|
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.
|
