Moytura's Irish
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If you have enjoyed your wander through the site I'd love to hear your comments, good, bad or indifferent, perhaps you'd sign my GUEST BOOK.
Or EMAIL me with any suggestions you might have.

Moytura Plains was the site of the first recorded battle in Ancient Celtic Mythology almost 5,000 years ago. The battle at Moytura involved the Fir Bolg, one of the original ancient clans of Ireland, and the Tuatha De Danaan, one of the many invaders. The Fir Bolg fought a brave fight in their efforts to repel the Tuatha from invading Eireann, all to no avail. The origins of both peoples go back to the time of The Great Flood when Noah's grandchildren settled in parts of Europe (details of this period in history are available in the link pages to the places visited. All links are below)

There are two Moytura's, the one I speak of here in Cong and one near Castlebalwin in Sligo. It is debated whether in fact the famous battle of Moytura  took place up there instead of here. A very famous resident of the area was William Wilde, antiquarian and father of Oscar Wilde. He lived for much of the year in a holiday home in Cong called Moytura House and wrote extensively about Maoytura, Celtic history and the history of this part of the county. His writing can be viewed in the library in Castlebar.

Our history is from the mists of time and Camden, an historian and antiquarian, said of Ireland:

"From the deepest sources of antiquity, the history of the Irish is taken; so that in comparison to them, that of other nations is but novelty and a beginning."

Moytura is near the village of Cong on the Galway/Mayo border and about 25 miles from my home. Cong was also the scene of another famous battle - that of Sean Thornton (John Wayne) and "Red" Will Donaher (Victor McLagan) in the movie 'The Quiet Man'.

Ashford Castle on the outskirts of Cong has over 350 acres of lovely woodland and sits on Lough Corrib, the second largest lake in Ireland. Its surrounds are glorious and its golf course is magnificent. As one of our premier hotels, it has hosted many  famous visitors, including presidents of the United States.
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Glebe Stone Circle
at Moytura, Cong

There are archeological treasures all around this area and ancient burial grounds, known as cairns, are to be found as mounds in many fields in Ireland. Here we find the spot reputed to be of the most famous battle in Celtic Irish history and careful examination of the photograph above shows the circular formation of the stones, also thought to be linked with the pagan Druidic religious celebrations.

But now you and I will go on a more peaceful and imaginary journey through some of my favourite spots (did I say peaceful?...... well........... just the odd battle thrown in to spice our travels a bit!).

My village is called Creig Mor meaning 'large rock'. My parish is Lackagh, with its own interesting history, and my county is Galway, situated on the wild Atlantic and the western periphery of Europe. Galway city is an exciting and vibrant place and its hinterland to the northwest is Connemara. 

Connemara, with its wild and wonderful beauty, rests within the shadow of mountains and forests. It is dotted with lakes, threaded with rivers and clothed in stones. It is a mythical, mystical place, a place of suaimhneas.....peace and tranquillity.....with a serenity in its wildness which seeps into the very soul.

I am not from this place but I am of this place. My roots are further north in Counties Sligo and Monaghan but here is where I live, love, work and enjoy life. Most Celts have a longing to 'return' to their homeland and Yeats put it nicely in his poem "The Isle of Inisfree" when he wrote:

Journey with me now through its beauty and splendour and feel the magic that is the West of Ireland.....My Place Amongst The Stones.

the Journey

For those who have just joined me on this page why not go to the beginning of our travels and see some of the places in The Start of Our Journey through the West of Ireland.

My Place Amongst the Stones gives the history of my company name, Moytura - a celtic heritage going back thousands of years. 

We journey to my own parish of Lackagh - a small village just 12 miles from Galway with a mighty big history. Learn all about the Battle of Knockdoe - one of Ireland's bloodiest of conflicts in the 16th century.

We move on to take a quick jaunt around Galway City; and then to the heart of Connemara - with its wild and wonderful beauty. 

From there we journey south into County Clare to see The Burren - a place that has lain undisturbed since the Ice-age and of immense botanical, ecological and archaeological importance.

Visit Ireland's finest early monastic heritage centre in Clonmacnoise, County Offaly; and to my favourite of all the early Christian Church locations - Clonfert, South County Galway, with its beautiful tiny 12th century Cathedral of Saint Brendan. Come with me around the grounds and see the 1000 year old Yew Walk and the Bishop's Palace. 

While on the Clonfert pages, you can learn a potted history of Saint Brendan the Navigator, possibly the first European to set foot in North America in the 6th. century. And join me in the celebrations when this tiny cathedral was listed in the World Monuments Watch 2000 most endangered monuments.

Join me on my 'Famine Journey' which starts in Westport, and moves to Sligo, my Dad's County and the departure port for many of the 'Coffin Ships'. This part of my journey ends in Grosse-Île on a tiny island east of Quebec City. 

On this page you will learn some of the history of our Famine Refugees from 1845 - 1849 and find the final resting place of over 6,000 of my country folk who died within sight of their first freedom in over 300 years. This is where many of the Irish roots in North America started.

Our Journey moves on to other places on that visit to Canada where we see Quebec City and some of Ontario's lovely places and then to two of Canada's famous Catholic Shrines - Saint Anne de Beaupré and to Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

Finally, join me on my pilgrimage to a peaceful haven in a war-torn country in Medugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovinia. The other areas of my Web site can be found in the drop-down box below.

I have added links pages of other places related to the places we visit, links to leisure activities in Ireland i.e. golf, fishing, horse riding, sailing in Ireland, festivals, entertainment etc. and some of my friends' home pages. 

Don't forget to bookmark this page and return to take up on more of your journeys with me. Oh .. and please sign my Guestbook if you have enjoyed your travels. Go raith míle maith agat - thanks a million

Every now and then people send me stories, poems, or URLs to other Home Pages that I find very touching or uplifting, they can be found at the links below. Some will make you smile, maybe even laugh, some may make you cry or a little sad - but all will leave a little bit of a mark, if only for the few minutes you spend reading or listening to them. Enjoy - I call this section: