The Tipperary Antiquarian

This weeks Sídh or fairy abode is Craglea near Killaloe in Co. Clare. Craglea is associated with Brian Boru as this is where his clans Banshee Aoibhil is said to have resided. The picture below also appeared in Sean Duffys great book on Brian Boru " http://www.amazon.co.uk/ Brian-Boru-Battle-Clontarf- Duffy/dp/0717162079 " Professor Ronald Hicks who is an expert in the Síd and their location s has this to say about it. "Síd Craige Léithe (Craiglea) in County Clare, overlooking Lough Derg, home of Aoibhil, whose name signifies beauty. Aoibhil was the guardian banshee over north Munster and in particular over the tribe of Dal gCais, which included king Brian Boru. It is said that Aoibhil was in love with Dunlang O'Hartigan, companion of Brian's oldest son, Murchadh. She warned him not to go to the battle of Clontarf against the Vikings or he would surely die, as indeed he did."

Something to add to the Ormond way section of O'Sullivan Beare's march through Tipperary. From the Irish Tourism Report on Templederry dating to the 1940s. "A round conical hill, tree covered, picturesque mound, which is the traditional burial place of some of O’Sullivan Beare’s followers killed at Latteragh (see under Battles). Local residents say that the height of this mound is gradually falling and that the inside is hollow. An opening into the interior (now overgrown) on the side facing the river will be located by” neighbours who lived nearby. “A.D 1602 On Chrismas Day. O’Sullivan Beare was obliged to go away unreceived by the Earl (Thomond)… on the seventh night he remained at Leathrach… he was not a day or a night without receiving fierce assaults and battles”.

Glencar Cairn on Gortnageragh to the north of Doon but in Co. Tipperary . Its a pretty unimposing cairn but Professor Ronald Hicks (who is an expert on references to fairy Síds in ancient literature) thinks its a candidate for Sid Cuile. He says "Síd Cuile (Síd Cuillne) – Mentioned in the Yellow Book of Lecan in the tale Táin Bó Dartada ("The Cattle Raid of Dartaid"), where Eocho Bec of Dún Cuile is invited by Ailill and Medb to a Samhain (Halloween) conference at Crúachan. A woman from the síd (banshee) appears to give him advice about his journey. Location unclear, but my candidate is the hill of Gortnageragh ("field of the sheep"), which lies just northeast of Doon (Dún Cuile), County Limerick, on the Tipperary side of the county boundary. There is a cairn on top." It is described on archaeology.ie as follows: "On top of a poorly drained mountain with good views in all directions. A small modern cairn (H 0.5m; diam. 2m) has been built to ...

Sheegouna cairn & megalithic tomb - Brenormore, near Kilsheelan, South Tipperary . Sheegouna translates as " fairy mound of the cow".  When I climbed Slievenamon back about 10 years ago I noticed this other cairn on the OS map down on a lower peak to the north of the main peak. I headed down to it and spotted an unusual (not marked on the OS map) structure on the way.  I t turns out that structure was an unclassified megalithic tomb. I knew it had to be something alright.  The description of the cairn or "fairy mound". From archaeology.ie "In heather on top of 550m spot-height, on peak of Sheegouna. Oval mound (dims. 18.65m N-S; 22.85m E-W; max. H 2.55m) of angular limestones. Stones removed from N-half to build up four small shelters in the S-half. Small pile of stones possibly re-constructed on the N-side. Bilberry bushes around perimeter. Small stone (H 0.35m; Wth 0.75m), pyramidal in shape is located 12m due N of cairn and is similar to the tr...

I recently posted on my facebook page about a stone near the River Shannon in Castleconnell that is known locally as where St. Patrick blessed Co. Clare from. It is meant to show St. Patrick's footprints, the print of his staff and also the imprint of the last snake as they were banished into Co. Clare. I was actually prompted to visit this rock again by some folklore I found in the Schools Manuscripts about it and another stone. I used to visit it often in my youth. What was even more interesting was another stone near Hermitage in which the following folklore was recorded: "There is another stone that St. Patrick killed a snake on and the mark of the snake is on the stone. This stone is in Hermitage in a field near the railway. Another rock which is called St. Patricks Rock is in the lands of Hermitage. It weighs one ton and on it are marks of horse hooves, a dogs front legs and the impression of St. Patricks feet." http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922094/485185...