As I was researching Sligo this morning, you know as one does on a regular Saturday, I kept coming across the name Queen Maeve. I discovered that Queen Maeve is the fabled queen of the Irish province Connacht and is tied many Irish legends stemming from the start of last millennium.

Queen Maeve is known above all for her part in the early Irish mythical story of Táin Bó Cúailnge meaning “The Cattle Raid of Cooley”. The story tells the tale of a war between Ulster and Connacht which began with a conflict over Ulster’s prize bull. (Maeve actually fought in the war.) Maeve is also know for her many marriages and the scandals that surround them. She sounds like quite a vivacious character but unfortunately we’ll never know whether she actually existed or not. To read more about her, click here.

Today Queen Maeve and her story are still very much alive in Co. Sligo. At the top of Knocknarea, the domineering mountain located between the bays of Sligo and Ballysadare, is a large mound of loose limestone called ‘Miosgán Medbha’ or in English “Maeve’s Lump of Butter”. Scientists believe that this a man-made mound is a Neolithic passage tomb. It’s said that Maeve is entombed there standing in her battle gear and facing toward her enemies in Ustler; however, the tomb has never been properly excavated.

Traditional Irish music is also tied to the ancient warrior queen today. The Queen Maeve International Summer School, held since 1999 in Sligo Town, offers music and dance classes taught by experts to all during the second week of August.

Source; Source; Image Source 1; Image Source 2

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