The Carn of King Ochy

Patrick Weston Joyce
1911

According to our legendary annals, the Dedannans came to Ireland in the year of the world 3303, and proceeded at once to wrest the country from the colony that preceded them, the Firbolgs. A great battle, lasting four days, was fought between them on the plain of Moytura [1] near Cong in Mayo, in which the Firbolgs were defeated. Their king, Ochy the son of Erc, fled northwards; but was overtaken and slain on the great strand of Trawohelly near Ballysadare in the County Sligo, by the three sons of the Dedannan chief.

He was buried where he fell, and a carn was raised over him on the strand. This carn stood till the year 1858; and though it did not rise high over the level of the strand, the tide never covered it, and never could as the old records had it, and as the peasantry firmly believed to the last day of its existence.

There are perhaps many who will fail to see any thing marvellous in this, but we record it among the Wonders of Ireland, as we find it in the old books.

[1] For the Battle of Moytura see Joyce's "A Child's History of Ireland," or "A Concise History of Ireland."