This is super early, but I'm an insane type A who needs to plan things well in advance.
I'll be in visiting in June (seeing the Cure in Belfast, and visiting the Republic first before heading north, with a stop in Cavan to do family research). I realized I'll be in Dublin over the summer solstice and have decided to go to Hill of Tara for the sunrise or sunset. However, I'm unable to find any tour groups that specifically travel at those hours on June 20/21. Would I be better off renting a car and going alone? Or are there recommendations for groups who facilitate this sort of outing? I, perhaps foolishly, assumed it would be a big tourist thing to see the sun rise at an ancient site. Thank you for any suggestions you have!
Sorry if this is an often asked question- I did a search in the group and came up with nothing.
(and if that last statement doesn't give it away, I'm coming from Canada)
(Also if you think there are other monuments that would be a better choice for solstice, I'm open to suggestions! As long as I can get there)
Hill of Tara has no significance to the solstice so there's no need for special tours that day
Well then I was given a bad recommendation by someone in Dublin. Shoot. Thank you! Can you recommend a site that would be more appropriate?
Off top of my head no, we've more Bealtaine stuff rather than solstice and even then, Bealtaine is not widely observed.
Was the person in Dublin Irish?
He was not. Italian. Well spotted.
If he was Irish I'd have said he just lied for the lols
Pull one over on the Canuck, hey? Lols. Amazing.
Not just Canucks, we'll do it to anyone we can tbh
They may have mixed it up with newgrange, both are in Meath.
1) Winter Solstice is where it's at bro
2) all jokes aside, I was at a white witch wedding on the Summer Solstice many moons ago so you won't know what you'll find on the day in Tara. I'd like to say it was a profound moment in my life. It was not.
3) then go to Newgrange. Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth will blow your mind.
4) Then drive to Four Knocks, a lesser known and far quieter passage tomb and marvel in how our ancestors mastered the land and sky without machinery just observation and time.
5) then stay somewhere like Slane (or a small village in the greater Dublin area) and get absolutely fucking rat arsed drunk in a small pub surrounded by friendly strangers. Hopefully you'll get the drag of a spliff and have a philosophical moment to yourself.
6) go back to Canada and dust off your barenaked ladies CDs
7) Bryan Adams is overrated.
Thank you for your time.
There is a gathering at another hill https://uisneach.ie/events/summer-solstice-on-uisneach/
Summer solstice celebration is more of a west of Ireland thing
I know some hippy dippy spiritual types that gather on the hill at the solstice. You might find there’s some others there if you do go.
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Groups gather there at dawn for the summer solstice but it's a spiritual ceremony not a tourist attraction. You won't find your buses heading there.
Listen, Tara and summer solstice or solstices in general is not a thing. But why not anyway? If it floats your boat. It is amazing to be around an ancient place at a significant time of year. However even at that two other things to consider. First if it rains, Tara is miserably exposed. Literally one fairy tree and after that you’re lashed out of it. Second, on the longest day I’m not sure when the sun comes up but it’s really early. Like if you get a clear sky it’s going to effectively be dark for a couple of hours around midnight and then the light starts to creep back in. The same at night. With clear skies, you’ll probably have some lingering light in the West till around 11pm. So when exactly you’re planning to have a solstice experience is almost as important as where.
IF I were you, and as a local, I would go to the Loughcrew Cairns, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, for the summer solstice. Proper pagan/celtic events during the solstice, great views, great history, less touristy, and about 35 minutes from Tara. Enjoy.
BTW: it's not very far from Cavan either so will tie in with your trip from Belfast, to Cavan, to Dublin.
It’s not a thing. Ireland has been Christian since the 4th century.
Maybe find Swedish / Norwegian groups on FB and see what they do in Dublin to celebrate midsommer or however they spell it in Swedish.