By Barbara O’ Flaherty  [Courtesy Dundalk Leader]

Conn O Hanlon on his death bed told his eldest son Conn to divide his lands with his younger brother Lorcan. Conn replied that he would bring his younger brother to a height and give him all the land as far as he could see. The father was happy that all the land would be fairly divided when he had died. When Conn the elder died much to the surprise and disgust of Lorcan, the younger Conn brought him to a great Lug or hollow high up in the mountains at Aenagh where it is impossible to see more than a few yards around the black hollow. He said, "as far as you can see is yours" laughing. Lorcan was far from pleased but he also owned a splendid boat and he started to trade running some profitable cargoes making plenty of money. On one of these trading trips to Cadiz he had the good fortune to meet a Spanish Grandee and his daughter. He saved them when they were sailing in their yacht. Lorcan was extolled for his bravery but especially so by the daughter who was extremely grateful for the rescue. Lorcan and the beautiful daughter eventually fell in love and he popped the question and the couple sailed for Ireland. They arrived in Lough Carlinn. The natives were impressed with Lorcans wife as she was very well dressed and her jewellery was very striking but it was her extraordinary height that generated most attention. She fell in love with the area and was anxious to see Lorcan’s lands. So Lorcan took her to the top of the Lug and explained the story to her.

She was so disappointed that she fell forward, suffered a heart attack and died. Lorcan felt so terrible about the part he had played in her death that he ran wildly up the steep path to the bog of Aennagh and flung himself into it. The natives who were awaiting the Long Woman to return became anxious and went in search of the couple. They came upon her body in the enclosure of the rocks but they never found Lorcan dead or alive. They dug a grave for Cathleen and buried her where she lay in Lug Bhan Fada. Each native cast a stone on top to raise her burial cairn and this can still be seen in the mountains overlooking Omeath today