Hill of Uisneach
Irish:Uisneach; Cnoc Uisnigh | |
 Information sign | |
  Shown within island of Ireland | |
| Alternative name | Ushnagh (anglicisation) |
|---|---|
| Location | County Westmeath,Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°29′24″N7°33′43″W/ 53.490°N 7.562°W |
| Type | Ancient ceremonial site |
| Height | 182 metres (597 ft) |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age–Middle Ages |
| Cultures | Gaelic |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
| Official name | Ushnagh Hill, Catstone |
| Reference no. | 155 |
TheHill of UisneachorUshnagh(Irish:UisneachorCnoc Uisnigh)[1]is a hill and ancient ceremonial site in thebaronyofRathconrathinCounty Westmeath,Ireland. It is a protectednational monument.[2]It consists of numerous monuments and earthworks—prehistoricandmedieval—including a probablemegalithic tomb,burial mounds,enclosures,standing stones,holy wellsand a medieval road. Uisneach is near thegeographical centre of Ireland,and inIrish mythologyit is deemed to be the symbolic and sacred centre of the island.[3]It was said to be the burial place of the mythicalTuatha Dé Danann,and a place of assembly associated with thedruidsand the festival ofBealtaine.[4]
The summit is 182 metres (597 ft) above sea level[5]and lies north of theR390 road,8 km east of the village ofBallymoreand beside the village ofLoughnavalley.The hill occupies parts of four adjacenttownlands:Ushnagh Hill, Mweelra, Rathnew, and Kellybrook.[5]
Name
[edit]The hill is calledUisneachin both Irish and English, with the alternative Irish nameCnoc Uisnighmeaning "hill of Uisneach". It is also anglicized as 'Ushnagh', such as in the name of thetownland.InOldandMiddle Irishit was speltUisnech.Eric P. Hampderives the name fromProto-Celtic*us-tin-ako-meaning "place of the hearth" or "place of cinders".T. F. O'Rahillyderived it from *ostinako-meaning "angular place".[6]
Features
[edit]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 probablemegalithic tomb,burial mounds,enclosures,standing stones,holy wellsand a medieval road. They date from theNeolithicto theearly Middle Ages,showing that the site has been the focus of human activity for about 5,000 years.[4]Several sites were excavated in the 1920s by R.A.S. Macalister and R. Praeger.[4]
The summit has panoramic views, from which hills in at least twentycountiescan be seen.[4]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 asLoch LughorLoch Lugborta,and on a rise east of this is a burial mound known asCarn Lughdach,which was also once surrounded by a ring ditch. South of these are two holy wells, one of which is known asTobernaslathand sits beside a circular enclosure and standing stone.[4]
On the southwest side of the hill is a large, oddly-shaped limestone rock; aglacial erraticalmost 6 metres (20 ft) 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.[7]In Irish it is called theAil na Míreann( "stone of the divisions" ), as it is said to have been where the borders ofthe provincesmet. 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.[8]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", whereanimal sacrificeswere offered.[8]Later, in theearly 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 asouterrain.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 thekings of Meathduring these gatherings.[8]TheClann Cholmáinchieftains, who became kings of Meath, were styled "Kings of Uisnech"in early-medieval king lists.[4]
There is also Tuar Uí Cobhthaigh / Toorcoffey (Coffey's Tower) named after thebrehonlawO'Cobhthaighfamily who were known as thefilíorollamhsof Uisneach.
In Irish mythology
[edit]InIrish mythology,Uisneach is described as the sacred centre of Ireland, the burial place of Irish gods such asLughandthe Dagda,the site of asacred tree(theBile Uisnig), and a place of assembly (themórdáil Uisnig) associated with thedruids,which, according to later tradition, was held during the festival ofBealtaine.[4]TheAil na Míreann( "stone of the divisions" ) in particular is described as thenavelof Ireland. It is seen as a kind ofomphalosoraxis mundiof Ireland, a meeting place between the Earth and theOtherworldand the source of creation.[4]It is said to have marked the meeting point ofthe provinces.[9]
TheDindsenchas( "lore of places" ) says that Uisneach is where the druid Mide lit a sacred fire that blazed for seven years.[7]The taleTucait Baile Mongáin( "Mongan's Frenzy" ) describes how a great hailstorm during an assembly on the hill created the twelve chief rivers of Ireland.[7]In theLebor Gabála Érenn( "Book of the Taking of Ireland" ), theGaels(Milesians) meet the goddessÉriuat Uisneach where, after some conversation and drama, the Milesian poetAmerginpromises to give the land her name. She is said to be buried under theAil na Míreann.[10]
In mythology, Uisneach andTaraare said to be linked. In the literature, Tara is mainly associated with royal power, while Uisneach is mainly associated with spiritual power.[10]Anciently, both locations had festivals or meetings every seven years – the Feast of Tara atSamhainand the Great Meeting of Uisneach at Beltane; at the Feast of Tara new laws were passed and councils formed.[11]It was linked to Tara by the ancient road called theSlighe Assail;the modernR392 roadmostly follows its route.
The tragic tale ofDeirdreand the "sons of Uisnech" or "sons of Uisliu" (Naisi,Ardan and Ainle) is part of theUlster Cycleof Irish mythology.[12]
Geoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae( "History of the Kings of Britain" ) says thatStonehengeoriginally stood at the '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.[13]
References
[edit]- ^Irish Placenames DatabaseArchived3 June 2012 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^National Monuments in State careArchived20 February 2010 at theWayback Machine,National Monuments Service,archaeology.ie. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^Alwyn ReesandBrinley Rees.Celtic Heritage.Thames and Hudson: New York, 1961.ISBN0-500-27039-2.pp. 159-161.
- ^abcdefghSchot, 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
- ^abOrdnance Survey mapArchived29 August 2012 at theWayback Machine.SelectWind Reportoption for contour map. SelectHistoric 6 "option for townland boundaries. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^Zair, Nicholas.The Reflexes of the Proto-Indo-European Laryngeals in Celtic.Brill Publishers,2012. p.28
- ^abcSchot, Roseanne (2011). "From cult centre to royal centre: monuments, myths and other revelations at Uisneach",inLandscapes of Cult and Kingship,Four Courts Press. pp.87–113
- ^abcSchot, 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
- ^Bradley, Richard (2012).The Idea of Order: The circular archetype in prehistoric Europe.Oxford University Press. pp. 3–6.
- ^abMonaghan, Patricia (2004).The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore.Infobase Publishing. p. 460.
- ^The Irish ordeals, Cormac's adventure in the Land of Promise, and the decision as to Cormac's sword.Translated by Stokes, Whitley. Section 56 – via The Corpus of Electronic Texts.
- ^Chadwick, Nora(2004) [1932].The Growth of Literature.Cambridge University Press. p. 544.
- ^Veach, Colin (2015).Lordship in Four Realms: The Lacy family, 1166–1241.Oxford University Press. p. 62.
Further reading
[edit]- Jestice, Phyllis G. (2000).Encyclopedia of Irish Spirituality.Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, Inc.ISBN1-57607-146-4.
- MacKillop, James (1998).Dictionary of Celtic Mythology.New York City: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-869157-2.
