The Hill of Tara
Tara will forever be associated in my mind with sheep droppings. It was meant to be the site of ancient High Kings, a place where men fought to rule Ireland. Now, that power has been subjugated to all that is ovine. So many sheep were allowed to graze on the site, that it was like avoiding land mines. Horrible stuff.
But if you can get past that, it has some fascinating things to see. Tara has been around since the 6th century. What you can see here is one of the mounds, which would be called a rath. Raths were basically fortresses where the Irish would build a dwelling atop a hillside. Usually there were ditches and palisades as protection. Tara has multiple raths, and there were also nearby prehistoric sites that were of a similar design. Legend has it that the seven roads converge here, and it was here that the High Kings ruled.
One of the more interesting artifacts is the Lia Fáil. It’s a standing stone where, the legend tells that the stone would cry out upon recognizing a man as King of Tara. I used this in my book Her Irish Warrior when the hero goes to Tara to appeal for the rights to his land. What man wouldn’t listen closely, imagining that the stone would cry out and recognize him as king? It’s also pretty evident that it was a fertility symbol.
A third interesting site is the Mound of Hostages. In the medieval period, it was a place for kings to exchange hostages. However, it was originally built in 3000 BC as a passage tomb. Most of the burials were cremations, but they did find the remains of a 14-15 year-old boy who wore a necklace of jet, amber, bronze, and faience beads. Near his feet they found a bronze knife and a bronze awl.
Hope you enjoyed the Tara tour!
I have another question for anyone who’s willing to give their opinion. I’m wondering whether it’s worth it to have bookmarks or other author giveaways made. On one hand, I’d like to have something to give people when they ask about my books. On the other, I wonder if people actually use or enjoy them. If you’ve ever received “goodies” from an author, what did you like? What items were worthless, in your opinion?
Michelle posted in Ireland Tales @ 8:03 pm | Viewed 3842 times
Olga Says:
Michelle, that was one wonderful tour of Tara - to be honest, I particularly liked the legend!
As for giveaways, I liked the contests, where one could win a free book. Just my .02!
jeanne s. Says:
Love the pics and stories to go with them.
Well of course a book is the best giveaway. One bookmark per book is nice but you can only use so many. A coffee mug is nice and pens - I like useful things. I have to say no to coverflats - where to put them. And if anything is signed, that’s always an extra perk.
Michelle Says:
Thanks Jeanne and Olga. I like free books myself!
chris Keach Says:
Pens. You can’t go wrong with pens. Everybody uses them at some point. Cover flats are pretty, but, like Jeanne says, what do you do with them? Maybe you can tie something in with your book, something cool (and not too expensive) that reflects your book or the theme. I don’t know what, though. Little notepads? They’ll go great with the pens. I’ll keep thinking…
mary beth Says:
Great Tara tour. Yep, obvious fertility symbool.
I agree with no cover flats. I’m not even a big fan of bookmarks. I love pens, but they’ve never made me buy a book. When they buy your next Irish book, you might think about the fridge magnets. I forget sometimes when a book I really want is coming out and the magnet keeps it in my mind. Congrats on having these things to think about!
beth Says:
I loved Tara when we were there - but oh the sheep droppings! I was hoping that was a temporary thing from our visit.
Ok..I’m probably a minority, but I hate magnets. My fridge has so many magnets - with out of date calendars on them - that I’m pretty sure it’s sad. Pens are nice, but I’m not sure they’d make me buy something - just about all of my pens say something or other on the side but honestly, can’t say I’ve taken the time to see what it is. Maybe this is boring or passe…but why not just a business card tailored to the book? Cause then it’s multipurpose - it’ll make a good bookmark, but it’s also something small you can use one of your 900 other fridge magnets to pin to your fridge, and they’re small enough to tote around with you without being a PITA.
Melissa Says:
I’d have to go with pens, too. I have WAAAY too many cover flats and too many bookmarks. But you can never have too many pens because they’re always disappearing at some point. Magnets are good, too.
Teresa Says:
Thanks for the Tara tour (sheep dip and all *g*)!
As for giveaways, pens always work for me. Or a notepad or a ruler - something useful in my office. I love bookmarks, but end up throwing most promo ones in the recycling because I just accumulate too many. HTH!
Melissa Mc Says:
I always throw bookmarks away. I did them for the first two books then stopped. Silhouette make them and they will send you some if you are doing a signing. I’m guessing Harlequin does the same. You can stick a sticker with your release info on them if you wanted to, but I never did.
I wouldn’t do a website contest for your books, but maybe posts on your blog. Too many entries come from those sweepstake sites. I stopped my contests for now, and I still get entries which just proves no one reads what’s on the page. They just enter.
Tori Lennox Says:
I love bookmarks! I even have a bookmark collection.
Stacy Says:
Bookmarks are still my favorite and from the looks of things it’s about a fifty-fifty draw on them so far LOL
Michelle Says:
I was wondering about the whole bookmark thing. I rarely keep them myself. I’ve been using business cards so far, when people ask me about my pen name. I’d love to try something creative. But what? Hmmm…:popcorn:
Stephanie Says:
I like getting pens with the author’s name on it. Bookmarks, no. I get a free bookmark every time I buy a book and I have so many around the house — I never use them. I agree with the magnet thing, too — I would use it.
Also, the rage for giving out those little cards the size of a business card is cool but I bet people just chuck them.
Cynthia Says:
Oooh, a fellow fridge magnet aficionado (did I spell that right?) I have to say that fridge magnets will probably be my choice — but I may do limited bookmarks when I get my cover.
Also, Michelle, this book giveaway is a cool idea … I have all those wonderful conference books that I’ll never have time to read … hmmh. I should share the wealth, shouldn’t I?:wink:
Fiona Lowe Says:
Loving the tour!