Hill of Uisneach on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Hill of Uisneach or Ushnagh ( ga, Uisneach or ) is a hill and ancient ceremonial site in the Baronies of Ireland, barony of Rathconrath (barony), Rathconrath in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is a protected National monument (Ireland), national monument. It consists of numerous monuments and earthworks—Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric and History of Ireland (400–800), medieval—including a probable Irish megalithic tombs, megalithic tomb, Tumulus, burial mounds, enclosures, standing stones, holy wells and a medieval road. Uisneach is near the geographical centre of Ireland, and in Irish mythology it is deemed to be the symbolic and sacred centre of the island.Alwyn Rees and Brinley Rees. ''Celtic Heritage.'' Thames and Hudson: New York, 1961. . pp. 159-161. It was said to be the burial place of the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann, and a place of assembly associated with the druids and the festival of Beltane, Bealtaine.
The summit is above sea levelOrdnance Survey map
. Select ''Wind Report'' option for contour map. Select ''Historic 6"'' option for townland boundaries. Retrieved 5 August 2010. and lies north of the R390 road (Ireland), R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, County Westmeath, Ballymore and beside the village of Loughnavalley. The hill occupies parts of four adjacent townlands: Ushnagh Hill, Mweelra, Rathnew, and Kellybrook. __NOTOC__
Uisneach Midi a medón Érenn: a prehistoric cult centre and royal site in Co. Westmeath
. ''Journal of Irish Archaeology'', issue 15. pp.39-46 Several sites were excavated in the 1920s by R.A.S. Macalister and R. Praeger. The summit has panoramic views, from which hills in at least twenty Counties of Ireland, counties can be seen. On the summit is the remains of a probable megalithic tomb, known as 'St Patrick's Bed', which was once surrounded by a ring ditch. Downslope to the east is a small lake known as ''Loch Lugh'' or ''Loch Lugborta'', and on a rise east of this is a burial mound known as ''Carn Lughdach'', which was also once surrounded by a ring ditch. South of these are two holy wells, one of which is known as ''Tobernaslath'' and sits beside a circular enclosure and standing stone. On the southwest side of the hill is a large, oddly-shaped limestone rock; a glacial erratic almost tall and thought to weigh over 30 tons. In prehistory an earthen bank was dug around it to mark it out as a special place.Schot, Roseanne (2011).
From cult centre to royal centre: monuments, myths and other revelations at Uisneach
, in ''Landscapes of Cult and Kingship'', Four Courts Press. pp.87–113 In Irish it is called the ''Ail na Míreann'' ("stone of the divisions"), as it is said to have been where the borders of Provinces of Ireland, the provinces met. It is nicknamed the Cat Stone, allegedly because it resembles the shape of a sitting cat.
The biggest monument at Uisneach is Rathnew, the remains of a figure-of-eight shaped earthwork. An early medieval road leads towards Rathnew from the foot of the hill.Schot, Roseanne (2006).
Uisneach Midi a medón Érenn: a prehistoric cult centre and royal site in Co. Westmeath
. ''Journal of Irish Archaeology'', issue 15. pp.47-66 Rathnew was originally one round enclosure marked by a ditch, with an eastern entrance. Inside it were several pits containing partly-burnt animal bones, each sealed with large flat stones. It appears that fires "had been kindled, and then suddenly quenched" with water or soil, in a ritual. There was also a large ash bed containing thoroughly-charred animal skeletons. This appears to have been "a sanctuary-site, in which fire was kept burning perpetually, or kindled at frequent intervals", where animal sacrifices were offered. Later, in the History of Ireland (400-800), early medieval period, a large figure-of-eight shaped earthwork was raised on this site. It was a large round enclosure, with a smaller round enclosure joined to it, marked by a bank and ditch. Within each enclosure was a small stone building and a souterrain. It is suggested that Rathnew at this time was a place of royal and religious gatherings, and may have served as a royal residence of the Kingdom of Meath, kings of Meath during these gatherings. The Clann Cholmáin chieftains, who became kings of Meath, were styled "Kings of Uisnech" in early-medieval king lists.
There is also Tuar Uí Cobhthaigh / Toorcoffey (Coffey's Tower) named after the brehon law Ó Cobhthaigh, O'Cobhthaigh family who were known as the filí or ollamhs of Uisneach.
. Select ''Wind Report'' option for contour map. Select ''Historic 6"'' option for townland boundaries. Retrieved 5 August 2010. and lies north of the R390 road (Ireland), R390 road, 8 km east of the village of Ballymore, County Westmeath, Ballymore and beside the village of Loughnavalley. The hill occupies parts of four adjacent townlands: Ushnagh Hill, Mweelra, Rathnew, and Kellybrook. __NOTOC__
Name
The hill is called ''Uisneach'' in both Irish and English, with the alternative Irish name ''Cnoc Uisnigh'' meaning "hill of Uisneach". It is also anglicized as 'Ushnagh', such as in the name of the townland. In Old Irish, Old and Middle Irish it was spelt ''Uisnech''. Eric P. Hamp derives the name from Proto-Celtic *''us-tin-ako-'' meaning "place of the hearth" or "place of cinders". T. F. O'Rahilly derived it from *''ostinako-'' meaning "angular place".Features
The site consists of a set of monuments and earthworks spread over two square kilometres. About twenty are visible, and the remains of at least twenty others have been identified under the ground. They include a probable Irish megalithic tombs, megalithic tomb, Tumulus, burial mounds, enclosures, standing stones, holy wells and a medieval road. They date from the Neolithic to the History of Ireland (400–800), early Middle Ages, showing that the site has been the focus of human activity for about 5,000 years.Schot, Roseanne (2006).Uisneach Midi a medón Érenn: a prehistoric cult centre and royal site in Co. Westmeath
. ''Journal of Irish Archaeology'', issue 15. pp.39-46 Several sites were excavated in the 1920s by R.A.S. Macalister and R. Praeger. The summit has panoramic views, from which hills in at least twenty Counties of Ireland, counties can be seen. On the summit is the remains of a probable megalithic tomb, known as 'St Patrick's Bed', which was once surrounded by a ring ditch. Downslope to the east is a small lake known as ''Loch Lugh'' or ''Loch Lugborta'', and on a rise east of this is a burial mound known as ''Carn Lughdach'', which was also once surrounded by a ring ditch. South of these are two holy wells, one of which is known as ''Tobernaslath'' and sits beside a circular enclosure and standing stone. On the southwest side of the hill is a large, oddly-shaped limestone rock; a glacial erratic almost tall and thought to weigh over 30 tons. In prehistory an earthen bank was dug around it to mark it out as a special place.Schot, Roseanne (2011).
