Editing Magh Slécht

{{Short description|Historic plain in Ireland}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Coord|54.08|-7.66|display=t}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2021}}
{{Location map | Island of Ireland
| relief   = yes
| width    = 250
| caption  = Location of Magh Slécht in Ireland
| lat_deg = 54.08
| lon_deg = -7.66
| labe1   = Magh Slécht
}}
'''Magh Slécht''' (sometimes [[Anglicised]] as '''Moyslaught'''; A variant of Magh Lecht{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} meaning ''a grave-strewn plain'', because of all the ancient stone tombs therein{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}) is the name of a historic plain in [[Ireland]]. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, [[Barony (Ireland)|Barony]] of [[Tullyhaw]], in the west of [[County Cavan]]. It is bounded on the south by [[Templeport|Templeport Lough]], on the north by [[Slieve Rushen]] mountain, on the east by the [[Shannon–Erne Waterway]], and on the west by the [[River Blackwater, County Cavan|River Blackwater]]. Magh Slécht formed part of the Province of [[Connacht]] until the late 16th century, when it was made part of the Province of [[Ulster]] by the [[the Crown|English Crown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/3670344|title=The Plain of Blood, A Study of the Ritual Landscape of Magh Slecht, Co. Cavan|date=January 2013|last1=White|first1=Kevin}}</ref>

It was originally named Magh Senaig (plain of the hill-slope{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}) and under this guise is mentioned in ''[[The Metrical Dindshenchas]]''<ref>Poem 25 Ailech III</ref> in the story of the [[Dagda]], Corrgenn and [[Ailech]], wherein it states the Corrgenn travelled from Tara to [[Lough Foyle]] in the [[Inishowen]] peninsula ''via'' Mag Senaig.

In Pre-Christian times the small area where the [[Crom Cruach]] idol stood at [[Killycluggin]] and [[Kilnavert]] was originally named ''Fossa Slécht'' or ''Rath Slécht'' and it is from this small location that the wider Magh Slécht area received its name. In 1911 BC during the reign of Fodbgen, the Firbolg High-King of Ireland, the name Magh Senaig was changed to Magh Slécht (''The plain of prostrations'') as it became the nationwide centre of the cult of the [[god]] [[Crom Cruach]]. Another interpretation is Magh Sleacht meaning the ''Plain of the Monument''.

[[St. Patrick]] is said to have thrown down Crom Cruaich when he stretched out the [[Bachal Isu]] from a neighbouring hill causing it to fall over with its head pointing toward the [[Hill of Tara]]. The twelve surrounding idols were then swallowed up by the earth.<ref>St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, A Memoir of His Life and Mission. By James Henthorn Todd (Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co., 1864), pp. 127-8.</ref>

Another name for the plain was Magh Lecet or Magh Leced. The ancient Irish prayed by prostrating themselves in a similar fashion to today's [[Muslims]], i.e. by kneeling down on both knees and touching the forehead against the earth [citation needed]. The plain is not flat but consists of little [[drumlin]] hills. However, as it is surrounded by mountains, it is a plain in comparison. In the old Irish tale ''The  Siege of Druim Damhgaire or Knocklong'' (''Forbhais Droma Dámhgháire''), one of King [[Cormac Mac Art]]'s druids was called Cecht of Magh Slécht.

==Occupation==

This area has been in constant occupation from pre-4000&nbsp;BC up to the present day, as is evidenced by the huge number of ancient monuments which still survive. In a small area of {{convert|3|sqmi|km2}} there are over 80 monuments of different types, with many others bound to be discovered by future archaeological searches. It is the densest grouping of such monuments in County Cavan and possibly in Ireland.<ref>''Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan'', Patrick O’Donovan, 1995</ref>

Included are<ref>''Early Regional Identity and Local Prehistoric Continuity in the Cavan Area'' by Eamon Cody in 'Group for the Study of Irish Historic Settlement', Newsletter No. 16 (2011-2012)[http://irishsettlement.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Newsletter-2011-12.pdf]</ref>
 
* 9 [[megalithic tomb]]s
* 7 [[Ring barrow]]s
* 3 different [[stone circle]]s
* 9 different [[standing stone]]s
* 2 stone-rows
* 5 enclosures
* 6 [[crannog]]s
* 33 [[Ringfort|ráth]]s or souterrains
* 3 Early-Christian church-sites
* 2 Early-Christian Holy Wells
* 2 [[Bullaun]]s
* 2 Medieval castles

The area was first inhabited by [[Neolithic]] [[hunter-gatherer]]s who arrived via the river (originally called the [[Gráinne river]] & now canalised as the Woodford Canal or the [[Shannon-Erne Waterway]]). The first named inhabitants were the [[Masraige]] tribe who ruled Magh Slécht until they were conquered by the [[Uí Briúin]] tribe in the 8th century AD. The Masraighe were also called the ''Sons of the Liath'' or the ''Tuatha Slécht'' and Magh Slécht was sometimes called ''Liathmhuine''. It is of interest that Conall Gulban, the first nobleman baptised by St. Patrick, thus opening the way for the conversion of the ruling classes of Ireland, was murdered by the [[Masraige]] at ''Magh Slécht'' ([[County Cavan]]) in 464.<ref>'Flannacán mac Cellaig rí Breg hoc carmen. His poem on the death of some Irish heroes', by [[Kathleen Mulchrone]], in "Journal of Celtic Studies", Vol I (1949-50), pp. 80-93, stanza 22.</ref> He was buried by [[Saint Caillin]] at [[Fenagh, County Leitrim|Fenagh]], [[County Leitrim]].<ref>''Annals of the Four Masters'', M464.3</ref> The descendants of the Ui Briuin included the McGovern clan who are still the most numerous surname in the area.

