The Black Pig's Bed at Lough Gur

Leaba na Muice or the Black Pig's Bed on the edge of Lough Gur in Limerick from the archives (circa 2006).

"Leaba na Muice" is supposed to have been the abode of a famous black pig which did considerable damage to all other animals - especially cows - in the neighbourhood. This famous animal was of considerable size and was fery ferocious and often "mangled" other animals much larger than herself.

Finally the people became exasperated and decided to take the offensive against this destructive animal. The "Clarion Call" went forth and the people armed with forks, knives and patches assembled on Cnoc Aine which would be about 4 miles from the abode of 

the Black Pig. The people were not sure where she had her headquarters as she was often seen miles away from "leaba na muice", and hence they decided to comb the whole district for her. They even knew of three other haunts where they expected she might be. One of those haunts was convenient to Cnoc Aine.

The farmers who assembled in Cnoc Aine on that morning numbered several hundreds. Then they marched northwards - in the direction of Lough Gur - in extended formations. They searched every thicket and wood carefully but no trace of this ferocious animal did they find till they came to "leaba na muice".

When the party reached "leaba na muice" the Black Pig sprang to life and emerged from under the larger flag 

which covered the "leaba". When she came out of the "leaba" 4 bonhams - young pigs - appeared with her. The old mother stood at bay for a while and displayed a fierce, angry countenance together with formidable "tusks" which for a while called a halt to the advance of the angry natives.

Then suddenly as if you instinct or by command, three of the four bonhams fled away towards the north while mother pig cried halt to the advancing human beings. The fourth bonham fled back into the "leaba" and remained there for some time and seeing the armed party pass by on the track of her mother and sisters she too took flight but not to the north but to the south.

When the pig thought that her young ones had got a good start and finding 

herself being surrounded on all sides and her retreat about to be cut off she too turned and fled towards the north and as she did so she looked back at her angry pursuers and without checking her speed she snarled at them in a fierce manner and said

"Woe to the people between Cork and Limerick". 

Note: I have vainly endeavoured to find out 

the exact meaning of this treat or if "woe" did befall them that lived in that "accursed quarter"

The young pigs kept together for sometime closely followed by their protecting mother. Then when some miles of the country had been traversed and all danger seemed past they all separated. One of the bonhams fled to Connaught, another of them into Leinster while the third continued its long and lonely trek into Ulster. It will be seen, therefore, that of the 4 bonhams, one went into each of the 4 provinces of the country.

As for the old "Mammy" she raced towards Limerick City. Then she faced north-east and continued her course almost parallel with the Shannon until she reached Sligo where she halted. On her course she kept to the valley as much as possible and headed for woods and coverts and any other objects which she 

thought would hide her.

Hence the course of this famous pig from Limerick to Sligo was - and is in some places still known as "The Valley of the Black Pig".

I am also informed that references to this episode is also to be found in Colm Coille's Prophesies."

https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922068/4849534/4954398