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The royal sites of Ireland were the seats of the Gaelic kings of Ireland. Medieval sources describe them as the ceremonial capitals of various Irish kingdoms, where kingly inaugurations, assemblies and athletic games were held. Archaeological investigations show that many royal sites were culturally significant for thousands of years before recorded history, and they often include ancient monuments such as Neolithic burial mounds, standing stones, cairns and enclosures.
Each Irish kingdom is thought to have had its own royal site, but six sites are considered to be the most important. These are Tara , seat of the Kings of Meath and the High King, along with the provincial capitals: Navan Fort for Ulster; Rathcroghan for Connacht; Knockaulin for Leinster; and Cashel for Munster. Uisneach represented the union of the provinces and may have served as a meeting place for the kings. These major sites, excluding Navan Fort , have been listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.
These primary sites might be associated with less prominent sites that served other purposes for the kingship. For instance, the King of Tara presided over assemblies at Tailtiu and Tlachgta during the Lughnasadh festival.