Explore West Cavan Tours

10/04/2021

26/06/2020

The original castle was inhabited by the O'Reillys of Breffni and was formerly known as Breffni Castle from the 14th century. Robert Sanderson, who fought on the side of William of Orange, inherited the castle from his father in 1676.

23/06/2020

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21/06/2020

'Small buildings called sweat-houses are erected, somewhat in the shape of a beehive, constructed with stones and turf, neatly put together; the roof being formed of the same material, with a small hole in the centre. There is also an aperture below, just large enough to admit one person, on hands and knees. When required for use, a large fire is lighted in the middle of the floor, and allowed to burn out, by which time the house has become thoroughly heated; the ashes are then swept away, and the patient goes in, having first taken off his clothes, with the exception of his undergarment, which he hands to a friend outside. The hole in the roof is then covered with a flat stone and the entrance is also closed up with sods, to prevent the admission of air. The patient remains within until he begins to perspire copiously, when (if young and strong) he plunges into the sea, but the aged or weak retire to bed for a few hours.'

[Gage: A History of the Island of Rathlin, 1851

21/06/2020

The Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, rises under the Cuilcagh mountains. The Shannon starts its 250 mile journey to the Atlantic in a hole called the Lug-na-Sionna or Shannon Pot, in a boggy field on the west side of the Cuilcagh Mountains. Rivulets gush from the slopes into the dark circular pool 50 foot wide, overhung by lichen - covered trees.

The Shannon is named after Sionna, the daughter of Lodon who was the son of Ler, the great sea god. According to legend Sionna became seized with the desire for knowledge which at the time was the possession of man alone. She dwelt in the land under the wave and in that land was Connla’s Well, a mythical place which had nine Saved Streams running from it and nine Saved Hazels growing around the margin. These were the hazels of science, poetry and knowledge. In the well lived the salmon of knowledge, who received its wisdom by eating the nuts from the saved hazels, so whoever ate the salmon would become all-knowing. Sionna went to Connla’s well to catch the Salmon of Knowledge. As Sionna bent down to try and catch the fish, the salmon leaped and lashed its tail in a rage. The water of the well overflowed and swept Sionna into the ‘Land of the Mortals’ through a hole in the earth which was forever to be associated with her name and known as Lug-na-Sionna or the ‘Shannon Pot.”
The Shannon soon becomes a fair-sized stream. Within three miles of its source it is joined by the Owenmore, which drains the Cuilcagh Mountains and by the time it reaches Dowra, above five miles away, a wide stone bridge is needed to cross it.

20/06/2020

Curratavey School.

20/06/2020

Bawnboy workhouse on a rainy day