The Tipperary Antiquarian

Its funny how a random news report can get you thinking of monuments you visited many moons ago. I happened upon this report in "The Nationalist" newspaper primarily based in Clonmel about a reservoir to be constructed in the townland of Giantsgrave. Obviously with a name like that there must have been a monument here once. Hopefully the stone will not be affected by the works and has been noted. I last visited approximately 11 years ago and I understand that these days this block enclosure with the pillar stone is lost behind a pine plantation. When I last visited there was no entry on archaeology.ie for the site. So when I thought of it after reading the article I found the SMR has a lot to say about the monument. It is likely that this stone was recorded on the Civil Survey of (1654-6) and this shows its importance as a landscape feature. As mentioned below one of the crosses is in raised relief and the other in base relief and you can see that in the photos....

This is one of the Síds of Tipperary that I had forgotten to write up into blog format. People will know it as the dramatic ruin looking down into the valley were Kelly's of Fantane are based. Prof Ronald Hicks who is an expert on the subject says this "Síd (Cullain) – in or near Glenkeen, a valley and parish in County Tipperary with an early monastic site. There are several likely hills nearby, including one in the townland. Perhaps more likely is Cullahill, to the west of the mona ... stic site. Today there is the ruin of a large house of indeterminate age on Cullahill." What is interesting is just how much archaeology and folklore you can see from up here. Looking to the east you can see Knockanora with a cairn on top, next is the hillfort of Garrangrena Lower and then the Devils Bit forms an interesting silhouette. I was really impressed with the views and the remains up here. Archaeology.ie describes the castle as "Situated on natural rock outcrop in...

The other prominent "Fire Hill" visible from Uisneach in Tipperary is Tonn Tinne. Now Tonn Tinne also has many other claims to fame other than this. During the middle ages, chroniclers when recording the story of the origins of the Irish are thought to have grafted a Biblical origin onto the story linking the first Irish people to Old Testament stories. The story goes that the first Irishman was Fintan mac Bochra who came with his 5 wives to Ireland before the Biblical Flood. One of Fintan's wives was Cessair the grand-daughter of Noah. What has this got to do with Tonn Tinne near Portroe I hear you ask? Well after the flood, Fintan was the only survivor as he managed to hide in a cave on Tonn Tinne known as Fintans Grave. Next Wikipedia says "He then turned into an eagle and then a hawk then back to human form. He lived for 5500 years after the Deluge, becoming an advisor to the kings of Ireland. In this capacity he gave advice to the Fir Bolg king Eochaid m...