Traditions & Folklore of Mountshannon
About folklore
Folklore breaks down into two main groups; 'Traditions & lifestyle' and 'Legend & Myth'.
In Irish culture, however, superstition can play a large part in ones lifestyle and the
traditions that develop from that are very interesting. Many of our superstitions are based on our
legends and myths, so it is often hard to separate myth from superstition from tradition. The Irish can
move form one to the other and don't even notice the difference.
This page is under development, in particular the 'Tradintions & lifestyle' element.
For now we have some interesting mythology.
Please call back later for more as we compile it.
Legend & Myth
"Diarmuid & Grainne's Bed"
There are many flat-topped dolmens, wedge tombs and court tombs in Ireland that are roughly
bed-sized and have collected the name of 'Diarmuid and Grainne's Bed'. The name comes from
the story of their pursuit and evasion of the Fianna.
The legend tells of a group of warriors called the Fianna who were lead by the great
Fin MacCumhail (pronounced Finn Mac Cool/also Fionn mac Cumhaill). Grainne was the daughter
of the High King, Cormac Mac Airt. King Cormac had promised Grainne to Fin as his bride, but Grainne had misgivings about the marriage as Fin was older than her father. She soon sees the handsom Diarmuid, whose beauty spot was bewitched, and falls in love with him. At their betrothal feast Grainne slips a sleeping potion to the rest of the guests. Although Diarmuid was one of Finn's warriors, he eventually agrees to run away with Grainne. It is said that the couple used these portal tombs across the country to sleep in rather than
make camps. Some accounts say that Diarmuid and Grainne slept on top of these passage graves
so that the dogs wouldn't find their scent so easily thus slowing down the Fianna's pursuit.
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"How Lough Derg got its name"
Mythology tells us the sorrowful tail of how Lough Derg got its name. Eochaidh Mac Luachta,
King of Mid-Erinn whose fort bordered what is today Clare and Galway, had the
misfortune to be visited upon by a wicked bard, Aithirné the Importunate,
(sent by King Connor to stir up trouble in a time of recent peace and test
what prince would refuse his demands and thereby be drawn into war). Aithirné,
whose skill as a satirist was unmatched and seldom asked for anything easy or
honourable to grant, displayed his abilities at the King's court. He then demanded
the King's eye for his guerdon (reward or recompense). Rather than be considered
ungenerous to a bard and have his people drawn into battle, he tore out his eye there
and then and gave it over. The poor King only had one to begin with. A servant
brought his blind master to the edge of the Shannon to wash the wound where he
informed the unfortunate King "Alas! dear master, the water is all red with your
blood". The King announced then: "Let that circumstance give it a name for all
future time...'Loch Derg Dheirc' (Lake of the Red Eye) shall it be called while
the Sionan runs to the sea."
This part of the story of 'Aithirné the Importunate' is from 'The Progress of the Wicked Bard'
to be found in 'Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts' by Patrick Kennedy.
It is viawable on-line at
http://www.libraryireland.com/LegendaryFictionsIrishCelts/IV-35-1.php
Superstitions
In County Clare one never handed over money on the 1st of May, in Mountshannon it was New Years Day. The thinking being that if you started parting with cash on the 1st, you'd be doing so the rest of the year.
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References
'InisCealtra Review - 1996' by Gerty Glennon and Ruth Kelly.
'Guide to Mountshannon by Thomas V. Mac Namara P.P.
(See Media page.)
e-mail us at: info@mountshannon.com
