Dundalk Democrat, July 25, 1903:

In the days of Craobh Ruadh, when Conchubhar Mac Neasa was king at Emania there lived in Sliabh gCuilinn, Culann, the great artificer or armourer of the Tuatha De Dannan. Conchubhar, the king, was one day going to a feast at Culann’s dun, and he asked the boy, then known as Setanta, to accompany him. On the way, however, the boy delayed at a hurling match with the youths of the court, and on arriving at Culann’s house, he found the doors barred, and Culann’s fierce hound – the match for a hundred men – on guard. The boy scaled the walls, and encountered the hound. The noise of the conflict brought out the guests, who had forgotten about Setanta. To their great surprise, they found the boy standing over the body of the savage, but faithful hound. Culann was greatly enraged at the loss of the guardian of his dun, and it seemed as if a quarrel was imminent, when the noble boy stepped forward and offered as eric? that he himself would guard the dun, and perform all the services of a hound, until such time as he found and reared another dog to take the place of the one which he killed. Thereupon Dubhthach, the Druid, said his name would be Cuchulainn and foretold the fame that would in future ages attach to the name. This story forms the subject of one of Sir Samuel Ferguson’s finest poems. Tradition and the bulk of authority agree that the moundtain also obtains its name from Culaan the artificer, though the usual spelling and modern pronunciation seem to have led Dr. Joyce to think otherwise. Sliabh gCuilinn is intimately associated with the events related in the “Tain-Bó-Cuailnge.” To the West of the mountain is Glen Samaise – the Heifer’s Glen – whither, on the approach of Meadbhs’s army to carry him off to Connaught, the Brown Bull of Cuailghne retired with his heifers. About six miles to the south is Dudealgan (now Castletown), the residence was his ancient patrimony. The summit of Slieve Gullion is crowned by a large cairn of cyclopean masonry, the opening to which is now closed up with stones. It is said that there are several underground passages from the cave underneath to other parts of the mountain. A little lower down the hill and supported by massy uprights is the Cailleach Biorra’s house, with which many local legends are connected. But, to many, perhaps, even more interesting still, will be
The Cailleach Biorra Lake.
This lake is said to have been made by the Tuatha De Danans by the wish of Culan’s daughter. It is held in great awe by the people, and many powers are attributed to it. With the Feinian poem, “Seilg Sleibhe gCuilinn,” it is intimately associated. The poem tells how the two daughters of Culann, Midluachra and Aine, being in love with Fionn, and Aine being the more favoured of the Fenian chief, her sister determined to prevent their union. Aine once said that she would never have a grey-haired man for a husband. With this thought in her mind Mudluachra, in the form of a fawn, crosses the path of Fionn, and his hounds one day as the Fenians were hunting. Leaving all the others behind, Fionn, with his two hounds, Bran and Sgeolan, followed the fawn to the slopes of Slieve Gullion. Here they missed the fawn, but, by the lake side, on the summit, Fionn saw a beautiful maiden weeping for a priceless ring which she told him had fallen into the lake. She put Fionn under geasa to recover the ring. He immediately dived into the lake, recovered the ring – but on handing it back to her, was turned into a withered, grey-haired, old man. The Fenians then coming up, after seeing Fionn, and hearing his story, laid siege to the portion of the mountain where the entrantress dwelt, and forced her to give Fionn back his youth, but ever afterwards his hair remained grey. The water of the lake is still said to retain this pwer, but many more kindly powers are now attributed to it, including cures of various kinds – but, especially of the toothache. Persons who have been cured by its waters of this dreaful malady have, the people say, lived often to ever five score without ever losing one of their teeth.

To be continued . . .[/i]