Samhain/Halloween Events

by Tara Tara Tara Thu Oct 11, 2007 15:49

I will be lighting a Beacon of Support at a high place in Dublin. It would be marvelous to see the beacons on other hills. I hope the Chain of Light will get a huge response and I will indeed spread the word :) I will do my best to get to the Family Event at the Great Banqueting Hall. I t certainly sounds impressive!

Tara Tara Tara

by Rise & Shine Thu Oct 11, 2007 17:12

I live close to the southern edge of the Sperrin Mountains (Northern Ireland), and I'd love to participate - particularly if the "Chain of Light" could be got to link directly to the one planned for the Hill of Tara on October 31st.

This event seems like a really WONDERFUL idea to me, and I truly hope it may yet become an annual one.

If so, it could be a very powerful and highly appropriate way of regularly reminding us of our ancient heritage?

by LadyNorth - Brighidine Flame Keeper - Canada Thu Oct 11, 2007 19:17 ladynorth1 at hotmail dot com

There is Nothing more Powerful than an IDEA whose Time has come.
- Victor Hugo

May this be said of the Chain of Light (please may it become Global!) which will occur this coming October 31st.

For those readers who would like a webpage (albeit simple) to point their online friends to: I offer my small effort.
I kept it simple in order that those of you on dial-up could still access it.

If anyone out there wishes to contribute poetry, photos, stories of the Fire Lighting or anything else to do with Tara, please email me.

I have also sent my blog link to the folks at Blog Action Day and if chosen will join with thousands of other environmentally aware blogs. Hopefully the word will get out.

I wish with all my heart that I could be there in person on Tara's Sacred Hill to light my fire, but I will be there in Spirit as I light mine on Quail Hill.

Please join us wherever you may be.
BBlessings to all who read this
Lady North
Canada

by LadyNorth - Brighidine Flame Keeper - Canada Thu Oct 11, 2007 19:52 ladynorth1 at hotmail dot com

I have followed the debate regarding the Lighting of Beacon Fires (well put Carmel, it is a Beacon not a Bonfire you are talking about) and here is an ancient suggestion for those of you who are handy with a torch and welding equipment.
There was also another excellent idea to get your local recycling depot to take apart old washing machines and use the drum. Apparently it already has handy feet, lifting it off the ground.

Some years back I was at a HUGE campfire held on a soccer pitch (in which every blade of grass was counted and numbered..very sacred and holy) and the wood was piled high on a huge metal sheet a good six or more inches off the 'hallowed ground'. Not a blade was scorched.

In my case I am having an empty oil drum cut down to half and placing it on top of stones and bricks so no scorched earth policy here!

I hope this helps and we can now safely have beacons lit with a clear conscience.

BBlessings
LadyNorth

Ancient Roman Defense Beacon

by Carmel Sat Oct 13, 2007 09:15

Hi all,

Thanks heartfully to Seano and Phoenix in the UK for all their organising. We will have Pipers on both nights , thats so wonderful! Thank you. We get so much help at Tara from UK supporters it is beyond words to even begin to give them their dues. The Pipers will be travelling all the way from clubs across England to support our cause at Tara.

Thanks also Lady North in Canada, you are inspirational :) Let us create this Chain of Light and yes, send it global. That would be Magic.

Carmel

by Carmel Mon Oct 15, 2007 13:00

Hi all,

Laoise Kelly, famous Harpist, has confirmed that she will perform at Tara at the Family Event on Sat 3rd Nov.

Thank you Laoise, we are honoured and delighted :)

And so, the Harp will Sing through Tara's Great Banqueting Hall - marvelous.

Carmel

by James Byrne - www.CraobhCrua.org Thu Oct 18, 2007 19:12 0879658311

I recently received an email about the organisers of this Tara event threatening to damage the equipment for another event. Ive organised a few events for other Tara Groups and i'd appreciate a list of dates so events Im running dont clash with yours.

Ive no interest in whatever brought this on and Im concerned for our equipment in the future. So if anyone involved can provide me with a contact for the Save tara events manager Id appreciate it.

