Lia Fail

Also known as:
The Stone of Destiny
Nearest town:
Dunshaughlin (9km ESE)
OS reference:
N919596
OS sheet:
42
Latitude:
53° 34' 41.57 N
Longitude:
6° 36' 44.57 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Lia Fail (Standing Stone / Menhir) by CianMcLiam

Lia Fail and the moon during eclipse, 3/3/07

Image credit: Ken Williams/ShadowsandStone.com 2007
CianMcLiam
CianMcLiam Mar 4, 2007

Articles

Lia Fail

Gardaí investigating after ancient Hill of Tara stone vandalised

ryaner
ryaner Feb 8, 2023

Gardaí are investigating after graffiti was daubed on the ancient Lia Fail stone on the Hill of Tara earlier this week.

Locals walking the site were appalled to discover the words ‘Fake’ written on all sides of the ‘Stone of Destiny’ or ‘Speaking Stone’ which is believed to be over 5,000 years old.

The incident took place sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Spray paint was used to damage the stone, said to be a coronation stone for the High Kings of Ireland.

Gardaí in Navan have opened an investigation and are appealing for information. A spokesman said the stone was sprayed with graffiti sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

More: meathchronicle.ie/2023/02/08/gardai-investigating-after-ancient-hill-of-tara-stone-vandalised/

Lia Fail

5,000-year-old standing stone vandalised in Meath

ryaner
ryaner May 29, 2014

Gardaí are investigating vandalism to the Lia Fáil – the standing stone at the top of the Hill of Tara in Co Meath.
A garda spokesman confirmed that green and red paint was poured over the stone overnight.
At least 50% of the 5,000-year-old granite has been covered by the paint.
In 2012 the stone was damaged when pieces of it were hacked off with an ax.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan described last night’s vandalism as “truly shameful”.
“This is an act of cultural vandalism,” said Ian Doyle, archaeologist and head of conservation with the Heritage Council.
He said local people and others “have a close relationship with the Hill of Tara and this is an assault on their sense of pride and the respect, love and affection they have for it.”
Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.

m.rte.ie/news/touch/2014/0529/620400-hill-of-tara-vandalism/

Lia Fail

C
CARL Jun 9, 2011

Visited 23.5.11
‘Blow wind blow’……………….and it certainly did!
The wind by now was near gale force. I could hardly stand up.
In fact it was so windy I had to hang on to Lia Fail to stop myself being blown over!
Around the base of Lia Fail are a set of slate tiles fanning out from the stone.
The stone itself is about 1.5 metres high and fairly slender.
Oddly enough next to the stone is a worn headstone dated 1798 (re-erected 1932). This provided a little welcome shelter out of the wind as I tried to admire the scenery.

Lia Fail

Cursuswalker
Cursuswalker Oct 11, 2003

A wonderfully simple stone, with the modern base seeming not to detract from its power.
From here it is easy to believe that, on a clear day, 20% of the land mass of Ireland can be seen from Tara.

I have no Irish ancestry that I know of, but as my partner is half Irish I chose this place, as a Druid, to quietly say hello to the land and formally introduce myself.

What a fantastic spot...

Lia Fail

M
muirchertach May 8, 2003

The Lia Fail (Stone of Destiny) was taken/borrowed/stolen from The Hill of Tara, Ireland and taken to Scotland to serve as the coronation stone for the Irish raiders who were to help form the nation of Scotland (distinct & separate from, although to eventually incorporate The Picts. ‘Scoti’ being the Celtic for ‘raider’ or ‘invader’ ). It was from HERE that it was subsequently taken by the English monarchs, to serve the same purpose for their benefit. It stands in Westminster Abbey, not the Palace of Westminster, under the Coronation Chair...if indeed it is the same one, as:
a) it may never have originally left Ireland
b) it may never have left Scotland

Folklore

Lia Fail
Standing Stone / Menhir
follow that cow
follow that cow Jan 13, 2005

As far as I’m aware, legend says, that the Stone of Destiny a.k.a The Stone of Scone, Jacob’s Pillow was brought to Ireland by the Gaels from Galicia having been previously acquired by the Gaels in their travels through Egypt.

This Stone was subsequently taken by the rulers of Tara, the Kings of Ireland (the sons of Niall) to their new power base in Scotland.

And so on via Edward I (boo hiss etc)... but it now resides in Edinburgh Castle with a caveat from the present monarchy that it should be returned to Westminster Abbey for the royal arse to be sat on for any subsequent coronation ceremonies.

So if the Stone of Destiny is in Edinburgh Castle what is the Lia Fail?

This is also a Stone of Destiny – for it’s clear that throughout the ages this stone has had almost divine attributes for both the people and their rulers – so when clan Niall claimed that they took their Stone with them to Scotland it would only be expected that the Irish kings would put in a counter claim that the original Stone was still in Ireland-

Just as the Scots did when Edward I (boo hiss) took the stone from Scone to Westminster. Who’s right? Who knows!

If anyone has any other info on these two stones, such as their geological/geographical origins I’d love to hear about it.

Addendum

Above ‘muirchertach’ states that the name Scotland comes from the celtic word for incomer or raider. Personally, I prefer the legend that the name Scotland comes from the name of an Egyptian Pharoah’s daughter... Scota... yes, the one who found Moses and married Niall....yes, he who was the legendary founder of the clan Niall. And if you want to stretch the legend even further the man who shares his name with the vast river that flows through Egypt.

And this brings us back to where the Stone of Destiny was acquired in the first place.

Miscellaneous

Lia Fail
Standing Stone / Menhir
A
Aongus Oct 8, 2003

There seems to be some confusion between the Stone of Scone, the ancient Coromation Stone of Scotland, which was taken to Westminster by Edward I (“Longshanks” in the film “Braveheart”), and the Lia Fáil at Tara. The Lia Fáil is reputed to have been brought from the east by the Tuatha Dé Danaan, and was originally situated in front of “Dúmha na nGiall”, or Mound of the Hostages. It was transplanted to its present location to mark the mass grave of the United Irish insurgents who fell at the battle of Tara on May 26th, 1798. It is said that as much of the ancient stone lies below ground as above it, making the whole edifice approximately eleven feet in length. Legend maintains that the stone would cry out when a rightful claimant to the kingship of Tara touched it, thereby verifying his ability to rule wisely.

Link

Lia Fail
Standing Stone / Menhir
Kammer
Kammer Jun 23, 2004
George Eastman House Archive

An old photo identified as the Lia Tail Stone by the famous Alvin Langdon Coburn. The photo shows the stone before it was set in concrete. Is it just me, or are there two possible cupmarks in this photo?

Like most of the photos in this collection, this one isn’t dated. Thanks to FourWinds for identifying the site from the photo.

Topics

Stone of Destiny 8
Chris Collyer
Chris Collyer
Apr 2002

Sites within 20km of Lia Fail

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