The Giants Grave is situated in the townsland of Kilnaparson in the parish of Kilmanman Clonaslee Co Laois
(According to Canon Cassigans history)
There was a battle fought there about 3,ooo B C Blaidh the warrior chief was killed and a cairn of stones was raised to his memory and so the mountains became known as Sliabh Bladhma, Blaidh’s mountain . There are five large stones each weighing twenty tons . At one time a large bronze age burial moundstood on the site. In the late 18th century a local man called Purcell found a solid gold spur in the giants grave. After this find there was soon nothing much left of the orignal burial mound.
A family of Daly’s once lived near the burial mound. They were known as Daly’s of the Giant’s Grave. During the rebellion of 1798 John Daly went to Wexford and fought in the rebellion. When he came back he was arrested and flogged in Kinnity. He later died from his wounds. The yoemen burned Daly’s house and pulled the stone from the grave.
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There are many mountain walks which pass the Giants Grave.The great Sli Dala, the old road from Tara to Cashel,once passed by the Giants Grave and you can still see the outline of this ancient roadway as it passes our house (the Rigney’s) into the townsland of Maugherabawn. It is again visible near Litir Luna graveyard one mile south of the village of Cadamstown. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this ancient burial mound. I met people from Cork, Laois, Austraia, Londan and NewYork. We went to see the Giant’s grave and the Croppy graves and the people were very happy.
By James Rigney.