Cheers,

James Byrne

by Robert Mac Donald Thu Oct 18, 2007 19:39

i think the light show is a disgracefuL idea, their is already an
event at tara which has the heart of samhain and the haert of the meaning of
samhain at tara which is the great feast of tara and the international
gathering of the samhain bagepipes and the beacon fire lighting, what you are
doing is spoiling a momentous event with 100s of artists including loise
kelly.attending. we object and will interact with direct action
against these city lights and their power sources.

they are part of the destructive force of modernisation, that same
>force that builds moterways through sacred sites, like the diggers,tara
will not be lite up by unatural light. it will cost you more in damages fees
im sure an airrifle shooting the bulbs will be your final outcome, stopped
any diggersately, no i thought not, we have and we will not allow the
great tara feast to be poisoned by man made light, anyway we have the media
advertising the feast, if i were you i would donate your funds into the feast
of tara event which is a true happening and not some crap media spin you
wanna produce of the back of our event, waste of good resources in a
battle that needs reserve not blatent stupid expenses such as light beams, they
will
ruin the beacon fires continuity across ireland, we will not allow
this to happen and will ensure they will not light up and if they do the
bulbs will be broken rendering it a waste of charity money which would benifit
the poor not media hussies. trick or treat see you at tara feast dont bring
lights though or you will be very pissed off by the end of the night.

robert mac donald

by Raven Thu Oct 18, 2007 20:55

It was with amazement i read of the proposed event by Tara watching "conservationists". I remember Micheal Martin , who regularly posts on I.N.P website,complaining of the ecological ramifications of lighting beacon fires on the hill when the fist original event was advertised lest a blade of grass be disturbed !
Then this ,a massive artificial light display costing 13,000 euro ? I am sure the poster above was joking about air riffles ,the bulbs blow by just having a covering over them for a matter of seconds once at full heat. All sounds like hot air to me.

by Carmel Fri Oct 19, 2007 09:23

Please ignore it. All designed to sabotage the ORGANIC Beacon event and frighten people away from supporting us and having a great time at the 2 events previously posted. Do not allow it, come and have a ball and to hell with the begrudgers or otherwise trolls who have nothing better to do . Save Tara, thats what is important.

Thanks :)

by Mr. Sunshine Fri Oct 19, 2007 09:27

Well said, Carmel. You've cut through the cackle and know what you're doing. Hope to be there for the fun and support.

by Carmel Fri Oct 19, 2007 09:31

Hi James,

You have the dates already in the first mail at top of page. If you require any further info please contact me at 0876100771 or Emma at 0857147745 in relation to these.

You will have to contact Tarawatch for the other event - I dont have any confirmation on that.

The above numbers can be contacted by anyone who has anything POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE to contribute. Thanks :)

Carmel

by W. Finnerty. Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:19

Would this money not be FAR, FAR better spent on getting an injunction in the Republic of Ireland's Courts to have work halted on the M3 until the legal problems are sorted out.

"Gerry Hogan, senior counsel for Mr Salafia, claimed the legislation used to push through the project (i.e. the M3 PPP Toll Road project) was unconstitutional."

What could be plainer than that?

Why is NOTHING being done about this TOTALLY disgraceful situation?

The above comment from Dr Hogan, who is a constitutional law expert and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, appeared in the Daily Telegraph article dated January 14th 2006 at the following address (which is well over 20 MONTHS AGO now): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/20....html

Is it STILL not time - YET - for somebody (or some group of people) in the Republic of Ireland to shine a very big bright light onto the mountain of corruption in our legal profession?

Who's fooling who?

by Carmel Sun Oct 21, 2007 17:40

Hi all,

So far we have recieved pledges to light Beacons of Solidarity in a Chain of Light for Tara from people in Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Offaly, Leitrim, West Meath, Kildare, Laois, Antrim, Armagh, Waterford, Wexford ,Tipperary, Monaghan, Dublin and Meath.

Internationally we have recieved pledges from Canada, USA, Uk- Wales.

Spread the word :) Many thanks.

Carmel

by W. Finnerty. Sun Oct 21, 2007 20:35

Titled "Who's fooling who? (Re: 13,000 Euros Light Display)", an e-mail was sent last Friday to several senior "public servants" for the purpose of trying to highlight the fact that there appears to something very seriously wrong in our legal profession.

A copy of the e-mail in question can now be viewed at http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

Incidentally, I notice the estimated cost of the Light Display has risen to 15,000 Euros.

The piece of text just below has been copied from Internet address http://tarawatch.org/?p=545 ; and, for those who may not yet have read about it, and would like to, the lengthy article at this address contains a detailed description, with drawings, of exactly what's intended:

"The light beams and subsequent logistical resources are quite expensive and will cost a total of 15,000 Euro (to be confirmed). They are of the most powerful lighting beams in the world and relatively speaking for the huge impact they will present, the cost is small. As of the 19-10-2007 €3,000 has been raised."

