Latest Folklore

The information on the Historic Environment Viewer says this stone is 1.2m high × 0.7m wide × 0.6m thick, with a shallow depression on top. There’s a quartz stone nearby too, 0.6m high × c. 0.7m × 0.6m. And “according to local tradition the standing stone was used as a Mass Rock”. There’s a story from the Schools Collection of the 1930s transcribed at duchas.ie:

It is a large stone standing upright with a large white stone to the Moville side.
One side of the stone has mouldered away with the storm.
The owner of the field was asked to remove the stone but he objected. He said his mother told him not to remove it for any quantity of gold or silver. The stone has been there for thousands of years and the story has been handed down from sire to son. It has been called from the beginning of time “the standing stone” or “the fairy grove.”
It is about four feet high and two feet broad.

It is said that some of the older people who are not alive nowadays, saw a fairy appear, and this belief still holds good to the ones who owns the fields with the stone, which it contains, and they won’t remove it.

I got this story from Michael Gillespie. He lives in Ballymacarter. He told me that his uncle told him about a giant who lived in Magilligan. He was a strong man. He was twelve foot high. He and another man were quarrying stones. This giant could lift a stone over a ton in weight. They came on a stone which was long and flat. They found some treasure under the stone. Away they went and got drunk. They began to fight about which of them could lift the stone. The giant said he would throw it to the other side of the water. He did so and it is there in Ballybrack since.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie. There is another story about the stone here...

There is a “standing stone” in Ballybrack. People of the neighbourhood say that this stone was thrown from Magilligan by a giant before he had got his breakfast. Other people say that a great warrior is buried there and that the stone was put there to mark the grave.

and here...

Stands upright out of the ground by the roadside at Ballybrack, Moville. About 4 1/2 feet high and 4 yards from the roadside. There are marks on it, some people say it is ancient writing.
Finn McCool is said to have thrown it from the other side of Lough. Another version or legend says it marks the grave of a Dane, for Danes occupied L. Foyle in their day.
It is also said that two giants were fighting, one on either side of L. Foyle, and that this stone was thrown from the Derry side and struck the Giant in the head and crushed him into the ground here.

There is a very large stone called the “Ho or Howe Stone” in a field near Balcunnin cross roads. One going along the main road from Lusk to Skerries can view the “Ho stone” in the field on the right hand side of the road. It is only a distance of twenty yards from the Balcunnin Cross Roads. It is about five feet in height and must weigh about 3 or 4 tons in weight. There is a smaller stone near it but whether this was broken from the original stone would be difficult to state. The “Ho stone” resembles Cromlech stones which are to be seen in many parts of Ireland but there is no visible inscription on it.

Some say that it was part of Baldungan Castle that was destroyed in the rebellion of war but this would belie the suggestion that castle was destroyed by Cromwell from the sea and it is situated on the same road as Cromwell’s Bush. If Cromwell destroyed Baldungan Castle from Loughshinny by cannon fire it is very unlikely that a mass of stone weighing some tons could be blown for such a distance as it lies almost a half mile from the site of the castle.

Local tradition states that it covers the entrance to a cave or a passage which leads to Baldungan Castle but no effort has ever been made to prove this assertion. The defenders of the Castle are supposed to have retreated into this passage with their valuables and when the Castle was levelled the passage is supposed to have caved in on them. There seems to be no entrance from Baldungan Castle at present to this supposed passage but the entrance may have been choked by falling debris which still remains concealing the entrance.

No no don’t overthink the folklore please, you’re trying to hard to make it make sense. It’s not necessary. A story in the 1930s Schools Collection which is now being digitised at duchas.ie.

The note on the Historic Environment Viewer map claims there’s no trace of this stone now. But it’s a forested boggy area... can we hope it’s just slipped out of view?

Long ago when Fionn Mc Cool and his companions were hunting the wild deer in Connacht they came to a little house which was built under the shadow of a high cliff. Being tired and hungry they thought they would get something to eat in it. Upon knocking at the door it was opened by an old woman who inquired what they wanted. Upon learning that they were hungry and thirsty she invited them inside and set a fine meal before them. When they had eaten and drunk their fill they returned out again. Great was their surprise to find another group of warriors sitting on the green outside the house. Fionn recognised their leader as his old enemy Goll Mac Morna. At this time there was a truce between them. Both companies saluted one another cordially enough. After they had conversed a while they began some games. Everything went on well for a while.

