"The 'Gods of the Neale' monument"

One of the most intriquing monuments that I’ve seen on my travels to many places in Ireland, is the “Gods of the Neale” monument in the village of the Neale, south Mayo, between Ballinrobe and Cong. I first encountered it by pure chance in 2003 ('though I had been been to the area up to twenty times previous to that, I ironically never knew of its existence). It's one of those coincidences that I talk about in my book about the Languedoc and Rennes-le-Chateau, and is an example of sychronicity falling into place at the right time!

Located on the estate of Lord Kilmaine (John Browne) who moved to Mayo in the late 1500's and then settled around the Neale; it is a type of stepped pyramid-like monument with a central carving, depicting three figures: a Griffin (a mythological creature from antiquity), a horse and an angel. Beneath it is a long, slightly faded - like the way stone fades from the abrasions of time - medieval inscription carved in medieval writing,  clearly referring to something way back in the far distant past. It refers to a Diana Ffeale (a possible synonym for the goddess Danu of the magical Tuatha De Danann from mythology!) but probably Diana should be split up into two words Dia na and hence Dia na Feile in the Gaelic, would render a meaning: "Gods of Welcome"; the naming of the Neale derived from this; the God Conginus (from whom Cong got its name) and Lugh, the Sun god from our mythology – Lugh of the Long Hand (who it's believed was buried at the Long Stone of the Neale (a Standing Stone in the area!). One possible interpretation of the carved inscription, could be that it is signifying, that the place was at the very least an ancient Druidic Grove.


From Left to right: A horse, an angel and a Griffin, to which the Bardic Searcher is pointing.


Where the picture gets muddied and befuddled, is the fact, that the monument is unknown outside the locality and according to local tradition, the monument was found in a nearby cave, at which time some person then engraved it for posterity. The inscription, is dated 1745 as its signature, at the end of the narrative; the clear inference is, the narrator and chronicler, wanted to preserve the knowledge and memory of something significant about the area for posterity. (Assuming the whole thing isn’t an elaborate joke on the part of someone at that time; such as an associate or colleague of the then Lord Kilmaine in 1745!).  

PROBABLE AUTHENTICITY AND IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE AREA

But to throw weight on the side of it being authentic, and a genuine allusion by the narrator and carver, to something very significant about the place and the area, is the fact that the area is steeped in mythology and megaliths. No less than William Wilde (father of Oscar) had a house in the area, explored and studied it at length, which he documented in his beautiful book My own true Corrib. He was convinced the megaliths proved our mythology to be true and that the area was the staging post for one of the Battles of Moytura between the Fir Bolg and the Tuatha De Danaan. (To digress, there is a huge cairn nearby in the Neale called Eochaidh’s Cairn, believed to be the burial cairn of Eochaidh - the last Fir Bolg king killed during the battle and there is also the second biggest cairn in Connacht in the townland of Cross – Ballymacgibbon Cairn – where it’s believed the battle started! Additionally, the Pyramid Folly a short distance away in the Neale as well, is believed to be on the site of the barrow/tumulus where Slainge was buried (another fatality from the battle!) Perhaps the “Gods of the Neale” is in some way tied into the battle or could it depict something even more ancient? Around Cong, for instance, there are many subterranean galleries and caverns, and the bizarre natural phenomenon, to be seen in Cong, of the “Rising of the Waters”, when the lake, Loch Mask, suddenly shoots up from its underground cavern for about ten metres before going back underground! The area is a hot bed for mystery and phenomena!

Perhaps it was no accident that this Lord Browne, set up shop and planted his estate here? Perhaps he established a Masonic lodge, or was aware of the significance of the place, and was doing covert searches and explorations himself?! All of this is conjecture, as the monument has never been studied or analysed, as hereto stated! But there is one thing about which I’m certain: the monument called the “Gods of the Neale” is for me, one of the most bizarre, perplexing and intriquing monuments in the country and is a great example of hidden Ireland. It needs to be studied and investigated deeply!


Esoteric moment at the "Gods of the Neale" - with its enigmatic carved inscription; one of the most intriquing monuments I've found in Ireland.

    

"The Gods of the Neale":

Where fires of truth burn magma

and myth in cerebral fusion
some sage has carved without stigma
the silver plinth in his infusion

Hidden Ireland hath many claimants
of hidden treasures many suitors
but one perplexes like a book of payments

and intriques the most abstract tutor

Where lakes vibrate as they gleam:
sweet Conn, Corrib and Mask;
what writers, wordsmiths, speak eloquent
of the Scarab Beetle in its cask?
Near the 'Plains of Moytura' ancient
the 'Pilgrim of mysteries' is sentient!

Who were the 'Gods of the Neale':
of some Elder race the remnants
like the Tuatha De Danaan regal?!
What artist with carved pennants
came but to auction the Eagle?

Or were they but fallen idols 

toppled by unknown tremors?
Are the Griffons mere symbols

the wax of long lost candles?
Did they have coats of many armours
more evolved than Neolithic farmers?

The 'Gods of the Neale' monument
'tween Ballinrobe and Cong, Mayo -
pounds my brain like a sharp instrument
Long lost Gods, Angels, Elders, who know?!

May '09 The truth is out there!

http://www.lakedistrictheritage.ie/Cross/pyramid.html