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Flame Over Tara
Excellent reprint of the 1964 classic by Madeleine Polland with outstanding illustrations by Omar Davis. Set in Ireland in the year A.D. 432 when Patrick, first Bishop of Rome to Ireland arrives in this pagan land....
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 16, 2021
Flame Over Tara is a historical retelling of the arrival of Patrick in Ireland, as he brings Christianity to the Druid-dominated peoples. The story focuses on two children - cousins - who follow Patrick and his mysterious God as Patrick arrives in their kingdom and then dismantles the public’s belief in Druids.
The premise of this book seems solid on paper, but I found the book to be lacking both in development and plot.
The Irish author (Madeleine Pollard) writes exclusively for children, so I was surprised by her lack of basic explanations. She gives no definition of unusual worlds like “grianin” or “adze,” nor does she provide descriptive words which might allow one to infer meaning from context. (This book has been republished by an American company and I also wish there was an appendix offering the way to pronounce these words.)
She assumes the reader is already intimately familiar with Christianity and Druidism, giving no explanation of the beliefs or motivations behind these religions — a critical gaffe considering the book’s plot is about a showdown between the two. If you didn’t know better, the religions would seem identical.
Even within the book’s plot, the Druid characters are already very familiar with The Roman (Patrick) and the workings of his God — something that seems a bit unexpected given that Patrick talks often of the burden of introducing/bringing his God to the people for the very first time. With as little as Patrick actually TALKS about the tenets of Christianity, his showdown with the Druids seems much more like a competition between magicians.
After twenty minutes of research, it appears that none of the events in this book actually happened. I loathe when historical fiction involving real-life individuals does not give the reader a heads up of fact vs fiction vs legend.
Lastly, the main female character (Macha) spends the entirety of the book trying to decide if she should “give herself to Patrick’s God.” This plot point only serves to raise more questions:
❓How did she know Patrick had a God to give herself to before she even met him?
❓How did she know that “giving herself” to God was a thing?
❓Why did she think that making this vow of following Patrick’s God meant she had to leave home and never marry?
❓Did Druidism involve giving oneself to god, so she was already familiar with the practice?
❓Why is there no explanation of what “giving oneself” to God means (which, one could argue, is a pretty significant error on behalf of the author given that the decision of following this god is the entirety of Macha’s character arc. The author could have had her father ask “what does it mean to follow Patrick’s God - why can’t you do that from home?” And she could have given an answer that rectified all of these questions.)
I liked that this book gave an idea of what it was like to live in Ireland in 500s AD. But that’s about the extent of the depth that this book appeals to me.
NOTES TO TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT: child sacrifice (Benet and the fire), arranged marriage, Macha runs away and disobeys her parents which results in nearly causing a war, there is suspenseful talk/plans about killing a village, three men are killed dramatically (including fairly vivid description of death by fire and another being stabbed/shot by an arrow in the back)
The premise of this book seems solid on paper, but I found the book to be lacking both in development and plot.
The Irish author (Madeleine Pollard) writes exclusively for children, so I was surprised by her lack of basic explanations. She gives no definition of unusual worlds like “grianin” or “adze,” nor does she provide descriptive words which might allow one to infer meaning from context. (This book has been republished by an American company and I also wish there was an appendix offering the way to pronounce these words.)
She assumes the reader is already intimately familiar with Christianity and Druidism, giving no explanation of the beliefs or motivations behind these religions — a critical gaffe considering the book’s plot is about a showdown between the two. If you didn’t know better, the religions would seem identical.
Even within the book’s plot, the Druid characters are already very familiar with The Roman (Patrick) and the workings of his God — something that seems a bit unexpected given that Patrick talks often of the burden of introducing/bringing his God to the people for the very first time. With as little as Patrick actually TALKS about the tenets of Christianity, his showdown with the Druids seems much more like a competition between magicians.
After twenty minutes of research, it appears that none of the events in this book actually happened. I loathe when historical fiction involving real-life individuals does not give the reader a heads up of fact vs fiction vs legend.
Lastly, the main female character (Macha) spends the entirety of the book trying to decide if she should “give herself to Patrick’s God.” This plot point only serves to raise more questions:
❓How did she know Patrick had a God to give herself to before she even met him?
❓How did she know that “giving herself” to God was a thing?
❓Why did she think that making this vow of following Patrick’s God meant she had to leave home and never marry?
❓Did Druidism involve giving oneself to god, so she was already familiar with the practice?
