The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-04-14
IN old TIPPERARY
Valley Of SIieve-Na-Mo Land
Rich in Historic Interest.
Long Famed as q s~torehouse Of Folk
lore and Fairy Leoends-on
DEVILS Bit Mountain.

Recent news dispatches from Ire
land contained the story of an ambush
and battle between Sim Fieners and
crown forces In the Slleve-na-mon
country. County Tipperary.
To those who have read and studied
he history of Ireland the name will
strike a familiar chord.
The valley of Slieve-na-mon is a
country rich In historical interest.
Many of the stirring events which
grace the annals of Irish history have
been enacted there. Perhaps in no
other section of southern Ireland will
you ind such "a wealth of historic
events, such a storehouse of folklore
and fairy legends and such typically
Irish people as you will find in this
section.
1t was here I'm 1S4S that Smith
O'Brien and the Young Irish party
gathered their forces; IL was here n
pitched battle took place between them
and the royal Irish constabulnry and
the British military, and It was here
occurred many of the stirring events
OF the Fenian rebellion.
The valley OF Slieve-na-mon is so
called from the mountain of that
name which at times towers aloft,
cold dark and repellant, but when
clothed In the soft gray mists of early
morning or bathed In the glamor OF
an Irish sunset Is truly a sight to
gladden. the senses. The valley EN-
braces part of that section of Upper
airy called the Golden vale OF Mum
ster, said to be the richest farming
land In all Ireland.
Away to the northeast is the ia
nous Devils Bit mountain, another Of
the Galtee range. 1t was on this Noun
tain that Cromwell IL said to have
stood when he turned to his soldiers
and said: ''This Is indeed a land well
worth lighting for"
The sides of the mountain are very
steep and the climb a hard one, but
the view well repays for the trouble.
Away to the north a vision Of won
derful blue hills and little green val
leys, and afar of a glimpse OF the
lordly Shannon and to the south the
beautiful Golden vale dotted over with
little w~hitewashed cottages and farm
houses. Further south Is the famous
Rock Of Cashel, the seat Of the kings
Of Munster. a very interesting series
Of ruins and well worthy a visit.
There Is a story attached to every
place Of note In Ireland. and 1t goes
without saying that the Devils Bit has
one. II you visit any of the peasant
homes In the valley, the woman OF
the house will tell you this story
as she bustles about preparing you q
cup of tea:
One day. the devil, through mis-
take, landed In the Emerald Isle and,
having lost his way, became very
hungry. He dare not enter any peas
ants cabin and ask for food or shea
ter, for he knew that few and far
between were the homes where a lit.
tie wooden cross was not hanging on
the wall.
lie sat down at the foot Of the noun
tain a while and was sorely troubled.
But on looking up he saw a goat max
ing his way up the rough mountain
side and instantly he was on his feet
He started in hot pursuit, but the goat
being very nimble. as are most of his
kind, seemed to be getting the best OF
the race.
Enraged with fear of losing his prey
the ruler Of the lower regions let out
a terrific roar. and opening his huge
mouth, bit a hole out Of the mountain
side. And the 'bit" is there today t.
show Itself. And II you are a doubt
ing Thomas, you viii find the rocks
which he could not swallow scattered
over the mountain side. some Of then
large enough to build a gocd-sizet
house.