How Cullen lost its blacksmith
THE area around Cullen reveres three saintly sisters: St Laitairian, St Lasair and St Inghne Bhuidhe – immigants to Ireland who came, some say, from the north of England.
Other accounts put them as daughters of an ancient chieftain, Bhuide, but Laitiarain is most closely associated with Cullen.
According to legend, the Angels of Heaven made a road one night from Kilmeen through Dromtariff and on to Cullen, so that the three sisters might the more conveniently visit each other once every week.
St Lasair’s well is at Killasseragh while Inghne Bhuidhe’s well is in Dromtariffe, and Laitiarain’s well is in Cullen.
Local folklore has it that to start with all three sisters lived in Cullen. Laitiarain was the youngest sister and every morning she went to the blacksmith to collect the ‘seed’ for the fire, ie the red hot embers. She carried them back in her apron and never seemed to get burnt.
One day, as she scooped the embers into her apron, she revealed a bit of shapely ankle and the blacksmith remarked on its comeliness! She glanced proudly at her ankles and at once was burned by the coals for she had felt the sin of pride.
She cursed the blacksmith and prayed that the sound of a forge should never be heard in Cullen ever again! As she sank to her knees to pray she disappeared into the ground and reappeared by the well in the field.
The spot where she disappeared is marked by the Dallan – a large heartshaped boulder, also known as the Cloch na gCursa – the stone of the rounds.
St Laitiarain’s Day is July 25 and rounds are still performed on this day.
And there is still no forge in Cullen.