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Arrowrock Hostel, on the shores of Lough Arrow in County Sligo is an ideal base for anyone interested in Celtic Mythology.
There were two Battles of Moytura, the second battle being by far the more important of the two. It is believed that the two battles were were separated by twenty-seven years (a magical number to the ancient Celts). The Second Battle of Moytura (Maigh Tuireadh), is a key event in Celtic Mythology and is an epic tale of the ongoing struggle between the forces of Light and Darkness. It is said to have taken place along the ridge just to the east the east of Arrowrock Hostel. Indeed one of the townland names associated with this ridge is the townland of Moytirra which can be translated to ‘Plain of Pillars’, not surprising given that the area is filled with upright megalithic monuments, dating from 2000–2500 BC.
This connection with the battle makes the ridge of Moytura is one of the most important mythological sites in Ireland. There are many ancient monuments on the ridge and most are associated in some way with the Second Battle of Moytura. These monuments include the Eglone Stone in Highwood, the Labby Rock Dolmen and Heapstown Cairn to name just a few.
The story of the second Battle of Moytura was first recorded in the sixteenth century but it is believed to be based on a twelfth century manuscript. Recently it has been suggested that this 12th Century document may well be a copy of an older text written in the 9th or 10th centuries. This new date being based on the language and style used. In any case this older manuscript is based on ancient oral traditions which stretch back thousands of years.
Similar myths and stories are found in many cultures. It is found in India, Babylon and the Old Testament, and in more recent times has directly inspired J.R.R Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Julian May and George Lucas in their respective works, The Lord of the Rings, Dune, The Saga of the Exiles and Star Wars.
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