Harps of Cliu

Nearest town:
Galbally (9km W)
OS reference:
R878237
OS sheet:
74
Latitude:
52° 21' 53.5 N
Longitude:
8° 10' 44.82 W
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Harps of Cliu

bawn79
bawn79 Feb 28, 2006

The Harps of Cliu are really impressive to view and are south of the hill the Duntryleague passage tomb is on. They are on the slopes of Galtymore mountain, which at 919m is the tallest in Tipperary. The harps relate to a mythical harpist (Cliu) that played them to “woo” a local goddess to him to keep the season’s in balance.

Folklore

Harps of Cliu
Natural Rock Feature
bawn79
bawn79 Mar 20, 2006

Taken for Mythic Ireland

In legend the supernatural harper, Clíu, emerged from this mountain síd to make music on the stringed watercourses. He hoped thereby to attract a goddess of neighbouring Slievenaman, daughter of the pre-Celtic god Bodh Dearg.

This is a late variant on the myth where the Dagda comes from the síd to harp the seasons into being. His ‘finger breezes’ play across the gullet ‘strings’ where falling waters contribute to the melody.

Sites within 20km of Harps of Cliu

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