I still believe the 15,000 Euros would be much better spent shining a "high-powered light" onto our grossly corrupt legal profession: as that is where, I believe, the roots of the whole extremely nasty set of social problems connected with Tara (and Turoe) are to be found, and it is also the place where they are being perversely nurtured, sustained, and protected at the present time.

The kind of "high-powered light" I have in mind of course is a vigorous and serious attempt to get an injunction, through the Republic of Ireland's courts, to have all work halted on the M3: until such time as the constitutionality of our "National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004" is properly checked by the Supreme Court, and done so in a way which takes full account of the so far officially unexplained failed 600,000 Euros earlier botched attempt to do so, which has been outlined at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83821#comment204626 .

"For the huge impact they (the lights) will present, the cost is small."

I would argue that with regard to the HUGE overall DISTRACTION these lights will cause, in connection with facing up to the MASSIVE corruption problem in our legal profession, the social cost will be HUGE: particularly when the potential social costs in question extend far, far beyond the Tara and M3 issues - both in physical space, and in time.

Personally, I cannot think of anything more damaging and more destructive for the well-being of any soverign state, than unconstitutional legislation: of which plenty seems to have been very deliberately produced (and very deliberately sustained) by our legal profession in recent years: here in the Republic of Ireland.

by Carmel Mon Oct 22, 2007 09:20

There is a poster for the upcoming events available to download at

http://www.tarataratara.net/Tara_Samhain_poster.htm

It was designed by Thomas Mc Cormac from Cork and I'm sure you will all agree it is absolutely beautiful. Exquisite. Please distribute far and wide :) There is also a poster available at www.tarapixie.com

Thanks.

by Carmel Tue Oct 23, 2007 14:40

Easy to download Samhain Poster by Thomas Mac Cormac available front page of

www.tarapixie.net

Just follow on screen instructions.

Thank you.

by Kathryn NicDhàna - paganachd.com Thu Oct 25, 2007 01:01

We have been working on the Tara effort here in the US, and would like to join our efforts with yours.
We have been in communication with a number of the folks who will be lighting fires on the hilltops around Ireland, and have been working to do what we can to support this action. We've been sending out mailings about this, giving folks contact info for supporting the activism, as well as writing a Samhain ritual that folks can use if they want ideas for a ceremony to accompany the lighting of the signal fires.

Since posting our contribution to the Tara effort at http://paganachd.com/tara we have had groups and individuals all across the world signing on to light fires in support. So far we've heard from seven countries, and fourteen states across the US:

* Countries: Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Canada and the United States

* US States: California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington

Please feel free to add our list to your list of pledged participants.

Slán,

Kathryn

by Tara Tara Tara Thu Oct 25, 2007 08:50

Wow thats FANTASTIC!!
Thank you for your networking, its great to hear of such enthusiastic response from so many places. It is very encouraging to those working for Tara to know that there is such great support out there. So again, thank you for all you are doing and many blessings to you and yours :)

This kind of effort should inspire others to do something to join in. You can download a poster at least and get them out there!!

TaraTaraTara

by The begrudger Thu Oct 25, 2007 09:55

Surely the spiritual aspect of Tara that you people, pagans in particular, are suppose to respect is badly served by all this stuff? Huge artificial beacons will echo the perpetual lights that will come from the motorway itself.
Lighting fires/beacons on Tara seems equally disrespectful.
But having a banquet in the banqueting hall is just crazy. That was never a banqueting hall as anyone who has been around the campaign for five minutes should know - that's just a name given to that area that was imagined in medieval times to be a banqueting hall.
Look up the books on archaeology written by people like Newman and Fenwick to find out what these places really are.
The bones of dogs and horses were found on the hill, probably used for ritual - hardly the food you intend I suppose.
But the rituals of the Feis Temro are not associated with Samain and confusing both and turning Tara into a night time picnic area seems obscene.
Ignorance is no excuse - read up some decent books on Tara. Obviously what you people are reading is way out of date and inaccurate. But then maybe that's handy as an excuse.

by W. Finnerty. Thu Oct 25, 2007 13:31

Looking back to the run-up period for the Samhain/Halloween 2006, I notice the following statement on Indymedia (Ireland):

"However, any new Plaintiff would be able to make an application for an injunction immediately."

