Mullyash Cairn
Location: Mullyash, Co. Monaghan
Classification: Cairn - Unclassified
SMR Code: MO015-007----
Rating:
Mullyash Cairn is a National Monument located at the peak of Mullyash Mountain in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is a stepped two-tiered kerbed cairn or bowl barrow, or possibly a kind of passage grave. The walls are revetted and the cairn is about 16 m (52 ft) in diameter and 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) high. The cairn was visible from all parts of the surrounding countryside (at least until the view was blocked by modern tree-planting). From Mullyash one could see as far as Slieve Gullion, Loughcrew, the Mourne Mountains and Cooley Mountains. The standing stone is located 200 m west of the cairn. It once stood 3.6 m (12 ft) high but is now broken.
Until modern times, the cairn was visited by locals on the last Sunday in July (Crom Dubh's Sunday), a remnant of the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh. Celebrants climbed from the southwest, danced and celebrated at the cairn, and walked down to the west to a standing stone. Mullyash was renowned for matchmaking.
Local legend connected the cairn with the urn burial of a nobleman's daughter. Her father murdered her after she eloped with a young prince of whom he did not approve. If mortals eat certain foods they can see the gold treasure buried with her; perhaps a remnant of ancient shamanic rituals. Another legend claims that Fionn mac Cumhaill threw a stone from Slieve Gullion to Mullyash (a distance of 16.6 km / 10.3 mi), and this is the standing stone that still is there.
Description
Mullyash Cairn is a National Monument located at the peak of Mullyash Mountain in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is a stepped two-tiered kerbed cairn or bowl barrow, or possibly a kind of passage grave. The walls are revetted and the cairn is about 16 m (52 ft) in diameter and 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) high. The cairn was visible from all parts of the surrounding countryside (at least until the view was blocked by modern tree-planting). From Mullyash one could see as far as Slieve Gullion, Loughcrew, the Mourne Mountains and Cooley Mountains. The standing stone is located 200 m west of the cairn. It once stood 3.6 m (12 ft) high but is now broken.
History
Until modern times, the cairn was visited by locals on the last Sunday in July (Crom Dubh's Sunday), a remnant of the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh. Celebrants climbed from the southwest, danced and celebrated at the cairn, and walked down to the west to a standing stone. Mullyash was renowned for matchmaking.
Folklore
Local legend connected the cairn with the urn burial of a nobleman's daughter. Her father murdered her after she eloped with a young prince of whom he did not approve. If mortals eat certain foods they can see the gold treasure buried with her; perhaps a remnant of ancient shamanic rituals. Another legend claims that Fionn mac Cumhaill threw a stone from Slieve Gullion to Mullyash (a distance of 16.6 km / 10.3 mi), and this is the standing stone that still is there.
Accessibility Rating: Moderate
There are no facilities at this site.
Accessibility
Accessibility Class: Moderate
Facilities
There are no facilities at this site.
Map
Directions
Weather
Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise: 08:40
Sunset: 16:32
Directions
Weather
Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise: 08:40
Sunset: 16:32
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