From cult centre to royal centre: monuments, myths and other revelations at Uisneach
, in ''Landscapes of Cult and Kingship'', Four Courts Press. pp.87–113 In Irish it is called the ''Ail na Míreann'' ("stone of the divisions"), as it is said to have been where the borders of Provinces of Ireland, the provinces met. It is nicknamed the Cat Stone, allegedly because it resembles the shape of a sitting cat.
The biggest monument at Uisneach is Rathnew, the remains of a figure-of-eight shaped earthwork. An early medieval road leads towards Rathnew from the foot of the hill.Schot, Roseanne (2006).Uisneach Midi a medón Érenn: a prehistoric cult centre and royal site in Co. Westmeath
. ''Journal of Irish Archaeology'', issue 15. pp.47-66 Rathnew was originally one round enclosure marked by a ditch, with an eastern entrance. Inside it were several pits containing partly-burnt animal bones, each sealed with large flat stones. It appears that fires "had been kindled, and then suddenly quenched" with water or soil, in a ritual. There was also a large ash bed containing thoroughly-charred animal skeletons. This appears to have been "a sanctuary-site, in which fire was kept burning perpetually, or kindled at frequent intervals", where animal sacrifices were offered. Later, in the History of Ireland (400-800), early medieval period, a large figure-of-eight shaped earthwork was raised on this site. It was a large round enclosure, with a smaller round enclosure joined to it, marked by a bank and ditch. Within each enclosure was a small stone building and a souterrain. It is suggested that Rathnew at this time was a place of royal and religious gatherings, and may have served as a royal residence of the Kingdom of Meath, kings of Meath during these gatherings. The Clann Cholmáin chieftains, who became kings of Meath, were styled "Kings of Uisnech" in early-medieval king lists.
There is also Tuar Uí Cobhthaigh / Toorcoffey (Coffey's Tower) named after the brehon law Ó Cobhthaigh, O'Cobhthaigh family who were known as the filí or ollamhs of Uisneach.
In Irish mythology
In Irish mythology, Uisneach is described as the sacred centre of Ireland, the burial place of Irish gods such as Lugh and the Dagda, the site of a sacred tree (the ''Bile Uisnig''), and a place of assembly (the ''mórdáil Uisnig'') associated with the druids, which, according to later tradition, was held during the festival of Bealtaine. The ''Ail na Míreann'' ("stone of the divisions") in particular is described as the navel of Ireland. It is seen as a kind of omphalos or axis mundi of Ireland, a meeting place between the Earth and the Celtic Otherworld, Otherworld and the source of creation. It is said to have marked the meeting point of provinces of Ireland, the provinces. The ''Dindsenchas'' ("lore of places") says that Uisneach is where the druid Mide lit a sacred fire that blazed for seven years. The tale ''Tucait Baile Mongáin'' ("Mongan's Frenzy") describes how a great hailstorm during an assembly on the hill created the twelve chief rivers of Ireland. In the ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' ("Book of the Taking of Ireland"), the Gaels (Milesians (Irish), Milesians) meet the goddess Ériu at Uisneach where, after some conversation and drama, the Milesian poet Amergin Glúingel, Amergin promises to give the land her name. She is said to be buried under the ''Ail na Míreann''. In mythology, Uisneach and Hill of Tara, Tara are said to be linked. In the literature, Tara is mainly associated with royal power, while Uisneach is mainly associated with spiritual power. Anciently, both locations had festivals or meetings every seven years – the Feast of Tara at Samhain and the Great Meeting of Uisneach at Beltane; at the Feast of Tara new laws were passed and councils formed. It was linked to Tara by the ancient road called the five great roads of Ireland, Slighe Assail; the modern R392 road (Ireland), R392 road mostly follows its route. The tragic tale of Deirdre and the "sons of Uisnech" or "sons of Uisliu" (Naoise, Naisi, Ardan and Ainle) is part of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae'' ("History of the Kings of Britain") says that Stonehenge originally stood at the 'Mount Killaraus, hill of Killare' (''mons Killaraus'') in Ireland, before being moved to Britain. This is thought to refer to Uisneach, as Killare is a place at the foot of the hill.References
Further reading
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Uisneach, Hill Mountains and hills of County Westmeath National Monuments in County Westmeath Irish mythology Archaeological sites in County Westmeath Royal sites of Ireland