TARA  , a

village of Co . Meath, Ireland . It is celebrated for the Hill of Tara, well known through Thomas Moore's ballad, and for many centuries a royal residence and the scene of great meetings of the people . The hill, upon which five highroads converged from different parts of Ireland, is about 510 ft. in height, and stands isolated . On its summit or flanks are six raths or circular earthworks, the largest of which, called the king's rath (rath-na-riogh) encloses other works, among which is the forradh or meeting-place, a flat-topped mound . On this (but not in its original position) stands a pillar stone, which has been held to be the stone of destiny on which the Irish kings were crowned . An oblong enclosure, 759 ft. in length by 46 ft. in breadth, formed of earthworks, with entrances at intervals on each side, represents the banqueting hall . In the middle of the 3rd century A.D . King Cormac Mac Art, about whom there are many records in connexion with Tara, is said to have founded here schools of military science, law and literature . In the time of St Patrick Tara is indicated as the chief seat of druidism and idolatry, and in or about 56o it was abandoned as a royal residence, having fallen under the curse of St Ruadan . In 98o the Danish power of Meath was overthrown in battle here; in 1798 a severe defeat of the insurgents took place here (26th of May); and in 1843 the hill of Tara, as a site sacred to Irish traditions, was the scene of one of Daniel O'Connell's mass meetings in support of the repeal of the legislative union (15th of August) .