Magh Slécht
Encyclopedia
Magh Slécht is the name of an historic plain in Ireland
. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8 km²) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw
and County of Cavan
. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen
mountain, on the south by the Woodford canal & on the west by the Blackwater river. Magh Slécht formed part of the Province of Connacht
until the 16th century when it was made part of the Province of Ulster
.
It was originally named Magh Senaig (the plain of the hill-slope) and under this guise is mentioned in The Metrical Dindshenchas (Poem 25 Ailech III) in the story of the Dagda, Corrgenn and Ailech, wherein it states the Corrgenn travelled from Tara to Lough Foyle in the Inishowen peninsula via Mag Senaig.
In Pre-Christian times the small area where the Crom Cruaich idol stood at Kilnavert was originally named Fossa Slécht or Rath Slécht and it is from this small location that the wider Magh Slécht area received its name. In 1911 BC during the reign of Fodbgen, the Firbolg High-King of Ireland, the name Magh Senaig was changed to Magh Slécht (The plain of prostrations) as it became the nationwide centre of the cult of the god
Crom Cruaich. Another name for the plain was Magh Lecet or Magh Leced. The ancient Irish prayed by prostrating themselves in a similar fashion to today's Muslims, i.e. by kneeling down on both knees and touching the forehead against the earth. The plain is not flat but consists of little drumlin hills. However as it is surrounded by mountains it is a plain in comparison. In the old Irish tale "The Siege of Druim Damhgaire or Knocklong" (Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire), one of King Cormac Mac Art's druids was called Cecht of Magh Slécht.
The area was first inhabited by Neolithic
hunter-gatherer
s who arrived via the river (originally called the Gráinne river & now canalised as the Woodford Canal or the Shannon-Erne Waterway
). The first named inhabitants were the Masraighe tribe who ruled Magh Slécht until they were conquered by the Uí Briúin
tribe in the 8th century AD. The Masraighe were also called the Sons of the Liath or the Tuatha Slécht and Magh Slécht was sometimes called Liathmhuine. The descendants of the Ui Briuin are now called the McGovern clan and are still the most numerous surname in the area.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8 km²) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
and County of Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen is a mountain which straddles the border between County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It is also called Slieve Russell or Ligavegra . It has an altitude of 404 metres above sea-level. OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 27A & 26...
mountain, on the south by the Woodford canal & on the west by the Blackwater river. Magh Slécht formed part of the Province of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
until the 16th century when it was made part of the Province of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
.
It was originally named Magh Senaig (the plain of the hill-slope) and under this guise is mentioned in The Metrical Dindshenchas (Poem 25 Ailech III) in the story of the Dagda, Corrgenn and Ailech, wherein it states the Corrgenn travelled from Tara to Lough Foyle in the Inishowen peninsula via Mag Senaig.
In Pre-Christian times the small area where the Crom Cruaich idol stood at Kilnavert was originally named Fossa Slécht or Rath Slécht and it is from this small location that the wider Magh Slécht area received its name. In 1911 BC during the reign of Fodbgen, the Firbolg High-King of Ireland, the name Magh Senaig was changed to Magh Slécht (The plain of prostrations) as it became the nationwide centre of the cult of the god
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
Crom Cruaich. Another name for the plain was Magh Lecet or Magh Leced. The ancient Irish prayed by prostrating themselves in a similar fashion to today's Muslims, i.e. by kneeling down on both knees and touching the forehead against the earth. The plain is not flat but consists of little drumlin hills. However as it is surrounded by mountains it is a plain in comparison. In the old Irish tale "The Siege of Druim Damhgaire or Knocklong" (Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire), one of King Cormac Mac Art's druids was called Cecht of Magh Slécht.
Occupation
This area has been in constant occupation from pre-4000 BC up to the present day, as is evidenced by the huge number of ancient monuments which still survive. In a small area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²) there are over 80 monuments of different types, with many others bound to be discovered by future archaeological searches. It is the densest grouping of such monuments in County Cavan and possibly in Ireland. Included are- 9 megalithic tombs
- 7 Ring barrows
- 3 different stone circleStone circleA stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
s - 9 different standing stoneStanding stoneStanding stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
s - 2 stone-rows
- 5 enclosures
- 6 crannogCrannogA crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Crannogs were used as dwellings over five millennia from the European Neolithic Period, to as late as the 17th/early 18th century although in Scotland,...
s - 33 ráthRingfortRingforts are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Iron Age , although some were built as late as the Early Middle Ages . They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland...
s or souterrains - 3 Early-Christian church-sites
- 2 Early-Christian Holy Wells
- 2 BullaunBullaunA bullaun is the term used for the depression in a stone which is often water filled. Natural rounded boulders or pebbles may sit in the bullaun...
s - 2 Medieval castles.