Now it happened there was a huge stone near by and this stone was supposed to cover the entrance to a fairy dwelling. Goll challenged Fionn to lift the stone from the entrance. Fionn was loth to do so for as we knew he was tired of the chase before hand. This only caused Goll and his companions to laugh and they taunted Fionn saying that he was not able to perform this feat. This enraged Fionn who started up and getting a good hold of the stone tried to enforce it out of its place. He found to his sorrow he was unable to do so. This made Goll and his friends laugh and you may be sure that this did not please Fionn and his heroes.

A battle between the two parties was imminent when the old woman came out of the house and reproached them with causing her so much annoyance. When they told her of the challenge and how Fionn had failed she went into the house again. She came out in a few minutes carrying a ripe yellow apple which she handed to Fionn, telling him at the same time to eat half of it and throw the other half over his left shoulder. When he had done this she told him to lift the stone now. Going over to sit the second time he caught hold of it and with one mighty heave pulled the stone from its bed. All who witnessed this mighty feat were amazed. Then lifting it over his head he gave it a mighty cast over the sea. The stone kept on flying in the air and at last it fell on the top of a hill near the town now known as Killybegs.

It bears the tracks of Fionn’s fingers even to this day and ever since it has been called Fionn’s Finger Stone. It is said that when a person goes up on top of the stone he would feel as if he were sailing through the air.

From the 1930s Schools Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

According to Prehistoric Waterford this is the stone known as the “High Stone”.

This stone is situated about 100 yards from Picketts Cross. Tradition says that a tailor living here was ordered by a giant to make a suit of clothes for him in a certain time. When the giant came for the clothes the tailor had not them ready, and the giant was so angry that he threw this stone at the tailor and buried him under it. The marks of the giant’s fingers are to be seen on the stone.

This story from Patrick Walshe in the 1930s is part of the Schools Collection that is presently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are two stones known as “the standing stones” in a field about one hundred yards above the school-house.
There is a story told that one time two giants were on the top of Lough Salt hill. They thought they would try their skill and see which would throw the farther. One giant threw his stone and his stone fell into this field. The other giant threw his stone and it fell about three inches in front of the first stone.

From the Schools Collection collected in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

St Columkille’s stone is near these stepping stones, but the latter are not given billing on the archaeology.ie map, and yes perhaps they’re natural. But they’re part of the story and they’re stoney and folklorish so I’m squeezing them in here. They’re at the end of Bridge Isle point. Columba and Columkille, it’s all the same by the way.

Across Gartan Lough there is a row of stones still to be seen. These are called Saint Columba’s steps. One morning as Saint Columba was putting on his boots, his enemies came and he had to run away having only one boot on. It is said that he crossed here to the other side out of his enemies’ reach.

He said that, after that a curse would rest on the man that laced one boot before he put on the other. Most people of this district try to avoid the curse by putting on both boots before lacing one.
I often heard my parents talk about this when I was quite young and I still remember it.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

Some cite a legend that the stone rolls down the low hill every night at midnight only to reappear each morning, though sceptics scoff at such superstition and say it only happens every Halloween.

The Guardian, 5/4/16

;-)

There was a man one time and he had a rye-grass field in which there was a fort. He went and picked all the stones and put them into the fort. On the next night there was a lot of roaring and crying. The man got very much afraid and the next day he took out every stone that was in the fort. On that night the people of the village was out listening to the beautiful music they (fairies) were playing. When the harvest came the man was out stooking oats. It was about dusk and the fairies came out with candles to show him light. The man got afraid and ran away, but when he got up in the morning all the oats was stooked.
The people of this district are very slow to interfere with a fort in such a way as rooting or cutting bushes.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a fort in Knoxes field Rathfran. It is said that if you go out after twelve o’clock at night and pass that fort you will hear dogs barking and children crying. That field is called the fort field.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a lot of Stones in this village. There are some in John Langans field. Breastagh. There is one big stone in the field. It is said that it is a tomb stone over a grave.
People come there every year from far away. Some people that come there cry. That that stone marks the grave of “Gabra son of Awley” It is written on the side of the stone in Ogham. It is said that there is as much of the stone under the ground as there is over it. Because the earth is growing every year. There are other stones in that field besides that one. Some people said that the Pagans used them for altars long ago. Other people say that they are tomb stones.

