The Cailleach Bhéara, the old woman of the mountains, left her name all over Slieve Gullion. The large passage grave at the top, the highest surviving passage tomb in Ireland, is known locally as Calliagh Birra's House. The small summit lake is Calliagh Birra's Lough.
Lower down, on a hillock called Spellick, a rock feature is known as Calliagh Birra's Chair. According to Wikipedia, local people used to visit it at Lughnasadh, the old harvest festival at the start of August, and take turns sitting in the chair.
Wikipedia also notes that the two cairns were disturbed by American soldiers training on the mountain during the Second World War, and that Irish folklore holds it unlucky to damage such tombs, with a possible curse for those who do.
Comments