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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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