Who we are
Within diversity there is unity and within unity there is diversity
Who ?
Based in Ireland, with connections all over the world, we are non-profit making, open, inclusive and non-denominational, drawing on all philosophies and traditions.
An eclectic mix of like minded thinkers from various backgrounds.
Different people feel called to tune in and plan each celebration and have included Anne B, Anne N, Bernie, Bernadette, Dana, Des, Eileen, Jean, John, John A, Marta, Martin, Mary, Mary O, Nora, Pat, Susan, Theresa, Tom, Vaiva, Yamann and many others, who join with us in body or in spirit.
People from all over the world are on our email list and tune in with each celebration.
If you would like to join in at a distance, however great or small, please contact us to go onto the email list.
The web site is maintained by Martin in Ireland, Nora in England and Michael in Canada (Clickopen.ca) with the help and input of many many others.
We welcome any queries, insights or input.
We may be contacted through email@TaraCelebrations.org
What ?
We follow the ancient celebrations of the yearly cycle by marking important dates with community ceremony.
Many of those involved with the 'Tara Celebrations' events also attend 'Monday Meditation & Healing Circle'. The two are interconnected but not interdependent.
How ?
Review and Way Forward meetings
Up to Autumn Equinox 2013 we planned from one meeting to the next.
At the end of 2013 there was a feeling that we needed to set a complete cycle in motion. A get together was held to organise gatherings for the coming year.
The Review and Way Forward meetings have been held at Autumn Equinox or Samhain each subsequent year.
Why ?
Because it makes our souls sing.
It makes us feel connected to the rhythm of life.
It feels like it has to be done.
It is important.
It is fun.
It is about meeting up with people who you can get on with, and who you can share with, and you feel comfortable with,
and they don't have to bring anything or be a certain person.
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All are welcome. Some of us are extroverts and like to express our energies, and those of the get together, outwardly. The one thing that has been made very clear at Tara Celebrations over the years is that if you feel to sing, dance, etc. it is from the heart and has nothing to do with performance or pleasing others. And if you want to sit quietly and watch, please feel comfortable with that. Everyone has their own unique gift to bring to any gathering. Even just their presence is enough to bless the occasion. There is always a reason for everyone to be there, whether active or passive. |
What are we celebrating?
There are many different cycles and calendars and these have been handed down since pre-history, changing as the needs of the individual and community changed
With each ceremony held, with each candle lit, with each positive image about Tara raising the awareness level of people, each poem, thought, prayer offered in sincerity has been heart felt by the spirit of Tara.
It is certain that whatever else happened at ancient sites in Ireland they were and are still used for traditional customs and rituals at particular times of the year.
The cycle we use marks the four seasons of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasadh with the four cardinal days of winter and summer solstice, spring and autumn equinox. The seasons are an expression of what is happening on the land and also in our own lives.
The New Year starts on the night of November 8th, (now 31st October) - Samhain. This is the entry into the darkest days of the year and a time of death, for from death comes new life and rebirth. Many of our ancestors started their day as darkness came at dusk and night, not dawn as we do these days. The Cycle of the Year as the earth moves around the sun, from Samhain back to Samhain.
Themes & Sites from 2007 to present
Autumn Equinox is the last meeting of Tara Celebrations annual cycle - Samhain the conceiving of each new turn of the wheel
Prior to 2007 there were gatherings but we only have private records of those
At Samhain 2018 we renewed the format of the website and information is now on that with these pages archived.
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Samhain 2017 - Chain Reaction - Tara 2016 - Good Spirits - Yew Cloister, Gormanston 2015 - Clearing a Path for the Wisdom of the Ancestors - Loughcrew 2014 - Samhain - Rath Lugh 2013 - Beannachtai na Samhaina diobh - Dowth 2012 - Headstones - Old Mellifont Abbey, Louth 2011 - Embracing the Torquoise Self – Fourknocks 2010 - Journey towards the Sovereign Self - Tara 2009 - Samhain at Dowth - Dowth 2008 - Spontaneous New Beginning - Tara 2007 - Samhain is the Death of the Old - Tara
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Winter Solstice 2017 - Phoenix from the Cauldron,invoking the Energies of Rebirth- Tara 2016 - You Light up my Life - Fourknocks 2015 - Without Darkness there can be no Light - Newgrange 2014 - Walking the White Winter Path of Wonder - Seomra Tara 2013 - Rebirth of the Sun God from the Goddess - Hill of Tara Healing Centre 2012 - Welcoming Light - Ardbraccan 2011 - Quietly Observant – Dowth, Newgrange, Curley Hole 2010 - Snowflakes – Own homes / Newgrange 2009 - Rebirth of Light and Hope – Own homes / Newgrange 2008 - Yule Celebrations – Tara 2007 - Ceremony of Light – Tara
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Imbolc 2018 - Healing on Many Levels - Brigid's Well, Faughart 2017 - St. Brigid's Mantle - Brigid's Well, Faughart 2016 - Rise and Shine - Tara 2015 - Planting the Seeds of Our Dreams with Danu - Bective 2014 - Welcoming Spring & Returning Light - Tara 2013 - Healing Renewal Protection - Tara & Kildare 2012 - Triplicity: Comedy, Community and Creativity - Ravensdale Forest, Louth 2011 - Moving out of the Shadow into the Light - Tower of Lloyd Kells 2010 - Uncertainty - Fourknocks 2009 - Brigid - Fourknocks 2008 - Stirring the Fire - Tara 2007 - Brigid's Cross - Tara
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Spring Equinox 2018 - Sunny Side Up - Fourknocks 2017 - Balance, Equality & Tolerance - Clogherhead 2016 - Spring Equinox - Fourknocks 2015 - Goodbye Darkness my old Friend, until we meet again - Dowth and Bective 2013 - Everyone is doing a Brand New Dance now - Tara 2012 - Nothing is as it Seems - Tara 2011 - Gates of Revelation - Tara 2010 - Reformation & Rebirth - Ardmulchan 2009 - In Balance with Nature - Mullaghmeen Forest 2008 - Balance - Tara 2007 - Vernal Equinox - Tara
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Bealtaine 2018 - Blessings on Bealtaine - Lake Derravaragh 2017 - Bealtaine - Tara 2016 - Nurturing Abundance - St. Ciaran's Well 2015 - May Day - Fourknocks 2013 - Where there's a Well there's a Way - St. Johns Well, Warrenstown 2012 - The Summer Phase - Bective Abbey 2012 - 8 Sundays at the Well - Tara 2011 - Wild Wooing in the Woods - Tara 2010 - Inspired by Symbol & Poetry - Tara 2009 - Money to Burn - Tara 2008 - Arrival of Uisneach Fire - Tara 2007 - Tara |
Summer Solstice 2018 - Celebrate the Sun with a Song in your Heart - Akahista, West Cork 2017 - Let the Sun Shine In - Tara 2016 - Create with Love your Journey through Life and gratitude to Mother Earth - Bective & Tara 2015 - The Wisdom of the Sunflower - Tara 2013 - The Place you can't get to - wherever you are 2012 - Journey of the Golden Triangle – An Tobar, Tara, Navan 2011 - Cultivating Peace - Tara 2010 - Listening to the Soul of Summer – St. John's Well, Warrenstown 2009 - Spontaneous - Tara 2008 - Abundance and Shadow - Tara 2007 - The Harp & Fairy Treasures - Tara 2005 - Tara Festival
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Lughansadh 2018 - The Higher Ground - Loughanleagh, Cavan 2017 - An Meitheal - Allotment garden, Fingal 2016 - A Liminal Transition - Burren, Clare 2015 - A Time of Celebration - Teltown 2013 - Tar isteach agus lig do scith - Come on in and Rest Yourself - Fourknocks 2012 - Gratitude to Earth & Spirit - St. Gobnait's Well, Cork 2012 - Uisce beatha, Water of Life - Ciaran's Well, Meath 2011 - Beannachtai Lughnasadh - Teltown 2010 - Pattern, Pilgrimage & Pleasure Triskele - Port Beach 2009 - Pattern, Pilgrimage & Pleasure Labyrinth - Port Beach 2008 - Healing Conflict - Tara 2007 - Name your Talent - Tara
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Autumn Equinox 2018 -Heart and Soul:We are One - Labyrinth, An Tobar 2017 - Back to Our Roots - Bective 2016 - Underlying Balance of Harvest Thanksgiving - Tara 2015 - Sun, Moon and Me - Seomra Tara 2013 - Review & 'way forward' - Tara 2012 - Colin's Journey, Chrysalis Phase - Dowth 2011 - Winding Down, End of the Journey - Mornington Beach 2010 - Endings & Rememberings - Dowth 2009 - Thanks to Mother - Tara 2008 - Harvest Thanksgiving - Tara 2007 - Autumn Equinox - Tara - no report |
Tara Celebration's venues
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Akahista, West Cork - Summer Solstice 1.
An Tobar, Ardbraccan - Winter Solstice 1. Summer Solstice 1, Autumn Equinox 1.
Ardmulchan - Spring Equinox 1.
Bective - Imbolc 1. Spring Equinox 1. Bealtaine 1. Summer Solstice 1. Autumn Equinox 1.
Burren, Clare - Lughnasadh 1.
Clogherhead – Spring Equinox 1.
