The High Man is a truly astonishing discovery, which has an as yet unclear message for us. It is the giant figure of a warrior, or hero, or god, made up of ancient roads in one of the richest historical and mythical areas of Ireland.

The timing of this amazing revelation is extraordinary given its cosmic symbolism and the importance of such symbolism in Ireland since the very earliest times.

The High Man figure, which is a geoglyph or an anthropomorphic design, was discovered by artist Richard Moore in 1999, who soon introduced it to his companion and research colleague, Anthony Murphy. Both have spent a decade trying to unravel its secrets, and have reached some astonishing conclusions.

The High Man is an enormous figure of a warrior- or god-like man, made up by a system of ancient roads near the east coast of Ireland in an area anciently called Ferrard, which means, literally, “High Man”. Measuring 12 miles from top to bottom, the incredibly human-like character looms large on a very sacred and historical landscape.

While it might seem strange that such a life-like geoglyph should exist in the road network, The High Man is a very potent and profound discovery, with a possible manmade genesis. It might appear that only extraordinary chance could result in such an outstanding visual icon. But what if this huge figure exists not by the result of quirk or chance, but rather by the outstanding brilliance of an ancient design?

In the context of the Irish mythical and archaeological environment, this high hero finds himself in the most eminent area of Ireland. He has his legs in the Boyne, Ireland’s foremost sacred river in ancient times; he lies on an area rich in archaic myth and abundant in tales of giant mythical heroes; and within his boundaries lie Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth – the foremost Irish monuments, rich in astronomy, legend and art.

Another distinguished monument, the Millmount in Drogheda, marks the knee of this giant figure. Millmount in folklore is the burial place of Amergin, who was, according to ancient stories, Ireland’s first poet and law-giver. He was known as "Bright Knee", and indeed Millmount corresponds with the star in Orion known as "Rigel", meaning "Bright Knee".

Back in the Stone Age when Millmount was probably constructed, significant stars and constellations were setting in the direction of Tara. These included Sirius, the brightest star in the entire sky, and the great warrior-like constellation Orion, whose giant shape appears to have been copied onto the ground by The High Man figure.

Amergin landed on May 1st, the feast of Bealtaine, a day that has great astronomical significance, because the sun was located just above the constellation Orion, at a point where the path of the Sun, Moon and planets passes through the Milky Way galaxy. Today, the Sun is located in the hand of Orion on Summer Solstice, a very special cosmic event. This means that the god-like Orion appears to "hold" the sun on the longest day of the year. This image brings to mind the Olympic torch-bearer.

Another great mythical champion who often had his feet placed in the waters of a river was Cúchulainn, the principal character of the Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge, the Cattle Raid of Cooley.

Cúchulainn was conceived at Newgrange, and was described in the Táin as “a huge, high hero . . . vast as a Fomorian giant.” Much of the action in this legendary saga is concentrated in an area known long ago as Muirthemhne, but which today is called County Louth, after Cúchulainn’s spiritual father, Lugh Lamhfada, Lugh of the Long Arm. Muirthemhne was “the plain which Cúchulainn called his own”. The Táin describes Cúchulainn as having a gold-hilted sword in a high clasp on his belt, its ivory guard decorated with gold, a description befitting of the constellation Orion.

Many of Cúchulainn’s battles took place at river fords – crossing points – so it is fitting when gazing upon Orion to see him stand beneath one of the two fords of the sky, the crossing point of the Moon and planets over the Milky Way. It is also fitting that Louth village, named after Cúchulainn’s father Lugh, marks this crossing point above the giant man.