❓Why is there no explanation of what “giving oneself” to God means (which, one could argue, is a pretty significant error on behalf of the author given that the decision of following this god is the entirety of Macha’s character arc. The author could have had her father ask “what does it mean to follow Patrick’s God - why can’t you do that from home?” And she could have given an answer that rectified all of these questions.)
I liked that this book gave an idea of what it was like to live in Ireland in 500s AD. But that’s about the extent of the depth that this book appeals to me.
NOTES TO TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT: child sacrifice (Benet and the fire), arranged marriage, Macha runs away and disobeys her parents which results in nearly causing a war, there is suspenseful talk/plans about killing a village, three men are killed dramatically (including fairly vivid description of death by fire and another being stabbed/shot by an arrow in the back)
September 17, 2013
Macha drove me insane. There I've said it. Yet I'm still able to call this book 4 stars.
Like most of what we do for Sonlight I start a lot of these books with a great deal of skepticism. I think, "This seems wordy and dull and way too detailed with the history to be any good."
Then I get through the book and as I close it for the last time I sigh a little and think, "Now that was a good book."
You'd think I'd learn to trust Sonlight more.
Still, the story of St. Patrick is an interesting one, especially from this point of view. I think I liked Leary best in my own way, but then he's an interesting king - and much much smarter than most people give him credit for.
Very good book!
Like most of what we do for Sonlight I start a lot of these books with a great deal of skepticism. I think, "This seems wordy and dull and way too detailed with the history to be any good."
Then I get through the book and as I close it for the last time I sigh a little and think, "Now that was a good book."
You'd think I'd learn to trust Sonlight more.
Still, the story of St. Patrick is an interesting one, especially from this point of view. I think I liked Leary best in my own way, but then he's an interesting king - and much much smarter than most people give him credit for.
Very good book!
January 1, 2022
Fourth book of 2022 ...???
A historical retelling of St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. Pretty cool concept, actually: 400s missionary to Ireland, became the bishop, and brought Christianity to the lands of Druid-dominated culture.
This story centers around Macha, a fourteen-year-old girl who is happy with her life until she hears Patrick speak of his God. She had been pledged to marry a man and her family was soon to fetch her from her foster parents, but she ran away to pursue this new God.
I think this story could be done much better, but, nevertheless, I have read it numerous times. The historical precedent is significant, and Macha is a decent character. Still a good book.
A historical retelling of St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. Pretty cool concept, actually: 400s missionary to Ireland, became the bishop, and brought Christianity to the lands of Druid-dominated culture.
This story centers around Macha, a fourteen-year-old girl who is happy with her life until she hears Patrick speak of his God. She had been pledged to marry a man and her family was soon to fetch her from her foster parents, but she ran away to pursue this new God.
I think this story could be done much better, but, nevertheless, I have read it numerous times. The historical precedent is significant, and Macha is a decent character. Still a good book.
May 9, 2024
This was an imaginative, heart-warming story surrounding Saint Patrick arriving in and evangelizing Ireland...a clear reminder that our trust must be completely in Our Lord.
March 3, 2015
Soon the Leprechaun traps will appear in our home, constructed from oatmeal containers, Legos, Lincoln logs, and an old cracker box painted green. They get a bit more sophisticated every year, but the bait is always the same: the golden Legos and anything else the boys can find that resembles gold. In the many years that we have been “trapping” Leprechauns, we have yet to capture anyone, and, to be honest, the only real proof that we have of the Leprechauns’ existence is the havoc they wreak upon our house every St. Patrick’s Day Eve (a little-known observance, to be sure). They’ve been known to turn the milk green, to kidnap stuffed animals and dress them in green clothing, and even to write “Leprechauns Rule – Boys Drool” on our windows in green finger paint. Our sons are highly motivated in this business of building Leprechaun traps, because the sneaky little guys in green always spring the traps and leave behind some of their treasure: golden wrapped candy.
Obviously, there is no spiritual significance to this crazy holiday tradition — unless one values the teaching that God invented fun and delights in creativity — but, it certainly heightens my boys’ interest in reading stories about St. Patrick, both historical and fanciful. Flame Over Tara has been read aloud several times in our home, coming to us as part of our history curriculum, but finding a home on our bookcase and in our year. Author Madeleine Polland has masterfully woven two young fictional protagonists and their families into the context of the Roman Empire’s expansion across the Channel and Patrick’s arrival in Ireland in 432 A.D. Macha, a young teen, but of marriageable age in that culture, and her eleven-year-old foster brother Benet meet Patrick on the day of his arrival and are drawn by his mystique, his talk of a foreign God, and their father’s revelation that Patrick’s arrival fulfills an ancient prophecy.