Doubtless the other stones are those of the Breastagh wedge tomb. You can see the Ogham very clearly in this photo from the National Library of Ireland. Story from the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are a few old stones around this place. They are standing up straight. They are long. One of the stones is in Tommy Gilmartins field. There is another stone in Currower. It is in Martin Mullen’s land. There is another one in Carracrum. It is in John Crean’s land.
There is writing on the one in Martin Mullen’s field. Nobody around here can read it. It is a kind of writing that was in it long ago. It is called “Ogham”. People say that there is music in it. It rattles when it is struck.

The stone that is in Tommy Gilmartin’s field is ten feet long, two feet wide and one foot ten inches thick. I wasn’t at the other two at all. There is another one in Carralavin. The old people have a name for those old stones. They call them “spílés”.

You would think that these old stones come from Foxford and go down towards Sligo. People say that there were giants long ago who were building a big castle for the king. Before they landed at the place they heard the king was dead. They dropped the stones down at the spot they were at and they are standing there since.

Others say that these stones were set up as pagan gods. The pagans used to adore them.
There is another stone in Johnny Igoe’s field. It is not very big. About six feet away from it there is another small one. They say that there was a giant buried there.

These old stones are not in the best land. The stone that is in Tommy Gilmartin’s field is in the worst of his land. The others are in bad land too.

I’m guessing this is the stone on Tommy Gilmartin’s land, as it’s near an ogham stone. I love that people say the Ogham has music in it. And that a tentative connection is made between the stones and poor land (though I’d imagine that’s actually because poor land is less likely to get ploughed up). Stories from the 1930s School Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

I know, I know, “sacred well” and all that disputed antiquity business. But let me have this one, it comes with its own stone. I can’t see the stone on the map, but surely it’s still there? Imagine how much fun it would be if they were cupmarks. There’s an ogham stone in the neighbouring graveyard. But from the description it can’t be that.

There is a stone lying down flat in Kilgarvin. It is opposite St Brians Well. There are marks on this stone. They are supposed to be the tracks of the hands and feet of St Brian.
The stone is four feet long and two and a half feet wide. It is about fifteen yards from the nearest point of the graveyard. It is ten yards from the well.

From the Schools collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a big standing stone in a field owned by Martin Moran of Caralavin. There is no writing on it.
There is another stone in a field now owned by Thomas Gilmartin of Carracrum. It is sloped a little to one side. This is the stone that gave Carracrum its name.
There are two standing stones like those I have already mention in Cara. Some years ago one of them fell but the people decided to put it up again. It took thirty men to put it up.
Another stone stands in a field owned by Patrick McAndrew of Caracrum. There is no writing on any of these stones.
There is ogham writing on a stone in Carower however. Once some people started digging under this stone for gold. They were not long digging when they saw that the stone was about to fall. When they saw this they ran away.
There are some small stones in a field owned by Thomas Judge of Carrowreagh.
All those stones were supposed to be brought by giants once to build a castle for a king. As they were coming they heard that the king was dead. They then dropped the stones. This accounts for the number of stones in this district.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a cromlech at Knockeen which consists of eight large stones. The largest stone weighs four tons. There are six supporting stones and two covering stones. Some people call it the “Druid’s Altar”. It is said that the women carried the stones in their aprons to make the cromlech. Some people say that a giant who was passing by one day took a bite out of Sugarloaf Hill, and the cromlech is made of the crumbs he dropped.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now being digitised at duchas.ie.

There are three raths in Brownhall – maybe this is the one discussed, maybe it isn’t (but it looks quite visible on the aerial photo so will be there if you visit it). Perhaps they’re all connected up anyway...

There are several forts in the District. There is one in Brownhall, one in Rathduff and one in Loona. They are sometimes called dúns. There is a distance of about two miles between each fort.
In the Brownhall fort the ground is raised about twenty feet, the sides of it are very straight and hard to climb. It is circular on the top and surrounded by two rows of trees. In the centre is a square opening at the head of which is a small tree.
A few years ago a cow got lost, the people searched around without success. She was found dead in the fort. This roused their interest and a man went down in it. About a mile down the passage it is slightly blocked. There is a fort in Prizon and another in Brize. They are connected with Brownhall.
In years gone by there was a Danish fortress about a mile and a half from Brownhall. The Brownhall fort was used as an escape from the fortress when it was attacked by the Irish. They were also used for sending secret messages and for hiding in. I was down in it myself and the workmanship is perfect. About every five yards down the passage, there is a hole in the roof to let light and air in. There are three rooms in it with a small opening into each one.
There is a legend saying that “a Dane who rode a white horse is supposed to have hidden there, but, he was caught and killed. After his death he was supposed to ride around the fort every night.
Music is supposed to be heard in it on Danish feasts. Lights are supposed to be seen there but it was afterwards proved that it was the glow-worm.
The grounds around the Rathduff fort are about thirty feet high and the floor is very wide. It is fixed with grass sods and it is circular in shape. There are big trees growing around it. There is an entrance in the middle with three steps on the brink.
The fairy people are supposed to have lived in them. A great many people have seen lights in them and wild cats also. The owners of the land never touched the forts when ploughing or sowing crops.
After the de Dannans were beaten at the battle of Moytura, they went into the caves and the forts and the mountains. These people are supposed to be the fairies who lived under the grounds.
The Loona fort is similar to the Brownhall fort.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

