I have survey notes as well. Not much good to you all I know. If you are going to visit call into
the centre at Tulsk, is small but has good aerial photos
that will show all better than plodding aimlessly on the
ground. As far as I know no dig of any kind has taken place here at all. I will look at home aver the weekend
and let you know what I have and where you can get
them. For my 10c it is much more impressive than
Tara.But then I am from the West. Even outside the
complex there is so much more to see above the ground, what with barrows, bi-val forts and a huge multi
val ring fort. Truly amazing.
You'll have to go now.
