Home

Tara maps

Landscapes

Ring of Raths

Tara wells

Tara rivers

History

Mythic History

Five Roads

Lismullin

Fianna

Feis Temrach

Dunsany

Art and poems

Bodies

Uniqueness

Green Tara

Contact and Links

Tara Fianna

The grave

The valley of Gabhr- a possible location of the battle of Gabhra , the location of the last batle of the Fianna This is where his grandson , Oscar was killed and was said to be the only place where Fionn mac Cumhaill ( Finn MacCool ) wept

Death of Oscar; A Chronicle of the Fianna in XII, Cantos

1901 Excerpt: ... Revolving carven discs the wheels, untold And dazzling-white the circling rays they throw. Never did faery prince more nobly go. The chariot, wicker mounted on red yew, Fit to encounter any deadly foe, With sides of copper firm and dusk of hue,--Within, a dark sad man, comely and true. 45 "Said I a dark sad man?--His radiant hair, Sunlike and shaded, adds a brilliant zest; His garments free, yet chosen with much care, The tunic crimson, open at the breast, Five-folded and with golden brooch compressed,--Simplicity and richness there I see: Whereas his face shows little sign of rest. White silk his vest inwove with filigree, Subtle his shield of ancient pedigree.
"Rich red his cheeks and nutty brown his skin, Black as an ebon bow his eyebrows twain; And such a pair of ardent eyes within As suit his blood-red spear of toughest grain. The charioteer before him shrewd and sane, Supple and bending with his curling lash:--To greet such noble strangers I were fain." "For me the honour," with a sudden flash, Said Fial,--"sister, thou art young and rash."
Laegh was the driver, he of bright-red hair Held by a bronzen fillet to his brow, A shoulder mantle dusky-blue and rare Covered his ample shoulders somewhat low, He held his gold-red goad proudly below. Cuthullin leapt to earth and greeted pale The maidens, "God be with ye damsels now." "May He make smooth thy path," said Emer, pale As a sweet windflower trembling in the gale. Together, richest gems of Erin's isle, Emer and dark Cuthullin stepped. Alas! That two such lovers, innocent of guile, Through such dark shadows were foredoom'd to pass; But, hapless of their fate, they pressed the grass--June grass, lush deep and emerald. Roses hung From leafy spr...

The Valley has other historical significance, not least as the graveyard of the Fianna. The last battle of the Fianna was fought in the ‘Valley of the Gabair’. This has been understood to mean ‘the valley of the goat’, but no one to date has identified its exact location until now. It was also in this Valley that Oscar, son of Oisin, son of Finn, drew his last breath; and for him Finn cried tears of sorrow. The only other time Finn cried was when Bran, his faithful hound and other world voyager, died.

Finn and his band of warriors were at Tara in the reign of Cormac mac Art and link the King Cycle of Tales with the Finnian Cycle. It is highly probable that the warriors of the Fianna are buried in the horseshoe-shaped mound that is today called Rath Lūg. (Lūg was the father of Cū Chulainn.) We have descriptions of the graves of the Fianna and a careful archaeological investigation could indicate the truth or otherwise of this thesis.
The place names are also linked and so is the death of Ulster’s greatest hero, Cu Chulainn. Both the head (the cauldron of wisdom) and the sword hand of Cu Chulainn are buried at Tara. Thus we have the four cycles of Irish history are interlinked in this lovely valley in the Royal City of Meath.

The whole complex of Tara, Skryne and the Valley of the White Mare is surrounded by a series of defensive embankments and huge ring forts. This Royal city is uniquely rich and varied, forming a historical tapestry of many axes. It should seem insane to disturb this sacred landscape, let alone to disembowel it with a double tolled motorway.

more from Druidschool HERE

Rath Lugh and the Fianna

by Muireann Ni Bhrolchain - Campaign to Save Tara

Mon May 07, 2007 19:10
Impact at Rath Lugh

Here is the story of the Battle of Gabhra - where the legendary Fianna are said to have been destroyed - in this very landscape
Could Rath Lugh be the putative burial mound of the Fianna.

The Battle of Gabhra
Patrick asks Oisín: “What sad mound is this the holds such a long grave? Whose grave is this that is greater than the rest? Who is buried here? Whose grave is this that has been heaped so high?”
“My heart is filled with sorrow for the number of the Fianna who fell here … I do not want to tell the tale,” said Oisín.
“Do not be afraid and tell us story of the death of the Fianna,” said Patrick.
“That is the grave of Oscar son of Garaidh and of the graves of the sons of Morna,” said Oisín.
“Why are they buried here?” said Patrick.
“I have a story of the king of Tara and the Fianna of Ireland,” said Oisín.
The Fianna were at Almhu feasting when messengers arrived from Cairbre Lifechair the king of Tara son of Cormac mac Airt.
“The king want a gift from you the Fianna,” said the messenger. “And if you do not give it – you will be treated as rebels. You must grant him the hunting of all Ireland.”
“We would never give that away!” said Oscar. “We will give great battle to the king!”
Cairbre gathered together the army at Tara. Ulster, Leinster and Connacht helped him. His friend Oscar son of Garaidh came from Scotland. When Oscar arrived at Tara he did not find the king there and he went to Gabhair.
“Welcome!” said Cairbre, “and you have arrived in time to join in the battle with the Fianna!”
Cairbre and his army saw the Fianna approaching. On the Plain of Gabhair the king set a fence of shields and javelins around Oisín and the Fianna. They cast spears and swords at one another and many shields were smashed. Cairbre the king threw the spear at Oscar so that it flew through his body. But Oscar replied by cutting of Cairbre’s head with one huge, mighty blow.
“We had an army of ten hundred and three battalions at Gabhair,” said Oisín. “When the battle was over we had twenty hundred warriors. I watch their graves on the plain of Gabhair.”
“Where are the Fianna buried?” asked Patrick.
“Under the stone erected by Caoilte at Gabhair lie Mac Lughach and Oscar. Under the stone on the south of the steep hill lie two kings. Under the stone at Gabhair lies Cairbre Lifechair.”