Let us hear no more of this glow-worm heresy.

There is a liss in Mr. G. Coghlan’s land in the townland of Ballynaraha, Lismore, Co. Waterford. There is another in Mr O’Donnells land in the townland of Deerpark, Lismore, Co. Waterford. Both lisses are in view of one another.
There is an archway in the front with a fence all around partly built of stones. The entrance is closed; no one ever explored them.
A large quantity of tobacco and some gold was found in Deerpark liss. The Danes built the lisses for hiding places; they had them for escapes during the war. The Danes had the lisses first and then it was thought the fairies were there.
It was thought Mr Coghlan ploughed the field that the liss was in, and all the cattle that were in the field died, and all crops failed until he turned back the sods again, and from that day no cattle died. Music was heard from the liss and you could hear the fairies kicking the football.

From the Schools Collection which is currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

In a field in Deerpark, Lismore, Co. Waterford there is a Fairy Fort, and about a mile away from it, there is another. It is said that there is an underground tunnel running between them. Around one there is a fence of earth and stones and a gap left for an entrance. Nobody ever went in to explore it. The fence of the other fort was knocked down and ever since, whatever crop is planted in the field nothing grows where the fence was. It is said that music was heard and lights were seen in the forts. Wild cats were also seen in their neighbourhood.

Another fort was situated on Camphurie Hill on the farm of Michael O’Donnell but it was rooted some time ago.

It is said that forts were built by the fairies who lived in them. Fairies were very small people who carried purses, each of which when opened would contain a shilling. A man once saw a fairy and asked him for his purse. The fairy asked what the man behind him wanted. On turning the foolish man saw nobody but when he turned to the fairy he had disappeared.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

There is a fort in the townland of Lisnolan. It is surrounded by a high bank. In the middle of the fort there is a small white-thorn bush growing and no haws ever grow on it. People say it is not a safe place to be passing at night.

One night two men were coming home from a wake and they saw a light in the fort and a lot of people walking about inside. One time the cows used to be milked in the field where this fort is. Every morning when the owner went out he used to find that the cows would give no milk. So one night himself and a few neighbours decided to watch. At three o’clock in the morning they saw a hare coming and sucking the cows. They set hounds on her but they could not catch her.

There was an old man in the village and he told them that if they got a black hound they could catch her. This was done and again they watched. When the hare came they set the hound on her and he caught her by the tail and bit it off. When the man came he found a old woman sitting under the bush and her crying. They asked her why she was crying and she said she was afraid of his hound and then she disappeared through the bushes. Ever afterwards the cows gave the usual supply of milk.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and currently being digitised at duchas.ie.

Cathair Pheatar is a cave in the townland of Ballymagibbon. There is an entrance into it like a doorway with a few steps down. About thirty years ago boys used to go down into it with a lighted candle, they were afraid to go down far for fear the candle would quench. It has a wall on each side about six feet high. The tunnel is leading to Moytura House. In the year 1865 there was noise heard there laying a table with forks and knives. Lights were seen at the mouth of it by local people.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s, and now part of the National Folklore Collection being digitised at duchas.ie.

This is indeed about a mile south of Manorhamilton. So I hope it is the place, the scene of a tough cock-fighting frog.

About one mile south of Manorhamilton is a bog called the Stone Pound. In it is a very large Giants grave. It is said that there are crocks of gold buried there and it belonged to the Giant. There is a frog minding it. One time a man brought a black cock and if he killed the frog he would get the gold. He brought the cock and set him fighting with the frog but the cock was not able to beat him. Another man brought a cock but the cock was unable to beat the frog. So the gold is said to be still there and the frog is still there minding it until the present day.

From the Schools Collection made in the 1930s for the National Folklore Collection, and currently being digitised on duchas.ie.