With all of Ireland’s spiritual life in the grip of the Druid priesthood, superstition and magic are all the Irish knew of spirituality. Patrick’s arrival is met with distrust and outright hostility, especially among the Druidic advisors to King Leary. Young Benet is swiftly chosen to apprentice under Patrick; therefore, Macha is seized with restlessness and a desire to learn more about Patrick’s God. An impetuous decision imperils her family, endangers Patrick, and spreads political intrigue all the way to the royal palace.
Wise as a serpent, Patrick challenges the rituals of darkness during the Druid’s high holy day, trusting his God, his knowledge of nature, and the brain that God gave him. Drawn into the crisis, Benet demonstrates faith in God and loyalty to his mentor under incredible pressure, and Macha matures into a deeper understanding of what it means to follow the true and living God. Polland’s rich narrative provides the back story to many of the blarney tales behind the legend of St. Patrick, resulting in an account that is both historically enlightening and God-exalting. Flame Over Tara is a great addition to a homeschool curriculum and a great family read-aloud for the month of March!
Obviously, there is no spiritual significance to this crazy holiday tradition — unless one values the teaching that God invented fun and delights in creativity — but, it certainly heightens my boys’ interest in reading stories about St. Patrick, both historical and fanciful. Flame Over Tara has been read aloud several times in our home, coming to us as part of our history curriculum, but finding a home on our bookcase and in our year. Author Madeleine Polland has masterfully woven two young fictional protagonists and their families into the context of the Roman Empire’s expansion across the Channel and Patrick’s arrival in Ireland in 432 A.D. Macha, a young teen, but of marriageable age in that culture, and her eleven-year-old foster brother Benet meet Patrick on the day of his arrival and are drawn by his mystique, his talk of a foreign God, and their father’s revelation that Patrick’s arrival fulfills an ancient prophecy.
With all of Ireland’s spiritual life in the grip of the Druid priesthood, superstition and magic are all the Irish knew of spirituality. Patrick’s arrival is met with distrust and outright hostility, especially among the Druidic advisors to King Leary. Young Benet is swiftly chosen to apprentice under Patrick; therefore, Macha is seized with restlessness and a desire to learn more about Patrick’s God. An impetuous decision imperils her family, endangers Patrick, and spreads political intrigue all the way to the royal palace.
Wise as a serpent, Patrick challenges the rituals of darkness during the Druid’s high holy day, trusting his God, his knowledge of nature, and the brain that God gave him. Drawn into the crisis, Benet demonstrates faith in God and loyalty to his mentor under incredible pressure, and Macha matures into a deeper understanding of what it means to follow the true and living God. Polland’s rich narrative provides the back story to many of the blarney tales behind the legend of St. Patrick, resulting in an account that is both historically enlightening and God-exalting. Flame Over Tara is a great addition to a homeschool curriculum and a great family read-aloud for the month of March!
March 3, 2017
Fascinating historical fiction about St. Patrick. I'm so intrigued that I am longing to learn more about him.
February 24, 2015
Gripping historical fiction about Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland. The author has done her homework, and it shows. Not your average child's story--it was challenging to read to the kids so that they understood the terms and culture, etc (a glossary would have been helpful), but it was also engaging on multiple levels, including a love story. Recommended.
December 8, 2024
Good book.
July 18, 2025
Really, the best parts of this book are the setting and the fictional telling of some of St. Patrick's ministry. The characters, including Patrick, are rather bland and flat, the story is pretty predictable, and the writing style is odd and difficult to follow. The reason I'd give it three stars is due to the uniqueness of the setting; very few stories centre on the ministry of St. Patrick that aren't embellished with tons of legends. It's an enjoyable story for the setting and looking at Patrick through Pollard's book, but it's certainly not a super strong story. If you're interested in it for young boys they may enjoy some of it, I know I enjoyed portions of it, but it's not an engrossing story.
January 18, 2025
Read this as a part of our Sonlight curriculum.
This would not have been one I’d likely ever have chosen to read on my own, but I actually ended up enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would! Reading it out loud was a bit difficult, as many of the sentences were quite LONG, but I still feel as though it was quite well written. The character growth throughout the book was nice. And the ending made me smile.
