Donn Binn Maguire and the Coppal Bawn

This horse, they said, had no equal in Ireland let alone in Fermanagh.

'Now', says they, 'for all his boasting, there is none to equal it in the stables of Donn Binn Maguire.'

When Donn Binn heard this, he was very much angered for he was a quick-tempered man and was easily drawn into a dispute. He vowed that if this horse of the O'Rourkes was indeed the finest in Ireland, he would find and own the greatest stallion in the world!

Now in those days there were great herds of wild horses all across the high hills of Fermanagh and all through the Iron Mountains into Sligo and Cavan as well, and it was great sport amongst the princes and chieftains of Ulster to ride out and catch some of them. Many's a fine stallion which graced a chieftain's stables had been cut from the wild herds which roamed up among the high mountain places. The finest of all these horses were supposed to be found on the upper slopes of Binaughlin Mountain itself.

Anyway, Donn Binn Maguire and his horsemen came riding through Florencecourt and Swanlinbar and over Binaughlin Mountain on a grand hunt. They passed through at a time of the year when the country people were burning the gorse on the mountainside to clear the land for sheep and it was said in all the villages through which they passed that Donn Binn was looking for the wild horses which were supposed to gather on Binaughlin's upper slopes. It was also said that he would not be turned until he had found them.

And find them he did, for no sooner had they reached a place high up on the mountain when the chieftain saw, grazing in a hollow in front of him, the finest and sturdiest-looking white steed that he had ever laid eyes on. Its skin was like the unspoiled snow and it had great muscles which rippled like the wind as it grazed. Donn Binn, who was a great judge of horses, instantly knew that this was a special steed.

'Faith', says he, 'but I will have that horse for my own! If that were in my stables, it would surely quieten the crowing of the O'Rourkes and I would be the envy of every prince in Fermanagh, and in all of Ireland too!'

His followers looked around them but they could see nothing, only the white mist trailing across the slopes of Binaughlin Mountain and the grey-backed crows lighting on and taking off again from the rocky ground. They saw no horse at all, and thought that their master must either be mad or bewitched.

Donn Binn Maguire was bewitched all right for it was no natural horse that he saw, but a supernatural creature sent by the Good People (may their heels be turned towards us this day!) to lure him away from the world of men and into their thrall!

Not knowing this, Donn Binn called his men and swore a great oath that he would ride after this grand horse and capture it, should he have to follow it across all the lands of Fermanagh. He instructed them that they could keep up with him if they had a mind to but that he would not wait for them if they fell behind. He would have that horse at all costs! The servants looked at each other in amazement and whispered amongst themselves for, no matter how hard they looked, they could still see no horse.

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From Beasts, Banshees and Brides from the Sea by Bob Curran