School: An Ráth Mhór (Clochar) (roll number 13742)

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1. Description of Cathair Crobh Dearg (continued)

   

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   destined to play in the future, there is no doubt that in the prolonged stale-mate at Cathair Crobh Dearg, in the terrific tussle between May Day and Pentecost round the foot-hills of Dhá Chich Danann in the last rally of paganism in the conquest of Ireland for Christ we are witnessing the closing phase of one of the most momentous struggles in the history of the world.
   (4) Cathair Crobh Dearg as the city cathair is called is defended by 5 outposts to the east and by two to the west. The eastern outposts are three cathairíni in Cathair Bhearnach (one of these being in Millstreet Parish) Cathair Bhearnach itself and a cathair on top of Srón. The western side is defended by a cathair in Gort Na gCeann and another at Gort Dearg. These cathairse with the exception of Cathair Bhearnach are casual looking buildings and are probably recent, being put up when the advance of Christianity made the holding of the pagan sacrifices at Cathair Crobh Dearg illegal and dangerous. Of course they may all be very much older than this implies but somehow they do not look it. The ring fence in every case is merely a dry stone wall.
   (5) In the one station district of Cill Cuain and Beithineach there are two cemeteries. They are merely __, __ apart. It is most unusual that two cemeteries should lie so near and there must have been some special reason for it. Both are very small. Our theory is that after Cuimín's time an active young priest named Cuan (i.e. "the little greyhound") may have captured the pagan cemetery at Cill Cuain and converted the place into a Christian Church. Very probably such a manoeuvre could not be effected without violence bloodshed. Then the defeated pagans falling back towards the city retired behind, the Beithineach river (a good defensive position) and set up a new pagan cemetery at Beithineach, just a few arrow

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Location

   Gortnagane, Co. Kerry

   Informant

   Eugene O' Curry

   Gender

   Male