Uisneach or the Center of Ireland

337 Pages·2022·13.865 MB·English

by  Frédéric Armao

Studies for the International Society for Cultural History
UISNEACH
OR THE CENTER OF IRELAND
Frédéric Armao
Uisneach
or the Center of Ireland
The hill of Uisneach lies almost exactly at the geographical center of
Ireland. Remarkably, a fraction at least of the ancient Irish population was
aware of that fact. There is no doubt that the place of Uisneach in Irish
mythology, and more broadly speaking the Celtic world, was of utmost
importance: Uisneach was – and probably still is – best defined as a sacred
hill at the center of Ireland, possibly the sacred hill of the center of Ireland.
Uisneach or the Center of Ireland explores the medieval documents
connected with the hill and compares them with both archaeological data
and modern Irish folklore. In the early 21st century, a Fire Festival started
being held on Uisneach in connection with the festival of Bealtaine, in early
May, arguably in an attempt to echo more ancient traditions: the celebration
was attended by Michael D. Higgins, the current president of Ireland, who lit
the fire of Uisneach on 6 May 2017.
This book argues that the symbolic significance of the hill has echoed the
evolution of Irish society through time, be it in political, spiritual and
religious terms or, perhaps more accurately, in terms of identity and
Irishness. It is relevant for scholars and advanced students in the fields of
cultural history, Irish history and cultural studies.
Frédéric Armao is currently an Associate Professor at the University of
Toulon (France). His primary research focuses on the link between Irish
folklore (both modern and contemporary) and Celtic mythology. His work
has examined the evolution of Irish calendar festivals from their pre-
Christian beginnings through their syncretic contemporary celebration.
Studies for the International Society for
Cultural History
Series Editors: Patryk Babiracki and Filippo Carlà-Uhink
In both research and teaching, the study of cultural history is burgeoning, with
a variety of interpretations of culture cross-fertilizing between disciplines –
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ginative worlds of the past, and sees culture as encompassing both textual
production and social practice. It seeks to highlight historical and cultural
processes of meaning-making and explore the ways in which people of the past
made sense of their world.
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Uisneach or the Center of Ireland
Frédéric Armao
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Uisneach
or the Center of Ireland
Frédéric Armao
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 Frédéric Armao
The right of Frédéric Armao to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Names: Armao, Frédéric, 1978- author.
Title: Uisneach or the center of Ireland / Frédéric Armao.
Description: New York : Routledge, 2023. |
Series: Studies for the international society for cultural history |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022035118 | ISBN 9780367697709 (paperback) |
ISBN 9780367697693 (hardback) | ISBN 9781003143161 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Westmeath (Ireland)--Antiquities. |
Hill of Uisneach (Ireland) | Civilization, Celtic. | Mythology, Celtic. |
Ireland--Social life and customs. | Ireland--Civilization. |
Ireland--Religious life and customs. | Ireland--Politics and
government. |
National characteristics, Irish. | Ireland--In literature.
Classification: LCC DA990.W4 A76 2023 | DDC 941.8/15--dc23/
eng/20221013
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022035118
ISBN: 978-0-367-69769-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-69770-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-14316-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003143161
Typeset in Sabon
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
Contents
Acknowledgment xi
Foreword xii
Introduction 1
1 Centrality of Uisneach 9
1.1 The Five Provinces 9
Background 9
Uisneach, in Mide 10
The Irish Annals 11
Uisneach: Etymologies 12
Uisneach, in Mide: Etymologies 13
Royal Power 13
First Conclusion 15
Saint Patrick and Power 16
1.2 Ail na Mireann 17
Background and Etymologies 17
Ail na Mireann and the “Catstone” 18
According to Keating 18
According to Giraldus Cambrensis 18
In the Book of Invasions 19
Pillar or Navel? 20
The Tree of Uisneach? 21
Axis Mundi and Omphalos 21
Pillar or Navel: Reality of Uisneach 22
The Settling of the Manor of Tara 24
Ail na Mireann and the Uí Néill dynasty 25
1.3 The Uí Néill and the “Kings of Uisneach” 25
Uí Néill Dynasty: General Statements 25
vi Contents
Tara, Uisneach and the Southern Uí Néill 26
The Southern Uí Néill, Kings of Uisneach 26
Elements of Genealogical Analysis of the Uí Néill 28
Importance of Fiachu Mac Néill 28
Aed Mac Bricc, Saint of the Uí Néill 29
Conall and Patrick: The Colloquy with the Ancients 30
The Colloquy with the Ancients: Difficulty of
