Crew Stone #1 Mystery Cache

The following is an extract from "Glenavy: The Church of theDwarf 1868 - 1968" by Rev. Patrick J. McKavanagh.

With this background we can see how the Crew fits into our annals. The great stone on which the inauguration of the Ulidian kings was performed still remains, though a little removed from its original position. About 1880 it had sunk so much that little of it was visible. A number of youths, both Catholic and Protestant, raised it and placed supporting stones underneath. Later on some youths from Stoneyford visited the spot and when they had gone it was found the supporting stones had been removed. This anecdote was told to Canon McEvoy by Mr. Francis McCorry in 1935. At the moment the stone, though clearly visible, lies very low.

The old name for this site was Craebh Tulcha which Dr. O'Donovan translated as The Spreading Tree of the Hill. There was probably some sacred tree nearby which figured in the ceremony. It is not true to say that the kings were "crowned" here, as crowning is a Germanic concept. The new chieftain probably placed his foot on the stone and took his oath while his followers gave the three traditional cheers. A few stone-lined graves belonging to the pagan period have been discovered on the summit of this hill, and not far away is a large rath which could have been the site of the royal residence.

The hostility of the enemies of the Ulidians was specially directed against this spot, hallowed by a thousand traditions. In 1003 the Kinel Owen who were now the dominant force in the North defeated the Ulidians and butchered their leaders. Their own king was slain and Brian Boru, who had already been accepted as sovereign of Ireland by most of the septs, came north to secure total submission. Though he did not manage this, the Ulidians acknowledged his sovereignty and he encamped on Crew Hill where he was in friendly territory. The strongest bond of union between Brian and them was their mutual hatred of the Kinel Owen and Kinel Connell, the Northern Hy Niall, the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a Heremonian.

The event was not forgotten. After Brian's death the Ulidians backed the claim of Murtough O'Brien, his great grandson, to the throne of Ireland in opposition to Donnell McLoughlin, king of the Kinel Owen. Donnell led his men across Tuaim (Toome) into Ulidia in 1099, routed the Ulidians at Crew Hill and burned their camp, cutting down the sacred tree. UahAmhrain (O'Hafferin) of the Ulidian cavalry was slain in this encounter. His family's name is found in the townland Straidhavern.

Twelve years after this, the insult was repaid with a vengeance when the Ulidians marched to Tealach Og (Tullahoge) where the Kinel Owen were inaugurated and cut down its trees. The struggle went on, weakening both sides but two new events were under way which would change the face of Irish history. One was the Norse Invasion or the "Coming of the Danes," and the other was the Norman Conquest. A land which had been ravaged by strife was a sitting target for an invader.