The above quote has been taken from http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78793 (dated October 3rd 2006).

Another piece from the same article reads:

"Expert evidence from Discovery Programme Experts, Conor Newman, Joe Fenwick and Edel Bhreatnach, alleged that many of the newly discovered 38 sites between Navan and Dunshaughin are national monuments because they lie within the Tara complex. In addition, they alleged that 2 particular monuments, at Baronstown and Collierstown in the Tara/Skryne valley, are national monuments in their own right. However, at the commencement of proceedings they decided not to support an application for an injunction, but rather let the matter go directly to full hearing on the merits, in order not to hold up the M3 unnecessarily."

For those who might not know what later happened to the Baronstown monument, please see article titled "Workers destroy Baronstown at 4am" (dated July 04, 2007) at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83306

by Carmel Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:17

Hi,

Today please add Co. Down and New Zealand. Fantastic work going on out there. Keep it up :)

Much thanks to all,
Carmel

by Carmel Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:12

Hi all,
A fresh call out for Musicians, Poets and other entertainers to attend both events. Bring your instruments, poems or whatever you would like to contribute and please feel welcome to join in. Please come in costume and bring a lantern to light your way. Tell your friends and spread the word !

Looking forward to seeing you all :) Enjoy.

by W. Finnerty Sun Oct 28, 2007 22:28

On 30 Aug 2006 an e-mail was sent to the The National Heritage Week Events Organiser (Republic of Ireland), and to the National Heritage Council (in Kilkenny), in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of Tara.

A year later, and for all the good the above e-mail appears to have done, it seems I might just as well (in the words of the poet) have "stuck a feather up my ****, and tried to fly to the moon".

For anybody interested, a copy of the e-mail in question which contains mention of the Great Banqueting Hall at Tara, and of the almost completely erased from history "Culdees" (now extinct Celtic Christian Monks), can be viewed at:
http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

Part of a more recently discovered description of the Great Banqueting Hall of Tara, by Patrick Weston Joyce LL.D. (Doctor of Laws), reads as follows:

"On the northern slope of the hill are the remains of the Banqueting-Hall, the only structure in Tara not round or oval. It consists of two parallel mounds, the remnants of the side walls of the old Hall, which, as it now stands, is 759 feet long by 46 feet wide; but it was originally both longer and broader. It is described in the old documents as having twelve (or fourteen) doors: and this description is fully corroborated by the present appearance of the ruin, in which six door-openings are clearly marked in each side wall. Probably there was also a door at each end: but all traces of these are gone."

A drawing of the Great Banqueting Hall of Tara, which is directly related to the above description by P.W. Joyce, can be viewed at http://www.kingollamhfodhla.com/Laegaire/Indy/Posting.h...m#BM2

"But, the opera ain't over till the fat lady stops singing!!"

by rob macdonald Mon Oct 29, 2007 17:22

to all readers.
in reference to my comments above in respect to shooting the bulbs of artifical light show at tara\ with airrifle was indeed hot air fired in temper of this waste of charity money and will not happen,i apologise again to anyone concerned or bothered of this trival ranting i produced.

i dont think the light show will happen either though due to the need of money still to pay for it,,

the fire beacons will be off the ground and not harming the tara site , so no harm done and none will be done in respect to the ongoing campaign and the saving tara valley plight,

i am happy also that the bagpipe feast and beacon ceremony are widley promoted across the planet and attendance will be vast ,

well done everyone and sorry for my hot air which was directed at the waste of money on tarawatch media spin.

enjoy the night bring your family be part of history revisited and join the solidarity

rob maconald

by rob macdonald Mon Oct 29, 2007 17:32

i would also like everyone to know that i am an activist attending the event and not an organiser of this event as their seems to be a mix up in jame byrnes comment linking me to the organising of the event, i know off the peolpe of tara campaign and thier events contacts but that is as far as it goes and i woulnt like the event organisers to be linked to my comments which are now null, and hotair, as i come in peace and support the night whatever event is thier

enjoy
rob macdonald

by Tara Tara Tara Mon Oct 29, 2007 19:16

Hi all,

Thurs 1st Nov - 2pm and
Fri 2nd Nov -10am

will be Days of Action. Come to the Vigil Camp just down the road from the Car Park at the Hill of Tara and bring suitable warm, waterproof clothing, food, water, cameras and video equipment.

