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FAUGHART |
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From Dundalk, the border lies just eight miles on up the N1.
Opposite the turning for the Cooley Peninsula, a couple of miles outside
Dundalk, is a lesser road that leads a short distance inland to FAUGHART
. A small place of little modern interest, Faughart nevertheless has
several older associations worth mentioning.
Cúchulainn was born at Castletown Hill on the edge of the plain of
Muirthemne, which stretches away towards Armagh in the north, and in the
legendary account he was sent a false offer of peace by Medb asking him
to meet her at Faughart. Instead, fourteen of Medb's most skilful
followers awaited him: fourteen javelins were hurled at him
simultaneously but Cúchulainn guarded himself so that his skin, and even
his armour, was untouched. Then he turned on them and killed every one
of the "Fourteen at Focherd".
Faughart is also said to be the birthplace of St Brigid , patron of
Ireland, whose four-armed rush-cross is often to be found on the walls
of rural Irish households. In the local churchyard you can see her holy
well and pillar-stone, as well as the grave of Edward Bruce , who was
defeated here in 1318 after being sent to Ireland by his brother (Robert
the Bruce) to divert the English away from the Anglo-Scottish border.
There is a stone nearby which in legend was used for his decapitation.
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