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| This motte is close to where I live in Cahir in co. Tipperary. From the first time I visited it I figured that it may have earlier origins than that of a Norman motte. Would anyone argue with putting it up here based on its possibility of having earlier "Celtic" origins? At the very worst it makes a beautiful stop off point for any one on the M8 from Dublin to Cork. Knockgraffon.--Another noted Munster palace was Cnoc-Rafonn, now called Knockgraffon, three miles north of Caher in Tipperary, where the great mound, 60 or 70 feet high, still remains, with the ruins of an English castle beside it. Here resided, in the third century, Fiacha Muillethan [Feeha-Mullehan], king of Munster, who, when the great King Cormac mac Art invaded Munster in an attempt to levy tribute, defeated him at Knocklong and routed his army: an event which forms the subject of the historical tale called "The Siege of Knocklong." The fort is now as noted for fairies as it was in times of old for royalty: and one of the best known modern fairy stories in connexion with it will be found in Crofton Croker's "Fairy Legends of Ireland" namely, "The Legend of Knockgrafton." This Irish legend has been turned into English verse, but with much interpolation, by Thomas Parnell in his ballad, "A Fairy Tale." from http://www.libraryireland.com/[...]yAncientIreland/III-XVI-17.php Secret Sights book has this to say "renowned as a place of otherworldly music. It was widly reputed in the 19th Century to be a place where ceolsidhe, the music of enchantment, could be heard." "it has an ancient well, where Fiacha had placed silver cups for anyone wishing to drink, to offer hospitality and show his rule of law. 7th century poem about it "This great rath on which I stand Wherein is a little well with a bright silver drinking cup Sweet was the voice of the wood of blackbirds Round this rath of Fiacha, son of Moinche" (Joyce, 1913) link to a pic of it. http://www.theapplefarm.com/knockgraffon.htm Reply | with quote |  13th June 2008ce 11:25 |
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