The Giants Grave is situated in the Deerpark. There are three departments in it. Some say that Giants were buried there and that it got its name from them. Others say that Owen Bell was buried there and others say it was a Druid’s Altar.

There are a number of big stones there and there is a lovely view from it.

It was more like a big grave in olden time than it is at present. There is an old story told of the grave by an old man who lived in Chapel Town near Cnoc Mór, a hill near Colga lake. He told that the giant stood on the middle of this hill to consider where he should have his grave. He looked towards the sunrise and said he would have it in that direction. He walked to the Deerpark and dug his grave there. He found his health failing. He remained in the Deerpark and lay in his grave every night. One night he died in it. It is not known how he was covered but it was well done.

From the Schools Collection of the 1930s, currently being digitised at duchas.ie. I like that other features of the landscape and the direction of the sunrise should be part of the story. Was Owen Bell one of the kings of Connacht? Mere googling is not telling me much.

In the townland of Lislary there is a fairy fort. When you enter it you can go half mile to your right and the same to your left. There is a tunnel in this fort; it was well built. On each side and overhead there are heavy stone flags. It is six feet high and there are hob holes on each side in the walls. It is on a hill in the middle of a field. Lights were seen several times in this fort, they are not stationary but keep travelling. Big black cats, large as dogs are often seen there.
The owner lives a quarter of a mile from it. One time he was building walls so he took stones from the forth. He got sick and had to remain six weeks in bed. The stones were found to be the cause of his illness, so when they were returned he arose at once.

My favourites, the anomalous big cats. This is near the sea and I bet it’s a great spot.
The story is from the Schools’ Collection of the National Folklore Collection, and was written down in the 1930s.

Between Colloney and Ballymote there is a townland called Carrick-Banagher. In it there is a fort which belongs to the fairies. Cashel it is called. Many people say they have seen lights there, travelling around. It resembles a candle placed on a pole which was carried around by a man. The light appears about twelve, and continues to one o’clock. If a person in the district is ill, beautiful music is heard if the person is going to die. This music can be heard quite plainly five miles away.

From the 1930s Schools Collection of the National Folklore Collection, now being digitised at duchas.ie.

Surely this impressive structure has to be the location for this extensive amount of folklore. It’s on top of a knoll and surrounded by trees, so this also matches the description. But please dispute this if you know better. The stories were written down as part of the Schools Collection of the 1930s (a project to digitise them is currently in progress at duchas.ie).

In the townland of Clogher there is a fairy fort. This fort, which is situated on a little mound, is circular in shape and is almost entirely surrounded by trees. Close to the fort is a by-road. Tradition tells us that many strange sights have been seen around this spot.

Some years ago some of the neighbouring children were passing by and to their astonishment they heard music, singing, laughter and ringing of bells. The children were horror stricken as they had often heard that the place was haunted with fairies and in amazement they turned towards the fort and there beheld a large crowd of what they thought were children. These were dressed in the most beautiful shades and colours and they formed a circle around the fort. The children now became terrified and grasping hold of each other they sat down on the fence as they could not seem to know where they were. The music still continued to ring in their ears and the laughter and talk which they could not understand also continued. After a time a bell rang, the music stopped, the fairies disappeared and everything was left unchanged and the children returned home to relate to their parents all that had happened. The parents on hearing the children describe the little folk whom they had seen informed them that these were fairies.

Another traditional story tells us of a neighbouring man who was one night returning home from visiting and he crossed the hill known as “Mullach na leice” wherein it is supposed there is a valuable treasure secluded. On hearing very loud talk he turned around but could perceive nothing. He continued on his journey but had scarcely taken a few paces until his path became remarkably bright and on gazing around he saw about twenty or twenty-five very luminous lights which soon passed by with great rapidity. He watched these lights with much interest until in a few moments they had reached the spot where the fort is and there they disappeared.

The lane, which passes by this fort, is usually avoided especially after night-fall although it is a short-cut on several occasions.
People passing by often remark that even on a summer’s day when everything is calm and still that a whirl-wind rises and blows papers, straws or any other things, which are scattered around, up into the air where they remain tossing about for some time. When this occurs, if old people witness it, they make the sign of the cross or throw something in the direction the dust is moving.

When a death is about to occur in the neighbourhood it is remarkable that on many occasions a cry and a little light is to be seen moving around this fort.

The fort is never interfered with when the owner of the field is ploughing or doing any other form of cultivation as it is supposed that it is unlucky to interfere with such places.