Connecticut western news., 1922-01-12
IN OLD TIPPERARY
Valley Of slieve-Na-Mon Land
 Rich in Historic Interest.
Long Famed as a Storehouse of Folk lore and Fairy Legends-On
 Devils Bit Mountain.

Recent news dispatches from Ire land contained the story of an ambush and battle between Sim Fieners and crown forces ill the Slieve-na-mon country, County Tipperary.
 To those who have read and studied the history of Ireland the name will strike 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 find 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.
 It was here in 1848 that Smith O'Brien and the Young Irish party gathered their forces; 1t was here pitched battle took place between them and the royal Irish constabulary and the British military, and 1t 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 em- braces part of that section of Tipper- ary called the Golden vale of Nun ster, said to be the richest farming land in all Ireland.
 Away to the northeast is the fa- nous Devils Bit mountain, another of the Galtee range. It was on this Noun tain that Cromwell is said to have stood when he turned to his soldiers and said: "This is indeed a land well worth fighting 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 off a glimpse of the lordly Shannon and to the south the beautiful Golden vale dotted over with little whitewashed cottages and farm houses. Further south is the famous Rock of Cashel, the seat of the kings of Munster, very interesting series of ruins and we'll worthy visit.
 There Is a story attached to every place of note in Ireland, and 1t goes without saying that the Devils Bit has one. If 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 a 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 shel- ter, for he knew that few and far | between were the homes where a lit tie wooden cross was not hanging on the wall.
 He sat down at the foot of the noun tain a while and was sorely troubled. But on looking up he saw a goat mak- 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 l terrific roar, and opening his huge mouth, bit a hole out of the mountain side And the "bit" is there today to show itself. And if you are a doubt i ing Thomas, you will find the rocks which he could not swallow scattered over the mountain side, some of them large enough to build a good-sized house.