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Fionn Mac Cumhail

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Fastnet by day This is a local legend from Schull about a famous Irish mythological character named Fionn mac Cumhail.

A long time ago there lived a very strong giant of a man who had muscles of steel and his name was Fionn mac Cumhail.

One day he decided he would test his strength. So he climbed the local mountain called Mount Gabriel.

He wanted to find a very large rock and see how far he could throw it. So Fionn scooped up a huge handful of rock and stones and earth and with a mighty roar he gathered all of his energy and cast the rock far into the sea.

Fionn on Mt. Gabriel
Fionn throwing Up and up it went, flying high, outwards and over the little islands.

Then after a little while Fionn saw the rock descending ....

and not too far from Oileán Chléire (Cape Clear) it landed in the sea.

The rock was now visible from land sticking out of the water and became known as An Charraig Aonair (Fastnet Rock).

The hole left on the top of Mount Gabriel soon filled with water and became known as Poll an Oidheann.

Landing in water
Fastnet by night Legend has it that on the first day of May every year the Fastnet Rock changes into a swan that spreads its wings and flies away to the neighbouring Beara Peninsula .

There it visits Bull rock and Cow rock, Calf and Heifer rocks and the swan whispers to them!