Legends of the North
Northern Ireland is a place of stories, myths, adventures, heroes and battles. Here are just some stories to discover
ANCIENT WARRIORS
Navan Centre and Fort, or ‘Emain Macha’, in Co Armagh is a place where myth and reality meet. Emain Macha was the sacred stronghold of the hero Cú Chulainn, home of the famous Red Branch Knights and the capital of the Ulstermen (Ulaid) depicted in the Ulster Cycle of tales. Legends say that the name of the site was derived from the eo-muin (neck-brooch) that Macha, the ancient goddess of war and fertility, employed to draw out the shape of the enclosure. The stories of great kings, brave warriors and acts of heroism reflect the importance of Emain Macha to the Celts. It is unknown why the very people that built the temple deliberately burnt it to the ground back around 95BC. But you can discover the extraordinary story of Emain Macha and the Celtic world it served at the exhibition just a few yards from the great mound there today. Find out how people lived 2,000 years ago through an interactive experience in a replica Iron Age dwelling.
www.visitarmagh.com/places-to-explore/ navan-centre-fort
GARDEN OF SAINTS
The Garden of the Celtic Saints in Co Fermanagh is filled with the memories of the Saints of the Golden Age of the Irish Church. It is a place of prayer and reflection and in the garden, is The Devenish Figures, a unique collection of wooden sculptures carved out of Irish oak. The figures of saints and scholars, which include Saints Patrick, Brigid, Columbanus, Gall, Molaise, Columcille and Killian, are the work of Lithuanian sculptor Jonas Raiskas, who came to work in Irvinestown in 2007. There is also a Memorial of The Irish Famine close to The Garden of Celtic Saints which has eight sculptures by Jonas.
www.fermanaghlakelands.com
GIANT STORIES
Legend has it that Lough Neagh was created by the Irish Giant Finn McCool (Fionn mac Cumhaill), who scooped out the Lough basin to throw it at a Scottish rival who was fleeing Ulster by way of the Giants Causeway. The piece of land fell into the Irish Channel and formed the Isle of Man. The name means the Lough of the horse-god Eochu. He was the lord of the underworld, who supposedly existed beneath its waters. To this day, fishermen can hear booming noises called water guns which are associated with whirlwinds on the surface of the water – but others say it is the horse god galloping to the underworld. The Lough is situated in the centre of Northern Ireland, with five of the Province’s six counties touching its shores. It contains over 800 billion gallons of water, enough to fill seven million swimming pools! Word has it that Finn also built a causeway of enormous stepping stones (Giant’s Causeway) across the sea to Scotland to reach his enemy, although science says it is an aftermath of a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. We’ll let you choose which to believe! www.discoverloughneagh.com
AT THE HEART OF IT ALL
After his capture by pirates, legend has it that Saint Patrick was forced to tend sheep and pigs as a slave on Slemish Mountain in Co Antrim. Nowadays, climbing Slemish in his honour is not just a walk in his saintly footsteps, but a chance to simulate his encounter with the wilderness, serenity and beauty of the local countryside. Patrick eventually escaped and sailed back to his family in Britain. But he chose to return to Ireland on a Christian mission. He came up Strangford Lough in Co Down and today, it is worth lingering at the many ancient sites and attractions that speak of him around these parts. For example, the Saint Patrick’s Centre and the statue on Slieve Patrick. In 445, Patrick established the Seat of Armagh as the centre of Christian learning in Ireland. Today, with two towering cathedrals celebrating the Saint’s life, legacy and mission, Armagh is a rich cultural experience and one of the highlights of the Heartland of Saint Patrick.
www.visitarmagh.com
Find out more stories and tips on www.discovernorthernireland.com