Description
Tullyhogue, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Tullyhogue meaning “Hill of youth” or “Mound of the young warriors” is an ancient ceremonial site where chieftains of the O’Neill dynasty of Tyrone were once crowned. This included the inauguration of the last Gaelic Chieftain of Ulster ‘Hugh O’Neill’ in 1593. Tullyhogue Fort consists of 2 giant rings dug into a man-made mound of earth circled by various species of native trees.
The construction year of Tullyhogue Fort has been long forgotten in history. However, the actual site held great significance since pre-Christian times, acting as an area of ritual & pilgrimage long before the O’Neill’s became associated it. The site was then abandoned by 1622.
We may never know the secrets of this mound & why it was so important to our ancients? but if the “Kings of Ulster” used it for their crowning rituals, I’m guessing they knew something significant about this spiritual mound that we may sadly never truly understand….