Interpretation 31
1.4 Uí Néill and Hagiographers of Patrick 31
Hagiography of Patrick by Tirechán: Background 31
Tirechán: The Uí Néill and Patrick at Uisneach 32
Possible Motives of Tirechán: Political 32
Rivals of the Southern Uí Néill 33
Cenél Fiachach 33
Cenél Coirpri 34
Cenél Lóegairi 34
Cenél Fiachach, Cenél Coirpri, Cenél Lóegairi 35
Possible Motives of Tirechán: Religious 35
Tirechán and the Politico-religious Hypothesis 36
Aed Mac Bricc and Lommán, Rivals of Patrick? 37
1.5 Stone of Uisneach and Stones of Uisneach 38
Stones of Uisneach in the Vita Tripartita Sancti
Patricii 38
Stones of Uisneach in Jocelyn of Furness 39
1.6 The Killaraus of Geoffrey of Monmouth 40
Historia Regum Britanniae 41
The Giant’s Dance 41
Killaraus/Killare 41
Jocelyn of Furness and Geoffrey of Monmouth 42
Confrontation for the Stones of Uisneach 43
Magical Displacement of the Stones of Uisneach 43
Uisneach and Stonehenge 44
Assembly at Stonehenge 44
Temporality and Myth 45
2 Uisneach in Irish Mythology 54
2.1 The Nemedians: The Druid Midhe 54
Midhe in the Book of Invasions 54
Midhe According to Keating 55
Midhe in the Dindsenchas 56
Midhe and Fire: Points of Comparison 58
Contents vii
2.2 The Fir Bolg and Uisneach 59
2.3 The Tuatha Dé Danann: The Dagda 59
Uisneach, House of the Dagda 59
The Dagda, Druid-god: Connection with the
Otherworld 60
The Sons of the Dagda 61
2.4 The Tuatha Dé Danann: Lugh 62
Lugh: General Statements 62
Death of Lugh on Uisneach 62
Uisneach, Hill of Balor 64
Uisneach and Dian Cécht 65
2.5 Fire, Water, Sídh 66
Fire and Water: General Statements 66
Uisneach and the Five Streams 66
Uisneach and Primordial Water 67
The Sídh 68
2.6 The Milesians 69
The Milesians and the Sídh 69
The Milesians and Power 70
2.7 Deirdre and the Sons of Uisneach 71
General Statements 71
The Story of Deirdre 72
Connecting Deirdre and Uisneach 73
Triplism of the Brothers of Uisneach 74
Triplism: Sons of Uisneach and Slayers of Lugh 75
Black, White, Red 76
Symbolism and Importance of the Story of Deirdre 76
3 Uisneach and the Ancient Assemblies 84
3.1 Conferences and Synods 85
Peace Conferences on Uisneach 85
The Clergy and the Synod of 1111 85
3.2 Mórdháil Uisnigh According to Keating 86
Tuathal Techtmar, Founder of Mórdháil Uisnigh 86
Assembly of Tlachtga on Samhain 87
Convention of Uisneach on Bealtaine 88
Fair of Tailtiu on Lughnasa 88
Feast of Tara on Samhain 89
Synthesis of the Elements Provided by Keating 90
3.3 Mórdháil Uisnigh: Alternative Sources 91
Irish Ordeals 92
viii Contents
The Book of Rights 93
Taboos of the Kings of Ireland 93
Contradictions of Keating 94
3.4 Mythological Aspects of Mórdháil Uisnigh 95
The Enumeration of Finn’s People 95
The Fate of the Children of Tuireann 96
The Dindshenchas 97
The Death of Diarmait 98
The Legend of Mongan 99
3.5 Historicity of Mórdháil Uisnigh 102
As Viewed by D.A. Binchy 102
3.6 Similarities Outside of Ireland 104
England: Killaraus/Stonehenge 104
Gaul: Locus Consecratus of the Carnutes 105
Brittany: Kermaria 106
Isle of Man: Tynwald 109
Scotland: Arthur’s Seat? 110
Wales: Pumlumon 111
Great Britain: The Ford of the Ox? 112
4 Time and Sacredness: Bealtaine 120
4.1 Background 122
4.2 Bealtaine and Farmers 124
Notion of Seasons 124
Regulation of the Rural World: Crops 125
Regulation of the Rural World: Cattle 125
Regulation of the Rural World: Settlements 126
Secular Gatherings of May: Hiring Fairs 127
Secular Gatherings of May: Cattle Fairs 130
Rural Beliefs and Superstitions 132
Witches 135
Fairies 137
Counter-spells 139
Fire(s) and the Folklore of Bealtaine 141
4.3 Bealtaine and Warriors 143
The Warrior 144
The King 146
4.4 Bealtaine and the Clergy 149
The Druids and the Fire of Bel 149
Mythical Ancestors, Gods and the Sídh 151
Ritual Assemblies 156
Contents ix
4.5 Influences and Confluences 159
4.6 Calendar Justification 165
Bealtaine and Midsummer 165
The Juste Milieu: The Just Midpoint 165
5 Uisneach: Archaeological Data 177
5.1 Topography and Salient Features 178
5.2 Ail na Mireann 181
The Rock of Uisneach 181
The Natural and the Artificial 181
Enclosure of Ail na Mireann 182
Earthen Circle, Stone Circle? 182
Original Importance 183
5.3 Lough Lugh and Water Sources 184
Description of Lough Lugh 184
Tobernaslath 185
Saint Patrick’s Well 185
Importance of Lough Lugh 185
Origin and Evolution 186
5.4 The Summits of Uisneach 187
Eastern Summit: Burial Mound of Lugh? 187
Western Summit: Saint Patrick’s Bed 188
5.5 Rathnew 190
Sanctuary of Rathnew (Rathnew I) 191
Ringfort of Rathnew (Rathnew II): General
Statements 194
Eastern Enclosure 194
Western Enclosure 196
Ringfort of Rathnew: Alterations (Rathnew III) 197
Rathnew: Interpretation and Dating 197
6 Modern and Contemporary Aspects of Uisneach 206
6.1 Uisneach and the Gaelic Revival 206
6.2 Modern Folklore of Uisneach 210
Authenticity of Traditions 211
Importance of Uisneach 212
Saint Patrick’s Bed 213
Conglomerate of Uisneach 214
Local Tales and Legends: Stone(s) of Uisneach 217
Local Tales: Witchcraft 219