“Queen Maeve’s Cairn, Knocknarea”:

Heroic tales and sagas vast
and courtly chiefs in their prime
The glory of the Tain's epic cast
and Cooley’s bull, remnants of time,
kindled I to climb hard and fast
slopes o' Knocknarea's trail,
moulded legends in their cast:
where myths are ne'er frail;
dreams bristled where flowers wave
Connacht’s Queen of Cruachan’s dale –
the warrior Queen Maeve –
laid under the moon's silver brail,
a giant cairn atop her grave?
A mound luted in mystery
entombs the heroine of history!

What pride of place for Ierne
in majesty of height, noble bearing,
with stone steep such stacking cairn -
Connacht’s Gaels, loyal and daring.
A monument built by clans and septs
defies like the horses' bit;
cloudbursts of pride dancing their sets
in the steps of stones are lit;
so great a mound this pilgrim found
such strength, toil and sage-like wit,
some noble lying on hallowed ground
to the immortal moons suffuse
atop Queen Maeve’s cairn my tears take muse……

20/7/2002



The Bardic Searcher standing on top of Queen Maeve's Cairn with Coney Island in the background.

 Footnote: Queen Maeve was the legendary Queen of Connacht who lead the Cattle Raid of Cooley, culminating at the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth - the 'Tain' - that epic from Gaelic mythology. It's said her quest for the mythical Brown Bull of Cooley was inspired by a bet she had with her husband, Ailill, as to, who had the most possessions! The Cairn itself (one of the largest, if not the largest in the province of Connacht) sits on top of Knocknarea mountain, offering spectacular views of the whole peninsula and both Coney Island and Carrowmore megalithic cemetery in the near distance!

Further footnote: Cruachan is in County Roscommon, a neighbouring county to County Sligo, where Knocknarea is. Cruachan was Queen Maeve's seat and also the seat of the Connacht royals, notably the O'Connor's.

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