the marks on the fretted rocks are attributed to the grey cow of Lon mac Leefa (Liomhtha). It is a very lonely and impressive spot. Ascending at the beautiful waterfall of the Seven Streams in Teeskagh, (a curtain of silver network over a cliff, sheeted with long moss and ferns, with ledges white with anemones, in spring, and fields blue with gentians), the great triple stone fort of Cahercommaun is seen on the edge of the northern cliff, and the way passes another early enclosure, with ruins of huts, called Cahernaglasha, where the Glas cow was stabled and her seven keepers lived. The highest point of Slievenaglasha,—rising 700 feet above the sea, which is visible far to the west,—has fourteen cairns and overlooks a long shallow valley, with strange brown patches here and there and another strong ring wall over a little cave. The patches are the labbas or beds of the Glas and her calf, the waterfall sprang from the abundant milk of the cow, and the fort is Mohernagartan ("the smith's fort"), the residence of Lon the Smith. The footprints of the wonderful animal and of Lon's seven sons are visible on every crag, and the cave with strange cinder-like debris is the reputed forge of the "dark brown Luno" of (Macpherson's) Ossian.[1]
At Ballynahown in Corcomroe, overlooked by the bold peel tower of Ballinalacken, are traces of the Heanbo (single cow), which differs from the Glas and gives its name to the Labbanaheanbo, a cave high up in the face of a magnificent cliff. In this bed the Heanbo will support the Leinster man who will win the freedom of Ireland in the last great battle. The cave is at the junction of three townlands, but is in none of them.[2]
On Scattery Island were two stones (still, I think, visible), one called Glun Senain because marked by the knee (glun) of St. Senan, and the other the stone on which St. Cannara[3] floated from Kilconry to the holy isle of the woman-fearing saint.
- ↑ Ordnance Survey Letters (Co. Clare), vol. i., p. 100. I gave the legend in The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. xxv., p. 227, and it is still told in the locality.
- ↑ From Messrs. Kelleher and Hilary of Oughtdarra, to whose kindness and local knowledge I am much indebted. Cf. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. xxxv., p. 346.
- ↑ Vol. xxii., p. 332, n. 2.
