Page 9 - A Ancient East (complete)_Neat

Tomnafinogue native woodlands

Woodland is and was an important compo-
nent of the valleys of Wicklow and the
lowlands of Wexford and Carlow. Here
visitors can walk these majestic wood-
lands; besides, there is an opportunity to
describe the role they had in the history of
the region and in the lives of the tribes of
the south-east.
Tomnafinogue native wood-
Here we have the remnants of a natural lands—King Richard II of
forest that covered much of the region. England almost lost his life in
These woodlands provide the background the forests of East Wicklow in
to the events of King Richard II of England 1399
who came to Ireland in two expeditions at
th
the end of the 14 century. He almost lost his life during his second visit when
his struggling army became weakened and disconcerted under constant harass-
ment by the Irish tribes. He was saved only through the work of 2,500 support-
ers who cut a passage through the woodland so that he might reach the coast
(probably near Brittas Bay) where he escaped.

Valleys of the poets

Within a relatively short distance
of the Wicklow Gap (i.e. between
Crochan Mountain and Anna
Hill) are to be found echoes of
the bardic families that left their
mark in the Book of the O’Byr-
nes. Of particular significance is
the modern townland of Pallis The present towland of Pallis is associat-
where the remnants of the settle- ed with the MacEochaidh lords who
ments of the MacEochaidh were also hereditary bards to the local
(Keogh) lords and Ó Dálaigh ruling families
poetic family are to be found.
Several moated sites and a rath suggest continued settlement since Anglo-
Norman times. Not far away in the townland of Loggan is a site known as Leac
MacEochaidh where the inauguration of the MacMurrough kings took place.

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