On the way to the farm of John Daniels, in Raheenarran, Kilmorgan, I was accompanied by Leo Cody of Ahenny and the conversation started at the Viewing Tower, from which Leo pointed out and described much of the landscape and the events which took place there in the past. Now in the company of John, we continued down the boreen to the site of the Black Bog Races, in the parish of Windy Gap. Fond memories were recalled regarding the great gathering of people at the races, the fine spectacle of the gentry, the buying and selling, the three-card trick, and other activities of that nature.
The story of the slate quarries is passionately told by Leo Cody. His family owned the land where the quarries were sited. These quarries created great economic activity in the area. Our journey finishes at Knockroe passage tombs, a prehistoric burial area, which is illuminated by the winter and summer solstices.
Keywords: farming, Raheenarran, slate, quarry, Knockroe, prehistoric, burial site, passage tomb, landscape, races, Windy Gap