This would not have been one I’d likely ever have chosen to read on my own, but I actually ended up enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would! Reading it out loud was a bit difficult, as many of the sentences were quite LONG, but I still feel as though it was quite well written. The character growth throughout the book was nice. And the ending made me smile.
April 22, 2020
Hmmm... I really like the internal struggle of the girl in this book.
January 25, 2022
It was a little confusing in the beginning but then it took a very good turn.
January 28, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's a great book, but the same time I felt like it really slow.
December 28, 2022
School book that made the story of St Patrick and Ireland so real.
March 21, 2025
Retelling of St. Patrick... part of our school curriculum and boring 😬
May 20, 2025
I need more books on medieval Ireland.
July 19, 2025
Delightfully legendary, but more realistic than fantastic. Incomplete characters for a novel, but an enjoyable experience with St. Patrick.
December 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
December 11, 2025
This book I LOVED idk something about the love story and Macha trying to find st. Patrick It is like a teenage rebellion story with her parents
September 19, 2008
In this beautifully written novel we follow a young girl as she struggles with her future after Patrick arrives in Ireland with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Macha had been excited to hear the news that she was going home to her parents and was to be married, although she was but fourteen years old. But when Patrick came onto the scene telling of his God, she was intrigued and determined to follow him like her foster brother Benet. The difference was that he had permission, and there were grave consequences for many when Macha's father heard that she was gone. The druids were not too pleased with Patrick and his gospel, and they try many means to get rid of him. Patrick outwits them, more by logical thinking than by the power of God, but nevertheless, God is accepted. Macha had promised herself to follow Patrick's God, her parents wanted her to marry, and Patrick himself had told her to obey her parents. Truly, she was not opposed to marrying...
This is a great book for a rainy day and will capture the attention of young people who may be studying this time time period.
This is a great book for a rainy day and will capture the attention of young people who may be studying this time time period.
August 22, 2013
I didn't really care for the writing style of this book. It just didn't pull me into the story, and at times I was a bit confused. But I loved the story.
This was a great book about Saint Patrick, and early Irish history.
This was a great book about Saint Patrick, and early Irish history.
April 4, 2013
This was a rather timely read aloud as it was about St. Patrick's crusade to win Ireland for Christ. We had no idea when we started reading it that he would be one of the main characters, and then right about March 17th he popped on the scene and we all got a good laugh. Even though we found this book to be too wordy, and on several occasions I found myself editing on the spot, the characters were well written and around the last 4 chapters it picked up for a nice ending.
October 7, 2015
Stirring account for children of the coming of St. Patrick, first bishop of Rome to Ireland, in 432 AD. On his arrival to the island, the meek and loving St. Patrick is immediately accepted by one small native tribe, but soon he most prove to the High King and his Druid Priests that his Christian god is greater. As the struggle unfolds, Macha and Benet, two young Irish children, are caught up in the struggle and come to believe in Patrick and his god.
October 28, 2015
Flame Over Tara is a delightful story about Saint Patrick’s arrival in Ireland. Madeleine Polland seems to have a gift for making the past come to life. The last half of the book, especially, is gripping. I read the last three chapters aloud in one long marathon; we couldn’t wait any longer to find out how the story turned out!
Read my full review here.
October 12, 2015
I read this book aloud to my 4th, 7th, and 8th graders. It was really slow in the beginning. So slow and boring that I almost gave up on it. However, after a bit the story did pick up nicely and it hooked us all and I am glad we stuck with it. I might read this to my younger kids at some point in the future. 3.5 stars.
May 11, 2016
It was an interesting book based in Ireland when ST Patrick came with the gospel to preach it. When Macha at first wans to ignore it but is faced with a dilema when her brother, Benet goes with Patrick to help him.Later she accepts the Christian faith when the Druids lose against Patrick. She falls in love with Kiann.
I would recommend it for boys and girls for a family read aloud.
I would recommend it for boys and girls for a family read aloud.
December 31, 2015
The story is only above average in plot and character development. It is written about a time and setting that I had only limited knowledge though, and so what I gained in historical knowledge made it worth the read.
October 22, 2011
I wanted to love this book--it's Ireland and St. Patrick after all. My kids thought it was boring though and I doubt they retained anything from the story.
September 14, 2011
I really liked this book. I remember both kids thinking it was really "mushy". I did wonder a bit about the appropriateness of it to the age level.
February 24, 2013
Interesting. Can't say I agreed with Patrick agreeing to the Druids fire test.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews