Tara Hill, County Wexford

Not to be confused with Hill of Tara.

Tara Hill
Torrchoill
File:TaraHill1590c.jpg Tara Hill, from the northwest
Highest point
Elevation
Prominence
Listing	Marilyn
Coordinates
Geography
Location in Ireland
Location	County Wexford, Ireland
OSI/OSNI grid	T205623
Topo map	OSi Discovery 62

Tara Hill (Torrchoill in Irish) is an isolated hill near the Irish Sea coast in north County Wexford, Ireland. Though only 253 metres high (833 feet), it dominates the landscape of northeast Wexford.

Geography

Due to its height relative to the surrounding landscape this hill qualifies as a Marilyn. It should not be confused with the much better known but much less prominent Royal Hill of Tara in County Meath, which is only 159m high.

The summit is marked by a cairn from where one can see nearby Gorey, Courtown and other villages and town-lands and views of the North Wexford coast.

History

Saint Caemhan or Kevin or Cavan, as the name is variously spelt is the Patron Saint of Tara Hill and the site of the old church founded by him is situated at Kilcavan at the north side of the hill under a cliff by the road.

Geology

Tara Hill is over 400 million years old and was formed from molten rock. During the Ice Age the hill was buried under a huge sheet of ice which gave it its rounded appearance. The soil on the upper parts is shallow and acidic but allows for growth of heather and furze and more recently the higher parts of the hill have been planted with conifers.