Tievenadarragh Wood – McCormick's Look-out Post and the Hunt for the Battle Plans
Tievenadarragh or Taobh na Darach, meaning 'hillside of the oak tree', was the scene of the betrayal and murder of insurgent Brian McCormick way back on 13th June 1798.
McCormick’s remains are buried in an unmarked grave in the wood, rumour has it that visitors to the wood have heard the ghostly sound of a musket shot and chilling wailing of the wounded man shortly after sunset on the anniversary of his murder.
Deserter Of The Highest Order
McCormick is understood to be a deserter of the United Irishmen, just before the Battle of Ballynahinch, and was endeavouring to make his way home to Killinchy. As daylight was running low he made for the wooded ridge of Tievenadarragh seeking cover for the night.
Betrayal
He called at a house on what is now known as Old Park Road begging for food and water. The young woman of the house, fearful for her life, sat the exhausted McCormick down to a hastily prepared meal. She could tell from the stranger’s uniform that he was one of the United Irishmen. As he ate she snuck out and informed her two brothers who then laid in wait.
Shots Fired
McCormick made his way back into the depths of the wood and that’s when the brothers pounced, shooting McCormick with their muskets, fatally wounding the insurgent before they made off in the direction of Drumaness.
Best Laid Plans
Unbeknownst to the brothers, McCormick held written details of the United Irishmens plans for the Battle of Ballynahinch, which he concealed before he succumbed to his gunshot wounds. Tradition says that McCormicks ghost watches over the place where the plans are hidden. And his hound, the hound of Tievendarragh, still to this day patrols the wood protecting the plans from discovery. That’s were your geocaching skills come in. Your mission is to find the plans and free McCormick’s ghost and his hound from its two century long overwatch.
Full details of the story of McCormick can be read at HERE.
Image - The Hound of Tievendarragh watching over the cache zone.
The Cache
This cache is at the site of McCormick’s look-out post and he hid part of the battle plans close to where he sat. The cache is a small camouflaged item with only a log. Bring your own pen. Please return the cache to exactly where you found it, ready for the next geocacher.
Whilst you are here you might want to explore a bit further. Here is a link to a 8 km or 5 mile walk taking in both Tievendarragh and Bohill forests.