Inauguration site

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in a natural amphitheatre bounded to N and E by a curving ridge with the Hell River immediately to the SW. A possible ring-barrow (CL034-095001-) reused as an inauguration site. According to FitzPatrick (2004, 52) it is clear that the appropriation of prehistoric ceremonial landscapes by early and later medieval dynasties for assembly and inauguration is a recurrent theme. The earlier monuments were sometimes used unaltered but sometimes were modified or had additions made. No scientific excavations of inauguration mounds have taken place. What we know has been gleaned from the landscape context, surface morphology and historical circumstances (ibid.). Some of the earliest documented associations of mounds with medieval royal assembly and inauguration occur in respect of Magh Adhair, the assembly site of Dál gCais. Westropp (1896, 59) citing the Annals of the Four Masters, notes that in AD 877 Flan Sunagh of Cashel invaded Thomond and thought fit to stop and play chess at Magh Adhair in bravado. In AD 982 the Annals tell us that Máel Sechnaill, king of Temair, overran Thomond, and cut down a probable sacred tree (CL034-095011-) at Magh Adhair (FitzPatrick 2004, 59). It is recorded that another sacred tree was cut down here by Aedh O Conor, King of Connacht, in 1051. FitzPatrick, outlining the later history states that by the thirteenth century, Magh Adhair was well established as the inauguration site of the Uí Bhriain descendants. Seven Uí Bhriain inaugurations are noted in the Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh between 1242 and 1313, with Mac Con Mara of Clann Chuileáin officiating at the ceremony in each case. A number of further inaugurations are documented after that of Donnchadh Ó Briain in 1313 and throughout the 15th century but the place of inauguration is not mentioned. In October 1598 it was reported that it was intended to inaugurate Tadhg as Ó Briain. This was presumably carried out at Magh Adhair. If so, FitzPatrick notes that it would have been the culmination of over 700 years of royal elections at this historic place.

This is a national monument in state care, no. 224.

The following image has been uploaded:

CL034-095007-_01.jpg View of inauguration site from N.
CL034-095002-_02.jpg View from E.
CL034-095003-_03.jpg View from SW.
CL034-095007-_04.jpg View of mound from NW with bullaun stone CL034-095003- in foreground.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 11 July 2018

References

FitzPatrick, E. 2015 Assembly places and elite collective identities in medieval Ireland. Journal of the North Atlantic 8, 52-68.

Condit, T. and O'Sullivan, A. 1998 Magh Adhair – a ritual and inauguration complex in south-east Clare, Heritage Guide no. 2, Archaeology Ireland, Bray.

Westropp, T.J. 1896 Magh Adhair, Co. Clare. The place of inauguration of the Dalcassian kings. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 20, 55-60.

FitzPatrick, E. 2004 Royal inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c.1100-1600: a cultural landscape study. Studies in Celtic History 22. Woodbridge. The Boydell Press.