Tullyhogue

Tullyhogue is a townland and area in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is located a few miles south of Cookstown. The name Tullyhogue is derived from the Irish 'Tulaigh Uí Chatháin', meaning 'O'Cahan's Hill'. This refers to the prominent hill within the townland, which historically served as a significant meeting and gathering place for the O'Cahan clan, a powerful Gaelic dynasty in Ulster.

The most notable feature of Tullyhogue is the Tullyhogue Fort, a historic earthwork and ceremonial site. This fort is believed to have been the inauguration site for the O'Neill chieftains, the paramount rulers of the O'Neill dynasty in Ulster. It was here that new kings were symbolically invested with their authority, often involving sitting on a special stone or chair. The fort consists of a large circular mound surrounded by a ditch and rampart. While the exact structures that once stood there are long gone, the earthworks themselves remain a testament to its past importance.

The site played a role in the Williamite War in Ireland, with the fort being destroyed by King William III's forces in 1690 on their march to the Battle of the Boyne. Despite its destruction, the historical and archaeological significance of Tullyhogue remains considerable, offering insights into Gaelic chieftaincy and ceremonial practices in pre-Norman and early medieval Ireland. The area is now largely agricultural, but the historical legacy of Tullyhogue Fort continues to draw interest from historians and archaeologists.