On the Hill of Faughart
in a grave on Oriel's banks,
'mid sacred springs and a Holy Well
is a lonely headstone scarce known;
by yonder wall and sleeping shade
lies a noble Scots king!
On Faughart Hill by Northern Gap
where legend, history, myth invest,
the stalwart of freedom's maze
Edward the Bruce does rest;
by Cooley, Gullion, Dundalk Bay,
the medieval Scots Knight strode;
like a warrior fell from Saxon swell
his ineffable pain last breath bestrode -
on Faughart lies the Celtic king!
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| The Grave of Edward the Bruce, Faughart, County Louth |
Footnotes: Faughart Hill is a place steeped in history and myth! Overlooking the mythical Gap of the north, which in our legends, was the site of Cuchulainn's exploits during the epic, 'An Tain' ('Cattle raid of Cooley'), it was also the staging post during the Elizabethan Wars of an affray between the Gaelic Earls and Lord Mountjoy; the aforementioned Gap is also in the vicinity of Moyra Pass. Stand in the cemetery and look around in four compass directions: to the east is Dundalk Bay and the Cooley Peninsula (where there have been more Faery sightings reports than any other part of Ireland), to the west is county Monaghan, to the south, the sweeping plains of the wee county - in ancient lore called the Plains of Muirthemne, and to the north, Jonesborough mountain and the Plains of Macha.
The Graveyard itself has the reputed remains of the aforesaid Edward the Bruce, who according to tradition, was brutally killed near here during the Battle of Faughart in 1318 by the forces of Edward Longshanks; the reputed Holy Well of the famous and venerable St Brigid and the townland itself is believed to be her birthplace! Faughart is a sacred, vibrant and rich part of Ireland's North East!
