Tara Solstice

Talliesin

TARA PILGRIMAGE 2005

Energising the Celtic Stream of Spirituality at Tara by LIFTING THE PRIESTS CURSEad565 and offering a CELTIC DRUIDS BLESSING FOR TARA on the FULL MOON SUMMER SOLSTICE 2005

I don't know anything about this, but it certainly seems interesting.

solas

know anymore about this?
"LIFTING THE PRIESTS CURSEad565"

its not the first time I've heard of it, but I don't know the details of it. A friend of mine is a practising pagan and she mentioned it to me years ago, at the same time my mother had visited the white witch in cork and told her she had married into a curse that was placed on her husbands family by a priest almost a millenia ago. She gave the details about what had happened to my mother, said my fathers line had descended from a king (wealthy man) who lived around the dublin area, and who had refused to give the priest land to build a church and the priest "cursed" the family.

Just thinking if it's a general thing then perhaps the white witch tells this to all her customers.

Also at the same time, I was doing a lot of journeying, didn't know my mother was gone to the witch and experienced a memory of something similar. (In which I was the priest and my father was the king)
But I have to say I've expereinced quite a few perspectives, so I don't take it personally

I know it sounds a bit off the wall, but would appreciate any information.

Suaimhneach

From what I know of the curse:

The church tried to put a saint in Tara, therefore making him King of Ireland. Another way they could further Catholicism here. The present King wouldn't stand for it. Kicked him out, probably killed him, as were the times. This angered the church, as you'd expect. They had 6/12 [I can't remember the exact amount] other church members go on a fast, probably saints of some kind or important church people, while chanting and ringing bells. The last words of their prayer or whatever you want to refer to it as were: "desolate be Tara forever and ever"

That’s me retelling the story from memory, so I cannot say that it is exact!

*Found a linky* Though tis a direct translation from an old script, so although authentic, difficult to read.
______________________________________________________________

On slightly different note!

I think that being on Tara will be a great way to bring in the Solstice, and while it is a Full Moon at the same time, I think it will be a fantastic time and lots of great high energies.

I fully recommend that if you can get your ass there, that you do!

solas

The men of the church of fear laid this curse through fasting, chanting and the rattling of a branch with little silver bells. We are the Celtic Church of Love...

wooOOhhooo wOOoo
*makes scary noises*

On a slightly different note
Thanks for the info Jes Jes.

<edit> just wiped the head of myself, the first scentence i read of the transcript
"They went then to the house of Aodh Guaire in the land of Maine in Connacht."
My surname is Ni Aodha.

Suaimhneach

Its a direct translation from centuries ago, and yet I know people who still would use that terminology!

No problem solas.

The curse is pretty scary! Well, the concept of it. I'm going to be there on the Solstice, for 24 hours, which'll be pretty amazing. You should come along and help lift the and help your ancestors!

[1000 posts]

solas

didn't think it was too scary, at least it had a happy ending.

“It is bad that the clergy are trying to destroy my sovereignty”, he said, “because Ireland was never better than it is these days.”
There was peace then between Diarmaid and the clerics.

yay

I would consider "the curse" broken.

Talliesin

Bumping this thread up as it comes closer to the date.

Suaimhneach

Nice one talliesin.

Anyone interested in attending? There will be events on during the whole 24 hours so I mean there is a time to suit everyone. Should be some really really cool stuff and some fantastic energies.

BEAT

solas wrote:

the white witch in cork .

Is she still alive and practicing do you know?

Talliesin

Oh Gods! I suddenly remember her. She was in the press a good few years back. I remember thinking "WTF?" but then journalists get things arseways all the time so the response may have been earned by the journo rather than her.

Ancient1

I would have loved to have gone, but i got caught up in work as usual. This is actually the 5th time (since i moved here basically) that i missed it. Bummer.

Did you guys go?

Suaimhneach

I did and it was fantastic!