==Historical events==
[[File:St Patrick and crom.png|thumb|St Patrick casts down [[Cromm Cruach]] and the twelve idols; from a 1911 illustration by Curtis Dunham.]]
The main events in the history of Magh Slécht as listed in the ancient sources are 
# The Journey of [[Corrgenn]] through Mag Senaig in 2000 BC<ref>[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T106500D/text024.html]''The Metrical Dindshenchas, poem/story 24, AILECH III''</ref>
# The killing of [[Regan]], the [[Fomorians|Fomorian]], at Tomregan in 1860 BC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/metricaldindsenc04royauoft/page/252/mode/2up|title=The metrical Dindsenchas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/revueceltique16pari/page/162/mode/2up|title = Revue celtique|year = 1870|publisher = Paris}}</ref>
# The death of the [[High King of Ireland]], [[Tigernmas]], & 4,000 of his followers in the Seventh Plague of Ireland while worshipping [[Crom Cruaich]] on 31 October (Samhain, [[Halloween]]), [[1413 B.C.]] His grave there is marked by a standing stone.<ref>[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T106500D/index.html]''The Metrical Dindshenchas, poem/story 7, Mag Slecht''</ref>
# The Battle of [[Tuaim Drecain]] ([[Tomregan]]) in 1342 BC by the High King [[Eochaid Faebar Glas]].<ref>[https://archive.org/details/leborgablare00macauoft]''Lebor gabála Érenn, Poem XCVIII''</ref>
# The murder of the Ulster hero [[Conall Cernach]] in the 1st century BC at ''Áth na Mianna'' ([[Ballyconnell]]). His grave is supposedly marked by a hilltop cairn.<ref>"[https://www.academia.edu/13072981/The_Death_Of_Conall_Cernach_At_Ballyconnell_County_Cavan The Death of Conall Cernach at Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan]",  by Tom Smith in ''Breifne Journal'' 2012</ref>
# The Battle of Magh Slecht in [[80 in Ireland|80]] AD by the High King [[Tuathal Techtmar]]<ref>[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]], page 319.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/31932591|title=Towards a first Critical Edition of 'Flann for Éirinn', a poem ascribed to Máel Muru († 887)|last1=García|first1=Laura Álvarez}}</ref>
# The battle of Luachair beyond Mag Slecht by King [[Cormac mac Airt]] in 239 A.D.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1vxfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22the+battle+of+Luachair+beyond+Mag+Slecht%22]
# The killing of the druid Cecht of Magh Slécht in [[c.246 in Ireland|246]] AD by the druid [[Mug Ruith]] and the Army of Munster at the Siege of Knocklong<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T301044.html |title=The Siege of Knocklong |website=www.ucc.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924053452/http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T301044.html |archive-date=2016-09-24}} </ref>
# The destruction of the idol Crom Cruach (The [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] [[Killycluggin Stone]]) by [[Saint Patrick]] in the 5th century AD and the founding of a church there at ''Fossa Slécht'' under St. [[Banban the Wise]].<ref>[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T106500D/index.html]''The Metrical Dindshenchas, poem/story 7, Mag Slecht''</ref>
# The murder of King [[Conall Gulban]] of [[Tír Chonaill]], a kingdom in west [[Ulster]], by the [[Masraige]] in [[464 in Ireland|464]] AD.<ref>[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/index.html]''Annals of Ireland 464.3''</ref>
# The birth of St. [[Dallan Forgaill]], the [[Chief Ollam of Ireland]], in c.[[530 in Ireland|530]] AD
# The birth of St. Mogue (also known as Saint [[Aidan of Ferns]]) in [[550 in Ireland|550]] AD
# The foundation of the University of Tuaim Drecain ([[Tomregan]]) by the Synod of Drumceat in [[584 in Ireland|584]] AD.<ref>[http://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100054/index.html] ''History of Ireland'', page 97</ref>
# The murder of the relatives of King [[Báetán mac Muirchertaig]] in 620 AD<ref>[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/index.html]''Annals of Ulster''</ref>
# The [[Battle of Magh Slecht|Battle of Magh Slécht]] in 1256 AD, between a united [[Breifne]]&ndash;[[Connacht]] force and the forces of the [[O'Reilly]] and [[House of Burke|House Burke]]. [http://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100011/index.html]

==See also==
* [[Tomas Óg Mág Samhradháin]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130812035125/http://www.stpeter.utvinternet.com/maps.htm Maps of Magh Slécht through the centuries]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magh Slecht}}
[[Category:Geography of County Cavan]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in County Cavan]]
[[Category:1st century in Ireland]]