Taimhleach – A Return Home

Having recently had an unexpected opportunity, to spend some time back in my hometown of Kilnamanagh, a suburb of Tallaght. It was time re-explore the history and visit some of the few remaining historical sites. I began to think about the area I grew up in, with its ancient history and then began to remember the stories associated with many parts of what was only an urban village when I was small. Previously I posted about a local castle ruins in nearby Ballymount where I have many happy summer memories of playing as a child.

Located on the foot of the Dublin-Wicklow mountains, lies the town of Tallaght. In the language of our Gaelic ancestors it was known as Támh Leacht, which translates as ‘Plague Burial Place’. The Lebor Gabála Érenn (the Book Of Invasions) tells the following, Naoi mile do ecc fri h-aoin-sechtmain do muinter Parthaloin for Shenmhaigh Ealta Eadoir .i. cúig míle d’feroibh, & ceithre míle do mnáibh. Conadh de sin ata Taimhleacht Muintere Parthalain. Trí ced bliadhain ro caithsiot i n-Erinn.This translates as, “Nine thousand of them died there, the people of Parthaloin, within weeks on the plain of the flocks near Eadoir. I. Five miles about, & four thousand women. So swollen was Taimhleacht a Muintere Parthalain. Three hundred died too elsewhere that year in Erinn.”

Parthalon was the son of a Greek King who had killed his father in order to succeed to the throne but instead had to flee with his wife and followers. After 7 years wandering they arrived in Ireland. According to the Annals of the four masters the Parthalons arrived in Ireland around 2,600 B.C. Upon arrival they are said to have defeated the Fomorians whom were the native tribe in Ireland at the time. It is believed that it was the Fomorians whom built such places as Newgrange & Knowth which predate the Pyramids of Eygpt. It is said that the Parthalon’s lived in Ireland for approx 300 years when nine thousand of them were wiped out by a mysterious plaque in one week.

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