Tara of Ossoria
| Tara | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Queen of Ossoria | |||||
| Reign | 25 August 2010 – Present | ||||
| Investiture | 22 September 2010 | ||||
| Predecessor | Nevan III | ||||
| Heir presumptive | Nerys Ní Sionán | ||||
| Born | 9 March 1989 Kenlis | ||||
| Prince Consort | Jason Luther von Grath | ||||
| Issue |
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| House | Ó Sionán Dynasty | ||||
| Father | Nevan III of Ossoria | ||||
| Mother | Líle Ní Branáin | ||||
| Religion | Ossorian Druidry | ||||
Tara is the queen regnant of the High Kingdom of Ossoria.
Biography
Early Life
Tara was the second child born to High King Nevan III Ó Sionán and Queen Líle Ní Branáin. When Tara was three, the Queen Mother died due to complications relating to the birth of her younger sister, who was also named Líle in honor of their mother. When she was four, Nóra, Tara's older sister, was killed when the brakes on a truck failed and struck the vehicle in which both she and Tara had been traveling. Tara spent much of her early life in the care of Lúcán Ó Dónaill, who served as her guardian and tutor. On her eighth birthday, Tara was formally declared Heir to the Throne.
Education as Heir
Now officially designated Heir, Tara began her decade of education intended to prepare her to become the next Monarch. She sat in on meetings of the Privy Council and with foreign diplomats, and was encouraged to ask questions by her father, who would occasionally interrupt these meetings to instruct and question Tara on a subject, affair, or procedure. During this time, Ó Dónaill continued to tutor her in subjects such as basic arithmetic, history, literature, etiquette, and philosophy, ensuring that she had a basic education in addition to her political training.
On Tara's eighteenth birthday, she was sent to the Principality of Inis, where she was to rule in her own right. This was the traditional 'final exam' to test her readiness to assume the full powers of the Monarchy, and after three years of governing the small island, she would automatically become Heir-in-Right, her position in the succession solidified.
Rule of Inis
During her tenure as Princess of Inis, Tara oversaw the response to the 2007-2008 winter floods which saw seven deaths in the Principality, the implementation of a mandatory vaccination program in response to a measles outbreak which struck the island in 2008 and resulted in 836 cases and four deaths, and introduced a program of tax incentives to reduce carbon emissions in 2009.
Nevan's Death
After three years ruling Inis, the Privy Council recalled Tara to Kenlis. The High King had recently been diagnosed with Small-cell carcinoma and both Nevan and the Council needed her in the capital to begin taking over the reins of government. Upon her arrival, Nevan and the Council formally named Tara as his Regent and invested her with his authority, thereby allowing her to take control of the government several months prior to his death on 25 August 2010. Tara was officially proclaimed High Queen of Ossoria the same day and was formally invested on the 22 September 2010.
Assassination Attempt
On 4 April 2011, the militant wing of the Republican Faction, a domestic terror group seeking the complete abolition of the aristocracy, attempted to assassinate Tara as she disembarked from her aircraft following a visit to the Kingdom of Arless following serious flooding in the Kingdom. Tara was shot twice while an aide was killed and one of the Bloodsworn was seriously injured in the attack, which resulted in the immediate arrest of the assailant. Tara was taken to a nearby hospital, which was immediately placed under heavy guard.
The Rídhamhna called an emergency session of the Privy Council and named Tara's younger sister Líle as Regent. Tara spent three weeks in hospital before moving to her country estate in western Kenlis to finish her recovery. There, Sir Cathair Ó Raghallaigh, her Champion, submitted his resignation over his self-described failure to protect her, despite Tara having ordered him to take leave to recover from a bout of the flu. Tara refused to even open the envelope, unceremoniously dropping it in a waste bin. She returned to the capital four months later and resumed work.
Description
Tara is a short, slender young woman who has a pale complexion, red hair which she typically wears cut to just above her shoulders, and green eyes. Tara is most commonly described as "pretty", whose features do not stand out very much. She tends to dress in comparatively simple clothes which aren't very conspicuous.
Personal Life
Tara has had six siblings, five of whom are still alive and four of whom are half-siblings. Her full siblings are Nóra (2 years older) and Líle (3 years younger); her half-siblings are Mathúin (2 years older), Cormac (1 year older), Megan (2 years younger), and Ardal (4 years younger).
In her free time, Tara enjoys engaging in hobbies such as sailing and reading. She spends the majority of her time at her official residence in Kenlis and at her country estate.
Tara is very fond of dogs.
Titles and Styles
Ossorian: Her Royal Ossorian Majesty Tara, High Queen of Ossoria, Queen of Kenlis and her other territories, Lord of the Isles, Lord Protector of the Realm, Guardian of the Holy Temple, and Chief of Her Name
West Aotearoan: Her Majesty Tara, Queen of West Aotearoa and of Her Other Realms and Territories
Patronage
As the High Queen, Tara serves as matron to several charitable organizations, including:
- Royal Cancer Treatment Foundation
- Royal Higher Learning Fund
- Royal Animal Sanctuary
- Royal Culture Center
- Royal Academy for the Performing Arts
- Royal Children's Health Institute