Ear to the Ground visits Uisneach this month

In a forthcoming edition of Ear to the Ground on RTÉ, Ella McSweeney goes to the Hill of Uisneach to see what preparations are under way for the celebration of the Winter Solstice. 

Uisneach was seen as the gateway to the mythical fifth province, Mide. 

In later years, it became the seat of the High Kings, before that title lay with Tara, and was said to divide Ireland into ‘knowledge in the West, battle in the North, prosperity in the East, music in the South and Royalty at the centre’. 

Uisneach was linked to Tara by a ceremonial road and a section of that road still remains to this day. 

On the same site as Uisneach is a working farm owned by David Clarke, who bought the farm in 1998 and now farms 1,000 cattle, focusing mainly on exports. 

David grew up in the area, and so understands the significance of Uisneach.

His mission when buying the farm was to bring it back to its former glory. 

That he is doing with the help of Marty Mulligan, a promoter and guide at the heritage site. 

Marty was involved with the opening of a visitor centre and they now have massive support from Fáilte Ireland as part of Ireland’s Ancient East, the East coast’s answer to the Wild Atlantic Way. 

Ear to the Ground is produced by Independent Pictures for RTÉ. 

It broadcasts on RTÉ One on Thursdays at 8.30pm, and is repeated at lunchtime on Sundays.

The Uisneach feature in on Thursday December 21.