Cruachain - Royal Site of Connaught
On my last Sunday, I decided to do an exploration around Cruachain, the site of many wonderful mythical stories of Queen Maeve and her husband Ailill. It is from here they planned the Cattle Raid of Cooley which later was written about in Ireland's most ancient epic poem - Tain Bo Cuailgne.

I was blessed with a crisp beautiful Autumn afternoon when I arrived for my afternoon of exploration. Here in this photo I catch the setting sun resting on the mound at Rath Croaghan.

The Cruachain area is situated at the centre of the great limestone plain in Roscommon, known from early historic times as Magh Ai, today the starting point is at Rathcroghan cross roads. The site was the royal residence and inauguration site of Connacht. Standing 150m above sea level. It has 60 or so monuments, mounds and raths spread over the two mile area.

One Sidhe or fairy story is that of Feidelm the prophetess who came out of the fairy mound Cruachan to warn Queen Maeve that her armies would be covered in blood if she continued on her quest for the Brown Bull of Cualigne.

More to explore... for another day!