There was two seperate groups doing ceremony, but sure here is news articales on both. I haven't got the time to write much at the moment. [Broke me toe]

____________
Druids gather at Tara's 'Holy Land'
Elaine Keogh

21.06.05


Dawn Arrington grew up in Arizona but her pilgrimage as a druid has
brought her to the Hill of Tara on her first visit to Ireland.

"For druids, this is like the Holy Land," she said. She is one of
dozens of druids, pagans, Christians and others from around the globe
who believe that Tara is a sacred place and who have gathered there to
mark the summer solstice.

Later today, Dawn and her fiance, Partholon, will marry in a druidic
"hand- fasting" ceremony. They have been camped at the bottom of the
hill since earlier this week and have met many other druids and pagans
who are drawn to the hill because of their spiritual beliefs.

Sitting around the ashes of a camp fire was Deborah Mulraine and her
10-year-old son Conan from Downpatrick, Co Down.

Deborah is also a pagan and said she wore purple because it was a
"spiritual colour".

Hundreds more are expected throughout today; many will make private
visits to the former seat of the High Kings of Ireland and others will
take part in the various ceremonies organised as part of the Summer
Solstice Festival at Tara.

Ceremony co-ordinator Annette Peard, a member of the Queen Tephi of
Tara Grove of Druids, said: "There are different groves doing
ceremonies from dawn to the sunset fire ceremony.

"There are other folk who are coming who have nothing to do with the
druids. The hill of Tara is special and sacred to many people and the
druids have always considered it sacred."

Image - front page:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2005/0622/

==



Druids gather on cursed Tara

Irish Examiner
22/06/05

By Caroline O’Doherty
PLANNING disputes regularly end in curses but the raging row over the
M3 and the Hill of Tara may have been caused by a curse, according to
some opponents of the motorway plan.

A team of determined druids yesterday set out to lift the centuries-old
jinx which they believe was cast upon the ancient site in the middle
ages by priests angry at the refusal of the reigning king to cede his
authority to a member of the clergy.

The druids, enthusiasts of ancient Irish history, lore and law, held a
series of ceremonies on the hill which attracted several hundred
visitors from around the world for the annual summer solstice
celebrations.

The curse-busting exercises began at sunrise at 4.30am yesterday
morning and were due to continue all night, the shortest night of the
year, right through to this morning.

Among the rituals performed were a full moon ceremony, which is
credited with giving protection; the creation of a healing circle and
the symbolic lifting of the blanket of darkness followed by a
spell-casting ceremony called An Geis Triarach and a formal Celtic
Druid’s blessing.

Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolchain, lecturer in Celtic Studies at NUI, Maynooth,
and public relations officer with the Save Tara/Skryne Valley Campaign,
said followers of the druid tradition were genuine in their belief that
by invoking ancient rituals, they could influence events on the hill.

“People very sincerely believe what they are doing will help and
certainly we are not even countenancing the possibility that this road
will go ahead. We are determined to stop it,” she said.

But despite the fact that feelings are running high over the motorway
plans, Dr Ní Bhrolchain said yesterday’s events were entirely peaceful
and were intended as a celebration of Tara rather than a protest.

“There’s a very good atmosphere. These are not the sort of people to
get angry. But there is a feeling of sadness. You can already hear the
N3 from the hill and it’s frightening to think how much worse a
motorway alongside it would be.

“We’ve asked that the most people do is come down to where the
archaeological excavations have started and just make a silent
pilgrimage to register their opposition.”

Some of the ceremonies were a little nosier, however, as the druids
came with drums, dances and chants to keep the crowds on their (bare)
feet throughout the all-night vigil.

The summer solstice attracts fans of Tara in their droves every year
but worldwide publicity generated by the motorway dispute meant
visitors began arriving as early as last Friday. While some made daily
trips to the hill from nearby towns, others came prepared to camp out
for the week.

VIDEO/AUDIO:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0621/solstice.html

NeilJ

Would have really liked to go but recently back from a weeks holidays in Killarney so no way would have been able to get the time off. Instead had a picnic with some fellow Pagans from the An Fainne Dublin Moot and then practised ye age olde Pagan tradition of relocating to a nearby pub Was also nice though so am happy with my solstice.

Neil