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Origins Of Kesh The Hill of Kesh rises from the Plain of Corann at the western extreme of the Bricklieve Mountains in South County Sligo. The Mountain has been known throughout history and pre-history as a place of magic and wonder. One of the older tales about the Mountain is found in the Dindshenchas collection. This story describes how a woman, Deirdre, of the Túatha Dé Danann was magically transformed into a sow when she ate some enchanted acorns. The sow was known as Cael Ceis, and she went on a rampage across the country destroying lives and property. She was pursued by the Hunters of Connaught, who could not subdue her and she slew many of them. Finally Corann, who was the Harper of Dain Ceacht and resided at Newgrange put the sow to sleep with his skilful harping which we are told could 'charm the birds down out of the bushes or up out of the furrows the young peas'. The carcass of Cael Ceis then became the mountain. The meaning of Ceis is debatable and has been translated as The Small Bass Harp of Corann or The Wicker Roadway of Corann. Since Corann was said to be the best harper of the Dagda's household, the musical translation makes sense. The line of caves in the cliffs certainly brings music and wind instruments to mind. It is possible that the musical associations are a folk memory of the chanting, horns, harps, drums and other instruments that probably sounded from the top of the mountain and the caves during the ancient festival celebrations. My preferred interpretation is that the name refers to a sow with her litter of piglets, the smaller hills on the east side of Kesh.

The Enchanted Caves of Kesh Corann - messed about in Photoshop for the camera. 1995.