Slíghe Chualann
Encyclopedia
Slíghe Chualann was an ancient roadway which stretched from the residence of the High King of Ireland
at Tara
to the lands of Cuala. Cuala is the area that is seen today as from South County Dublin to North County Wicklow including Bray. The old Irish name for Bray was Brí Chualann rather than its current Irish name of Bré, thus showing its ancient association to the Slíghe Chualann.
The word Slíghe, also referred to as Slí, is familiar to many people in Ireland today from the phrase Slí na Sláinte
, meaning "Path to Health", used by the Irish Heart Foundation to promote healthy walking routes to encourage people to be more active.
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
at Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
to the lands of Cuala. Cuala is the area that is seen today as from South County Dublin to North County Wicklow including Bray. The old Irish name for Bray was Brí Chualann rather than its current Irish name of Bré, thus showing its ancient association to the Slíghe Chualann.
The word Slíghe, also referred to as Slí, is familiar to many people in Ireland today from the phrase Slí na Sláinte
Slí na Sláinte
Slí na Sláinte , abbreviated SnaS, is an initiative developed by the Irish Heart Foundation, with the aim to encourage and increase the number of people walking in the Republic of Ireland...
, meaning "Path to Health", used by the Irish Heart Foundation to promote healthy walking routes to encourage people to be more active.
Cuala
As referenced in the book A dictionary of Celtic mythology by James MacKillop, "Cuala was the name of the former territory in Leinster from the river Liffey to Arklow, roughly coextensive with modern County Wicklow, including the celebrated monastic centre of Glendalough. The area takes its name from the Cualainn, an early people who were there in Ptolemy's time (2nd century A.D.). Crích Cualann is the district of Cualu. Slí Chualann is the way or the road to Cualu."The five Slíghe roads
There were five Slíghe roads that stretched from Tara the focal point of the High King of Ireland.- Slíghe Asail
- Slíghe Chualann
- Slíghe Dála
- Slíghe Mór
- Slíghe MudlúachraSlige MidluachraSlige Midluachra is the old northern road sometimes known High Kings Road that ran in ancient times from Tara to Dunseverick on the north coast of Ireland.It was one of the legendary Five Roads of Tara, site of the ancient Seat of Ireland's High Kings...