Yeats Trail: Union Wood

Union Wood lies to the west of Ballygawley Lake and like many other parts of Sligo, this area is famous for its mythological figures.

The Cailleach Bérra (called Clooth-na-Bare by W.B. Yeats) is one such example. Though born mortal, the Cailleach (old woman or faery woman) was gifted with magical powers at birth including that of flight. After several centuries, she tired of her immortal life and sought ways to end it.

As described by Yeats in The Celtic Twilight (1893), the Cailleach ‘went all over the world seeking a lake deep enough to drown her faery life … until at last she found the deepest water in the world in little Lough Ia, on top of the Birds’ Mountain at Sligo.’

Lough Ia is identified with Lough dá Ghedh (Lake of the two geese), a lake located near the summit of Slieve Daeane (Sliabh Dá Éan – Mountain of Two Birds), which forms part of the Ballygawley Hills.

Yeats visited nearby Castledargan, now a hotel, which was then home to his relations, the Middleton/ Ormsbys. He describes the ruins of the castle which lies on the lands there, and how he fished for pike at Castledargan Lake. Whopper swans wintered here on Ballygawley Lake and eagles and falcons could also be found in the nearby Ox Mountains.

Lying between the villages of Collooney, Ballisodare and Ballygawley lies Union Wood, a popular walk.

The highest point of Union Wood was named Union Rock; seemingly this is a mispronunciation of the word ‘Unshin’ by the mid 19th century map-makers. The river Unshin flows from Lough Arrow through the lands of Markree Castle (now Hotel) to meet the Owenmore river at Collooney.

During the 1798 Rebellion an attack by Irish/French forces on a British gun post located at Carrignagat, Collooney, was led successfully by Bartholomew Teeling, an aide to General Humbert.

This installation is by Martha Quinn, who says that ‘the inkwell, hand carved from Kilkenny limestone, depicts two swans in water. The swans were chosen as they are year-round inhabitants of the lake and they also featured in the poetry of Yeats. The swan’s feather was also used in the making of writing quills, and so are forever associated with our long bardic tradition and history.’

from In the Seven Woods (1904)

Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland

The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knock- narea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.