The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Glebe

Stone Circle

Folklore

There is a fairy fort in Tonleeaun, Moytura, where the Tuatha De Danaans and the Firbolgs had a fight. There are twenty tall stones standing in it, and it is said that each stone was a person before the fight, but the king of the Tuatha De Danaans changed them into stones, because they were lazy and would not fight.

There is also a large pot near the fort, which is so large that it takes twenty men to lift it. It is said that the Tuatha De Danaans used to boil four big bullocks in it at one time. The old people around this place say that the fairies come every night after twelve o'clock, light a fire under the big pot, and keep dancing and singing around it until the break of day.

It is a common belief that the fairies take away cattle from people who are not friendly towards them. Of course these people think their cattle have died, but instead they are taken off by the fairies and used by them as they are wanted.
From the Schools Collection of 1930s folklore, now being digitised at Duchas.ie. What can this giant pot refer to? One can't help visualising something like the Gundestrup cauldron. But I wonder what it it means.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
1st April 2016ce
Edited 1st April 2016ce

Comments (0)

You must be logged in to add a comment