A POEM A DAY - CNOC MEADHA



Cnoc Meadha (Knockma) is a wooded hill near Tuam also known as The Hill of Maeve. The forest walk takes you to the top of the hill where there are magnificent views of the Burren and west to Galway Bay. There are 4 cairns, the largest of which is said to be the burial place of Queen Maeve of Connacht. (One of 3 possible burial sites).  It is thought the cairns may cover passage tombs but they have yet to be excavated. 
The woods and hill are also believed in Irish mythology to be the home and court of Finnbheara, the High King of the  Daoine Sidhe, the Connacht fairies. He is said to be buried in one of the stone cairns . The woods certainly felt magical, a combination of the jewel colours of leaf and moss, the filtered September sunlight, the ethereal stillness and silence, broken only by the caw of crows and buzzing of bees on the pink heather.


© 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved. 

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