StINGs

Just outside the town of Dingle, in Moorestown parish, lies a small lake called Loch Corraillí. The depths of this lake are home to our mischievous monster, An Phiast. Legend has it, An Phiast, a magical monster, emerged from the lake every seven years on May Day to create mayhem. He devoured the cattle and sheep of local farmers. No one could stop him. St. Cuan heard about the monster in Dingle and the havoc that he caused. So on May Day, before sunrise, St. Cuan and a crowd of locals gathered at the lake’s edge. St. Cuan came armed with a large three-legged black pot, and the crowd waited and waited for the monster to appear.

As they watched, a ripple crossed the water, green scales sliced through the surface, followed by the cheeky monster’s head.

“May you have bad health Cuan,” said An Phiast and opened his enormous mouth to swallow St. Cuan.

“The same curse on you,” said St. Cuan, throwing the pot on top of the monster’s head.

“How long will this pot be on my head?” the monster roared.

“For eternity and to the end of time,” responded St. Cuan.

“Forever is a long time,” the monster said sadly, “If I didn’t have the pot on my head, I would eat you and half the world with you”.

“You won’t eat anything else now, there is no fear of that, you will not cause any more trouble or damage here again,” said St. Cuan.

St. Cuan is buried in the townland of Moorestown parish and An Phiast lurks in Loch Corraillí with the pot on his head. Locals say you may still see the monster and, if you listen, you might hear his cries echoing through the pot.

Animation Dingle feels An Phiast has suffered enough, and are happy to welcome him to our festivities each year. Keep an eye out for him and let him join in the fun!