Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/218

 1 86 Collectanea.

man coming over the ridge to the north and shouted to know who it was. He got no answer, hurled a rock and slew the stranger. On going up to inspect the body he found he had killed his own brother and slew himself. The two ill-starred brothers lie under the leachta, or altars, in the outer fort. A legend of a giant evidently existed at a rock between Foghill and Down- patrick called Leimanirmore, or " Big man's leap." Fiachra, King of Irros in the late fourth century, was evidently a reputed giant, striding his horse over the great chasm at Dun Fiachrach. He was a special patron of the O'Haras, even floating casks of wine to them, and protected forts and ancient hawthorns.^ The followers of Finn are all reputed to be giants, one person, in 1838, used to tell as a fact that a human skull " as big as a poteen still " had been found in a bog near Louisburg.-

The historical King Amhalgaid (" Awley "), from whom Tirawley is named (and whose name Amolngod appears on the Ogham inscription on the great pillar stone of Breastagh), was evidently another giant. He lived about the beginning of the fifth century ; he was remembered at Foghill [Fochliit wood in the " Confessio " of St. Patrick), but the name of the ancient Carn Amhalgadha is altered to " Mullach Carn " ; it lies about half a mile from Killala, north of a road. Very little of the actual carn remains save a circular earthwork 78' inside and 240' over all, with large rounded stones in its ring. So also his other monument " Forrach mhic n Amhalgaidh " has lost its personal epithet and become Mullach-forry. It was the inauguration place of the local kings.

The legend of Domhnall Duail bhuide, in Glencashel, makes him a giant : in 1838 his grave was shown, being 30' long between two stones, one of which was removed soon afterwards'^ the other, I believe, remains, but I could not find it or at least identify it; his " corn stack " and his "turf rick" were formerly shown, but I think are now forgotten. Another giant, near Ballina, used the Clochogle [Clock thoghbhaile, lifted stone) dolmen, there, for his table, whence it is called the " giant's

^ Lady Wilde, Ancient Cures, etc. p. 148.

- Erris and Tyraivly, p. 2S6.

•'Jonrnal of Roy. Soc. Anti. Jr. vol. xlii. p. 135.