Browse — Sacred Places

---

Tara, Newgrange, the Hill of Allen, Tír na nÓg — places where the otherworld touches this one.

19 entries.

Irish	Ogham	How to say it	English	Source	Note
An Bhóinn	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚁᚆᚑᚔᚅᚅ᚜	un VOH-in	the boyne	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The river Boyne. Named for the goddess Bóand. Newgrange sits on its banks.
An Mhí	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚋᚆᚔ᚜	un VEE	meath	Logainm	Meath — ‘the middle.’ Was once the fifth province (along with Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht); the seat of the High Kings of Ireland at Tara.
An Sionainn	᚛ᚐᚅ ᚄᚔᚑᚅᚐᚔᚅᚅ᚜	un SHIN-in	the shannon	CELT — Lebor Gabála	The river Shannon. Ireland’s longest river. Named for Sionann, granddaughter of Lir, who broke the rule against drinking from the well of wisdom and was carried away by the river that bears her name.
Ard Mhacha	᚛ᚐᚏᚇ ᚋᚆᚐᚉᚆᚐ᚜	ord WAH-khuh	armagh	Logainm	Armagh — ‘height of Macha.’ The goddess Macha gave her name to the seat of Saint Patrick’s church and the historical primacy of Ireland.
Brú na Bóinne	᚛ᚁᚏᚒ ᚅᚐ ᚁᚑᚔᚅᚅᚓ᚜	broo nuh BOH-nyuh	brú na bóinne	Foclóir	Brú na Bóinne — the Boyne palace, modern Newgrange. Built 5,000 years ago; older than the pyramids and Stonehenge. Home of Aengus.
Cill Dara	᚛ᚉᚔᚂᚂ ᚇᚐᚏᚐ᚜	kil DAR-uh	kildare	Logainm	Kildare — ‘church of the oak.’ Saint Brigid’s monastery, by the sacred oak.
Cnoc Mhuire	᚛ᚉᚅᚑᚉ ᚋᚆᚒᚔᚏᚓ᚜	knuk VWIR-uh	croagh patrick	Foclóir	Croagh Patrick, Mayo. Holy mountain — pilgrims climb barefoot on the last Sunday of July (Reek Sunday). Sacred since long before Patrick.
Cnoc na hAdhairce	᚛ᚉᚅᚑᚉ ᚅᚐ ᚆᚐᚇᚆᚐᚔᚏᚉᚓ᚜	knuk nuh HAR-kuh	knocknarea	CELT — Táin	Knocknarea, Sligo. Topped by Queen Medb’s cairn (Miosgán Mhéabha) — said to contain her standing burial.
Cruach Phádraig	᚛ᚉᚏᚒᚐᚉᚆ ᚚᚆᚐᚇᚏᚐᚔᚌ᚜	KROO-ukh FAW-rig	croagh patrick	eDIL	Cruach Phádraig — the Irish name for Croagh Patrick. Cruach means ‘stack’ or ‘rick.’
Cruachan	᚛ᚉᚏᚒᚐᚉᚆᚐᚅ᚜	KROO-uh-khun	cruachan	CELT — Táin	Cruachan (Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon). Royal seat of Connacht; Medb’s stronghold; entrance to the otherworld in the Táin.
Doire	᚛ᚇᚑᚔᚏᚓ᚜	DUR-uh	derry	Logainm	Derry. Doire means ‘oak grove’ — the original sacred grove where Colm Cille founded a monastery in 546.
Emain Macha	᚛ᚓᚋᚐᚔᚅ ᚋᚐᚉᚆᚐ᚜	EH-vin MAH-khuh	emain macha	CELT — Táin	Emain Macha (Navan Fort, Co. Armagh). Royal seat of Ulster; Cú Chulainn and the Red Branch warriors based here.
Mag Mell	᚛ᚋᚐᚌ ᚋᚓᚂᚂ᚜	mag mel	plain of joy	Foclóir	Mag Mell — ‘Plain of Joy.’ Another name for the Otherworld.
Mag Tuired	᚛ᚋᚐᚌ ᚈᚒᚔᚏᚓᚇ᚜	mag TIR-ud	plain of pillars	CELT — Lebor Gabála	Mag Tuired (Moytura) — site of the two great mythological battles. The First and Second Battles of Mag Tuired decided who would rule Ireland: the Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Fomorians here.
Sliabh Liag	᚛ᚄᚂᚔᚐᚁᚆ ᚂᚔᚐᚌ᚜	shleev LEE-ug	slieve league	eDIL	Slieve League, Donegal. Ireland’s tallest sea cliffs at 601 metres.
Sliabh na mBan	᚛ᚄᚂᚔᚐᚁᚆ ᚅᚐ ᚋᚁᚐᚅ᚜	SHLEEV nuh man	slievenamon	CELT — Acallam	Slievenamon — Mountain of the Women, Co. Tipperary. Where Fionn watched the women race; he chose the swiftest, Gráinne, as his bride.
Tara	᚛ᚈᚐᚏᚐ᚜	TAH-ruh	tara	FoclóirTeanglann	Hill of Tara. Ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland; the political and ritual centre of the island for two thousand years.
Tír na nÓg	᚛ᚈᚔᚏ ᚅᚐ ᚅᚑᚌ᚜	TEER NAH NOHG	dreamland	eDIL
Tír Tairngire	᚛ᚈᚔᚏ ᚈᚐᚔᚏᚅᚌᚔᚏᚓ᚜	cheer TARN-gir-uh	land of promise	Foclóir	Tír Tairngire — Land of Promise. Manannán’s otherworldly paradise, often interchangeable with Tír na nÓg.

---