Dowth – Samhain 2. Winter Solstice 1. Spring Equinox 1. Autumn Equinox 2.
Dublin - Bealtaine 1.
Faughart – Imbolc 2.
Fingal – Lughnasadh 1.
Fourknocks – Samhain 1. Winter Solstice 1. Imbolc 2. Spring Equinox 2. Bealtaine 1. Lughnasadh 1. Autumn Equinox 1.
Gormanston – Samhain 1.
Hill of Tara – all 8 festivals many times
Kildare - Imbolc 1.
Loch Ramor,Virginia - Spring Equinox 1.
Loughanleagh, Cavan - Lughnasadh 1. |
Loughcrew – Samhain 1.
Lough Derravragh - Bealtaine 1.
Mornington Beach - Autumn Equinox 1.
Mullaghmeen Forest - Spring Equinox 1.
Newgrange - Winter Solstice 4.
Old Mellifont Abbey – Samhain 1.
Port Beach -Lughnasadh 2.
Ramparts, Navan - Summer Solstice 1.
Rath Lugh – Samhain 1.
Ravensdale Forest, Louth - Imbolc 1.
Seomra Tara - Winter Solstice 1. Autumn Equinox 1.
St Ciaran's Well – Bealtaine 1. Lughnasadh 1.
St John's Well - Bealtaine 1. Summer Solstice 1.
St. Gobnait's Well, Cork - Lughnasadh 1.
Teltown - Lughansadh 2.
Tower of Lloyd, Kells - Imbolc 1.
Zurich, Switzerland - Samhain 1. |
Symbols are often created and invoked during gatherings
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Samhain 2011 - Embracing the Torquoise Self
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Samhain 2012 – Head Stones
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Winter Solstice 2011 - Quietly Observant
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Winter solstice 2012 - Welcoming Light
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Imbolc 2013 - Healing Renewal Protection
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Imbolc 2012 - Triplicity: Comedy, Community and Creativity
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Spring Equinox 2008 - Balance
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Spring Equinox 2012 - Nothing is as it Seems
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Bealtaine 2010 - Arrival of Uisneach Fire
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Bealtaine 2012 - The Summer Phase
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Summer Solstice 2011 - Cultivating Peace
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Summer solstice 2012 - The Journey of the Golden Triangle
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Lughnassadh 2012 – The waters of life
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Lughnasadh 2012 – The waters of life
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Autumn Equinox 2008 - Harvest Thanksgiving
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Autumn Equinox 2012 - Colin's Journey the Chrysalis Phase
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In 2014 we remembered the year with linking verse
Thanks to Martin, Tom, Susan, Bernadette, John A, Bernadette Mac, Nora and Anne for a wonderful time
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Samain at Dowth, our first of the year, and we hang onto nothing, not comforts, not fear. And as we make space, releasing we bring. The Cailleach gifts seeds, a promise of spring. Honouring our ancestors, with a blessing and prayer, we set a bowl fire, and jump over with care. ------->
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At Winter Solstice the sun returns. In the stove the Yule Log burns.
Decorations upon a tree. Gifts we share, its Christmassy. |
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Snowballs fly through the air, goodbye to winter's cold dark stare. Brigid's cloak and rainbow story and in the room a sunray glory. Imbolc crosses woven with care, Anenome corms for all to share. ------->
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At the woodland shore of Lake Ramor, we write intentions for the summer, releasing them to drift downstream, hoping for fulfilment of each dream. Equinox sleet, rain and sun confirm the spring has now begun. |
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Here come the lads! All off to town walking the streets, all joy, no frown. Bealtaine fun and a memory stone Men dealing with fire is best left unknown. We laughed and sung and danced around blessing Dublin's holy ground. Then down to Bewleys where we had a cuppa. Then home on the train, late for supper. ------->
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Summer Solstice on Tara Hill watching the sunset, goodnight, sleep still. Heartbeat drumming and a bready bun baked in the swirl of the passing sun. Fairy and father stories told as the western sky transforms to gold. |
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Thunder rolls amidst clouds and rain Indoors for Lughnasadh once again. Oatmeal triquetra guided our walks, then once indoors we chose coloured stalks to represent each lifetime skill All brought together at Tara's hill. -------> |
And now at Fourknocks we gather around thanking each other, and blessing the ground. With stones in hand impromptu Rock Band sounds out the year with harmonious cheer. This cycle is ending, clear up chaff and grain, prepare for winter, turn the wheel to Samhain. |
In Memory of Eileen
In Memory of Eileen Dowdall - Rest In Peace We love you - We thank you - We bless you Eileen We'll miss her smile, We'll miss her Scouse...
Page last updated: 14th Oct 2018
