School: Stranorlar

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   “At the foot of Barnes Mór there is a little lake sometimes known as the 'Lake of the Giants Tears' ...”

   

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   At the foot of Barnes Mór there is a little lake sometimes known as the "Lake of the Giants Tears" and this is how the lake got its name.
   Long ago there lived a mighty giant among the Donegal Hills. He was so big his legs could span the "Gap of Barnes". This giant was a great enemy of the fairies who were more plentiful then than now.
   Often when the moon had whirled herself clear of the mountains and the fairies were enjoying themselves the monster giant would conceal himself and wait.
   Then when the good people were dancing on flat stones to the wild music of the fairy fiddle or eating at mushroom tables he would gather them up in handfulls. When he had filled his pockets he went home and cooked the young ones for his supper. The old ones he hung above the fire till they were as brittle as dead leaves. Then he would stuff them into the bowl of his pipe which was about the size of an oil barrell and send them off in smoke.
   The fairies had no power to have revenge because the giant was a close friend of an old witch who lived in a cave far up in the mountains. This old hag was often seen talking and making

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Joan Hannigan

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Glebe, Co. Donegal

   Informant

   Mr Wille J. Doherty

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   65

   Occupation

   Farmer

   Address

   Ballynaglack, Co. Donegal