This series of posts started with “Proleek, Grandfather McCardle’s home” where we explored the site of great grandfather James McCardle’s Proleek farm. A kilometer from there, at Proleek Dolmen, the ancient portal stones line up to face the plain rising to Slieve Gullion, a name for the mountain taken from the Irish, Sliabh gCuillinn, meaning “mountain of the steep slope” or Sliabh Cuilinn, “Culann’s mountain.”
Click photograph to view my Ireland photography gallery
There is an connection between Proleek and Slieve Gullion. Cycles of Irish Myth place a boy named Sétanta living on Muirthemne Plain, of which what we call Proleek Townland was a part. One day, the king Conchobar was passing his kingdom, Muirthemne, on the way to a feast on the slopes of Slieve Gullion hosted by the blacksmith Culann when he stopped to watch boys playing hurling, Sétanta among them (it is ironic the Proleek Dolmen is surrounded by a golf course in modern times).
Impressed by the Sétanta’s skill, the king invites him to the feast. Having a game to finish Sétanta promises to follow. As evening falls the boy approaches the smith’s house to find himself attacked by a huge, aggressive dog. Acting in the moment, Sétanta dispatches the dog with the hurley and ball he had at hand, driving the ball down the hound’s throat. (In another version he smashes the hound against a standing stone.)
Feeling Culann mourn the loss of his beloved animal, Sétanta promises to raise and train a guard dog equal to the one he slew. Until that time he also pledged to guard Culann’s home. From that time Sétanta was known as “the hound of Cullann”, Cú Chulainn in Irish.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
Beautiful images — you’ve really captured the quality of the light! But what is up with the sheep in that first frame? Are they guarding the rocks, or hiding behind them? Either way, it brought a big smile.
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There is a grazing commons on the mountain and the sheep are part of the landscape. It was late in the afternoon of a cloudy May day….the light lasts into the evening that far north.
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Wonderful pics! Ireland was sure beautiful when i was there to visit. 🙂
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Thanks for visiting and the positive thoughts, Tom.
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People have given Ireland the nickname “the emerald isle.” Did you find it greener than any other green place you’re aware of?
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Part of it is the location in the warm currents of the gulf stream. The green is intense, in County Louth we saw huge Calla Lilies, smashing roses. Palm trees in County Cork. Throughout, the mountains are, for the most part, green. You must experience it in the spring to understand.
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Beautiful vistas, but how awful for the poor dog in the story! I’m glad it’s just a legend!
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I am less sympathetic, having been bitten by guard dogs as a child. Thanks for the visit, Janet. Most appreciated.
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