The Island of Swimmers

The Island of Swimmers

Lough Derg--Purgatory--Folklore--Demons

"There is on the cliff of Cruachan looking out on the sea and the Western sun a very deep cave exhaling icy blasts all the time..."

Shane Leslie, 1885-1971

Translated from the Latin of Patritiana Decas By Philip O'Sulevan Beare, Book 8, Chap. 3)., Leslie, Shane, Saint Patrick's Purgatory: A Record from History and Literature, p. 13.

Burns Oats and Washbourne Ltd, London

1932

Citation for the purposes of criticism

Collection of sources

English

Monograph

DD_0078

54.6083, -7.8714

"There is on the cliff of Cruachan looking out on the sea and the Western sun a very deep cave exhaling icy blasts all the time. Into these by common tradition the fighting demons were precipitated and fell into Hell. Hence it is called the Cave of Demons (Poull na Ndheamhain). On the authority of the old writers others of these evil spirits fled into the islands cut off from Ireland by the sea and not yet illumined by the light of the Gospel. Others transported themselves into the Island, first called the Islands of Swimmers and then of Demons (Oilean an Tshamha: Oilean na Ndheamhain)."

Monograph