|
Slowly, during the ensuing Devonian Period from 400 to 350 million years ago, these mountains eroded as rivers carried coarse gravel, sand and mud into the valley of CORCA DHUIBHNE where it accumulated in shallow fresh water lakes, river bottoms, and dunes of wind-blown sand. Inch is one of the largest dune fields in Ireland. Like Kilmurray Bay at Minard, the beach at Trabeg faces the southwest storms of the Atlantic. |
|
|
On an ebbing tide, you will find exquisite wave-sculptured maroon sandstone forms marching seaward from sheer rock cliffs and small sea caves lined with veins of crystalline quartz, silent momentos of CORCA DHUIBHNE's turbulent past. An incessant symphony of texture, colour and sound. The Iron Age (500 BC - 500 AD) is often associated with the Celtic Period. Some of the archaeological information from this period is sketchy, but hill forts, some ring forts, stone forts, ogham stones, holy wells, and pilgrimages date to this period. |
 |
The inhabitants of the tract KERRY, according to Ptolemy's chart, were in his time designated Velabri or Vellibor. They are supposed to have been descended from the Iberi of Spain, to which their country lies opposite; but Camden derives their name from the British Aber, signifying an estuary, thus making it descriptive of the nature of the country. The Lucanij, or "people of the maritime country," were placed by Richard of Cirencester in this county, near Dingle bay. Ptolemy calls them Luceni, and they appear to be the Lugadii of Irish writers, which in a general sense comprehended all the inhabitants on the southern coast, from the harbour of Waterford to the mouth of the Shannon, though sometimes confined to those of the county of Waterford.
The area around Lough Allen was divided into districts ruled by local clans. From the Annals of Connacht we learn that - Monterrolish Oghtragh represents a rebel and territorial name of Moylish and it comprised the ancient pre-reformation parishes of Annaduff , Fenagh, Kiltubrid and Kiltoghert. As Catholic parishes they are still known, but Kiltoghert has been altered to form a new parish of Murhaun now Drumshanbo. Mounterkenny has for its Irish form - Muintir Cionaith which is a both a tribal and territorial name - lying North, North west of Lough Allen. Its ancient territorial name of Inishmagrath which is its ecclesiastical name – chief town - Drumkeeran: O'Rourke; MacTighernain. On the West side of Lough Allen is a territory Tir Thuathail from Thathal maol Gobh grandson of Cairbre one of the sons of Niall the Great. Conchubhar was the son of Ruidhri O'Connor the last Ard Ri of Ireland, succeeded his father as King of Connacht and now proceeded to strengthen his authority at the expense of the neighbouring chiefs. He invades the territory of O'Ruairi and the Cheiftain.
The present name of the county Kerry is variously derived. Some trace it from Ciar, the eldest, son of Fergus, King of Ulster, from whom it was called Carruidhe, or Cair Reeght, that is, "the kingdom of Ciar." According to Ledwich, it was called Cerrigia, or "the rocky country," from Cerrig, or Carric, "a rock." Ciaruidhe, or "the rocky district on the water," from ciar, or cer, "a rock," and uidhe, or Uí dha, "a district on the water," was the present barony of Iraghticonnor, on the south bank of the Shannon, and from which may be derived Cerrigia and Kerry.
The chiefs of this country were called Hy Cain air Ciaruidhe, by contraction O'Connor Kerry, whose descendants were in possession of their ancient patrimony in the beginning of the last century. This district was sometimes denominated Ciaruidhe Luachra, or "the rocky district on the great lake or water." By some ecclesiastical writers the whole is called the country of St. Brandon, to whom the principal cathedral in the county was dedicated, and from whom a very remarkable mountain on the western coast takes its name. Camden calls that part of the sea into which the Shannon discharges itself Mare Brendanicum. The great portion of the county lying to the south of the river Mang (Maine) formed, with the whole county of Cork, the old native sovereignty of Desmond, or South Munster, granted by Hen. II. to Robert Fitz-Stephen and Milo de Cogan, but of which these adventurers were able to make themselves masters only of the districts near the city of Cork. This county is entirely within the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe.
One of the most dramatic sites on the peninsula may also date to this period. Overlooking the Village of Camp, the gateway to the peninsula, one will find Cathair Con Rí, certainly the finest promontory hill fort in the country. Its high wall actually marks the boundary to the barony of CORCA DHUIBHNE. The Dingle Peninsula has the largest collection of Ogham stones (almost 70). The name of Dovinia or Duibhne (as in CORCA DHUIBHNE, the seed or tribe of Duibhne), is present on several stones. Duibhne was one of the Celtic Goddesses associated with fertility and protection. One of the finest ogham stones is located in Dun Chaoin, overlooking the Blasket Islands, on the summit of Dún Mór (the big fortress). Gaeilge was once spoken all over the country, but now survives only along the west coast and at a few other locations. It is related to Scots Gallic, and Manx (once spoken on the Isle of Man).
Islands in the Making at Coumeenoole Strand and Dunmore Head-Facing the hauntingly beautiful Blasket Islands, the strand at Coumeenole and cliffs of Dunmore Head can be a raging monster with jagged, sandstone teeth jutting from the frothing foam, to a placid crystal-clear bather's pool lined with golden sands and towering vertical slabs of ancient water-polished stone tile. A 400-year old graveyard for more than one Spanish ship, this section of the coast stands in not-so-mute testimony as to how crashing waves on a rising sea continue to carve away bits of CORCA DHUIBHNE, spitting out islands in the wake, like so many icebergs in stone.
Mount Brandon at 3,127 feet dominates the Dingle Peninsula in southwest Ireland. Brendan, the patron of pilgrims is the legendary sailor who first reached the Heavenly Isles and Christ was said to reign in the light. The great pilgrimages days is the last Sunday in July. After a thousand years, most huts made of stones are still waterproof. Along the way, stations stand for other pilgrims saints like St. Colman. It is a movement of revival and has seen restoration of aspects. The ancient pilgrimage to the summit of Mount Brandon was ritualistically done on the last Sunday of July, known locally as Domhnach Chrom Dubh. Initially it was part of a worship to the Celtic God Lughnasa as part of the harvest festival. Later it became Christianised and was dedicated to St. Brendan the Navigator, a 6th century monk who is said to have sailed to America long before Columbus. The story of his voyage was translated into every European language by the 12th century, and made Brendan famous as a seafaring saint. It was from the summit of Mount Brandon that Brendan had a vision of "the land to the west".
The route of the old pilgrimage is clearly marked to the summit of Ireland's second highest mountain. The Kilmalkedar church contains an "alphabet stone" that suggests a Christian settlement on the site as early as the 7th century. Maolceadair was likely the leading figure in early Irish Christianity in Dingle, as St. Brendan was throughout Kerry. From the rugged heights of the Slieve Mish Mountains to the haunting beauty of the Blasket Islands, from ancient ruins like the Dunbeg Promontory Fort to the 9th-century Christian church, the Gallarus Oratory which constitutes one of the greatest examples of Irish stone-building and has stood unchanging for perhaps as much as 1300 years.