The area was first inhabited by Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
hunter-gatherer
Hunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
s who arrived via the river (originally called the Gráinne river & now canalised as the Woodford Canal or the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
). The first named inhabitants were the Masraighe tribe who ruled Magh Slécht until they were conquered by the Uí Briúin
Uí Briúin
The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
tribe in the 8th century AD. The Masraighe were also called the Sons of the Liath or the Tuatha Slécht and Magh Slécht was sometimes called Liathmhuine. The descendants of the Ui Briuin are now called the McGovern clan and are still the most numerous surname in the area.
Historical events
The main events in the history of Magh Slécht as listed in the ancient sources are- The Journey of Corrgenn through Mag Senaig in 2000 BC
- The killing of ReganReganRegan is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin derived from the Irish personal name Riagáin, which meant "little king".-People:*Bill Regan , a MLB player*Brian Regan, a comedian...
, the FormorianFomoriansIn Irish mythology, the Fomoire are a semi-divine race said to have inhabited Ireland in ancient times. They may have once been believed to be the beings who preceded the gods, similar to the Greek Titans. It has been suggested that they represent the gods of chaos and wild nature, as opposed to...
at Tomregan in 1860 BC - The death of the High King of IrelandHigh King of IrelandThe High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
, TigernmasTigernmasTigernmas, son of Follach, son of Ethriel, a descendant of Érimón, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical traditions, an early High King of Ireland...
& 4,000 of his followers in the Seventh Plague of Ireland while worshipping Crom Cruaich on 31 October (Samhain, HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
), 1413 B.C. His grave there is marked by a standing stone - The Battle of Tuaim Drecain (TomreganTomreganTomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
) in 1342 BC by the High King Eochaid Faebar GlasEochaid Faebar GlasEochaid Faebar Glas, son of Conmáel, was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. His epithet means "blue-green sharp edge"... - The murder of the Ulster hero Conall CernachConall CernachConall Cernach is a hero of the Ulaidh in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He is said to have always slept with the head of a Connachtman under his knee. His epithet is normally translated as "victorious" or "triumphant", although it is an obscure word, and some texts struggle to explain it...
in the 1st century BC at Ath na Mianna (BallyconnellBallyconnellBallyconnell is a town in County Cavan, Ireland. It is situated on the N87 national secondary road at the junction of four townlands Annagh, Cullyleenan, Doon and Derryginny in the parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level...
). His grave is supposedly marked by a hilltop cairn - The Battle of Magh Slecht in 80 AD by the High King Tuathal Techtmar
- The killing of the druid Cecht of Magh Slécht in 230 AD by the Army of Munster
- The destruction of the idol Crom Cruach (The phallic La Tène Killycluggin Stone) by Saint PatrickSaint PatrickSaint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
in the 5th century AD and the founding of a church there at Fossa Slécht under St. Banban the WiseBanban the Wise-Name:Banban's name is rendered differently in a number of sources. The most common are include Banbanus, Banbhanus, Mauranum cognomento Barbanum, alias Banbanum, Banuanus Sapiens...
. - The murder of King Conall GulbanConall GulbanConall Gulban was an Irish king who founded the kingdom of Tír Conaill in the 5th century, comprising much of what is now County Donegal. He was the son of Niall Noígiallach....
of DonegalCounty DonegalCounty Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
by the MasraigeMasraigeThe Masraige were a Fir Bolg tribe inhabiting Magh Slécht in County Cavan, Ireland. They were also called Masragii, Masraide, Masraidhe, Masruidhe, Mascraide, Masree or Mascraidhe...
in 464 AD - The birth of St. Dallan ForgaillDallan ForgaillSaint Dallán Forgaill —also Dallán Forchella; Dallán of Cluain Dalláin; born Eochaid Forchella—was an early Christian Irish poet best known as the writer of the Amra Choluim Chille and the early Irish poem Rop tú mo baile, the basis of the modern English hymn Be Thou My Vision.-Personal...
the Chief Ollam of IrelandChief Ollam of IrelandThe Ollamh Érenn or Chief Ollam of Ireland was a professional title of Gaelic Ireland.-Background:An ollam was a poet or bard of literature and history. Each chief or tuath had its own ollam...
in c.530 AD - The birth of St. Mogue (also known as Saint Aidan of Ferns) in 550 AD
- The foundation of the University of Tuaim Drecain (TomreganTomreganTomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
) by the Synod of Drumceat in 584 AD - The murder of the relatives of King Báetán mac MuirchertaigBáetán mac MuirchertaigBáetán mac Muirchertaig , also Baetán Bríge, was an Irish king who is included in some lists as a High King of Ireland. He was the son of Muirchertach mac Muiredaig , also considered a high king. He was a member of the Cenél nEógain branch of the northern Uí Néill...
in 620 AD (Annals of Ulster) - The Battle of Magh Slécht in 1256 AD