Tara Hill, County Wexford
Encyclopedia
Tara Hill is an isolated hill
near the Irish Sea
coast in north County Wexford
, Ireland
. Though only 253 metres high (833 feet), it dominates the landscape of northeast
Wexford. Due to its height relative to the surrounding landscape this mountain qualifies as a Marilyn
.
It should not be confused with the much better known but much less prominent Royal Hill of Tara
in County Meath
, which is only 159m high.
Saint Caemhan or Kevin or Cavan, as the name is variously spelt is the Patron Saint of Tara Hill and the site of the old church founded by him is situated at Kilcavan at the north side of the hill under a cliff by the road.
Tara Hill is over 400 million years old and was formed from molten rock. During the Ice Age the hill was buried under a huge sheet of ice which gave it its rounded appearance. The soil on the upper parts is shallow and acidic but allows for growth of heather and furze and more recently the higher parts of the hill have been planted with conifers.
The summit is marked by a cairn
from where one can see nearby Gorey, Courtown and other villages and town-lands and views of the North Wexford coast.
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
near the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
coast in north County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Though only 253 metres high (833 feet), it dominates the landscape of northeast
Cardinal direction
The four cardinal directions or cardinal points are the directions of north, east, south, and west, commonly denoted by their initials: N, E, S, W. East and west are at right angles to north and south, with east being in the direction of rotation and west being directly opposite. Intermediate...
Wexford. Due to its height relative to the surrounding landscape this mountain qualifies as a Marilyn
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
.
It should not be confused with the much better known but much less prominent Royal Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, which is only 159m high.
Saint Caemhan or Kevin or Cavan, as the name is variously spelt is the Patron Saint of Tara Hill and the site of the old church founded by him is situated at Kilcavan at the north side of the hill under a cliff by the road.
Tara Hill is over 400 million years old and was formed from molten rock. During the Ice Age the hill was buried under a huge sheet of ice which gave it its rounded appearance. The soil on the upper parts is shallow and acidic but allows for growth of heather and furze and more recently the higher parts of the hill have been planted with conifers.
The summit is marked by a cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
from where one can see nearby Gorey, Courtown and other villages and town-lands and views of the North Wexford coast.