Monday 5th Nov will see an educational and informative Route Walk beginning at 9.30am from Vigil Camp. Come and learn the history of each of the sites along the route and see what has been lost to us of our Ancient and even our recent past. Learn what can be done to prevent any further destruction here and throughout this Land. Please spread the word.

Vigil ph: 0861758557
Rath Lugh: 0861537146

www.circlecommunity.org

Thank you.

by Raven Mon Oct 29, 2007 19:22

Some begrudgers and armchair critics will of course complain if fires are lit on the ground .This of course is non sense, when we put it in persepective to the distuction that has taken place in the valley.

by Carmel Tue Oct 30, 2007 17:42

With just one more night to go until the Lighting of the Beacons, all the final preparations are put in place and everyone is gearing up to have a great time over the 2 nights. Musicians are arriving already and Excitement is in the air.
See you at Tara :)

Wishing you, a very Happy Samhain/Halloween wherever you may be.

Tara Supporters and Activists.

by C Tue Oct 30, 2007 17:48

Carmel you have done really well advertising this and best of warm wishes. Its been tough for you.
I have put the links up on a few international sites and asked some colleagues and friends to
do some readings and music too. Best of luck- will be lighting my little beacon too.

http://www.savetara.com
http://www.tarapixie.net

by W. Finnerty Tue Oct 30, 2007 18:27

"Lots of plutocracy, despotism, and corruption: but no sign of any DEMOCRACY anywhere in all of this PPP (Public Private Partnership) M3 / Tara business ???"

Please note that our senior "public servants" (so called), and particularly those in the legal profession, are NOT in a position to make statements of the following kind:
 
"Nobody told us. We didn't know ANYTHING about it, and THEREFORE we couldn't do ANYTHING to stop it".

All this and more now at: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.co...l.htm

Best wishes to you Carmel for tomorrow night, and for Saturday night.

Like many, many other people all over the world I imagine, I believe your ideas, and all of the practical work you are doing in support of them, are of huge value at this VERY critical time for Tara, and for the heritage interests of all Irish people: present and future.

NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM ("Don't let the bastards get you down").

by Kathryn Price NicDhàna - Stand with Tara Tue Oct 30, 2007 20:17

Since my last post, we have continued to receive messages from those committed to participating in the "I Stand with Tara" ritual. Many will be lighting at whatever local time coincides with the fire-lighting in Ireland, and leaving the fires lit into the night. Others will be lighting at sunset or after dark, local time.

We now have confirmed participants in ten countries and seventeen US states. In most of these locations, we have multiple groups and individuals taking part. Of those I've corresponded with, our youngest known participant will be an infant, and our oldest is eighty years old.

Our current list:

* Countries: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Canada and the United States

* US States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington

by marcella Wed Oct 31, 2007 02:00 anitagreg at gmail dot com

beacons -Belfast maybe -
Japan for definite

move over ye ghouls
we're reclaiming the souls
watch out the M3
or youll cross Diviney
and ye'll have to turn back
when Meath gets On Track
from over the sea
join the Company
from the bones to the Star
in the heart of Temar
therell be none will complain
when the Lights make a Chain

best wishes with everything you are doing Carmel - you are diamond - think the evening will be fabulous and also that this could be the spark of something even bigger

love and light
marcella

by SAGE Wed Oct 31, 2007 07:37

Well done Carmel Warrior Woman of Tara you who unsheathed the bronze sword of protection twelve months ago and carried it true, strong of head and heart you hold the energy when others depart and cringe.

We are proud of you and your supporters and May the Beacons Burn Brightly tonight rallying and carrying the Spirit of Reason across this sad material world.

We the old women and men are proud to call you friend!

by Carmel - Hibernian Order Of Druids Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:09

I am humbly grateful indeed especially for the poem, I love it :) but please let me say that this is a Team effort and there are many more deserving of your praise . I hope that you will all be there to see what I mean cos so much work has gone into this. Thanks to all at the camps, all who helped out with the food, all the entertainers, the wood gatherers, the water carriers, the construction teams, Macnas, Emma, Heather and Michael from CST , the researchers, the web page Managers at Tarapixie , Indymedia, Beyond Pluto, Tarataratara, and Circle Community, the people with the vision and faith to make this happen, the Ancestors , and all who by joining us tonight right across the world pledge their Solidarity to Tara.

I hope I haven't left anyone out!!!! I would like to give special thanks and acknowledgment to Phoenix and Seano. Strong hearts for Tara.

Much Love,

Carmel Ni Dhuibheanaigh / Carmel Diviney