The Legend Of The Seven Sisters
Source: Choice Notes from "Notes and Queries": Folklore
The scene of the tragedy from which the following legend has sprung is the little village of Ballybunion situated within a few miles of Kerry Head.
The scenery around is of the wildest and most striking description. Frowning rugged cliffs rising abruptly out of the water to the height of over one hundred feet and perforated with numerous caves into which the ocean rushes with fearful fury in winter for it is a stormy coast and rarely does a month pass without beholding some dead putrefied body washed ashore while inland a barren uncultivated plain consisting mostly of bog stretches away to nearly the foot of the Reeks which looming in the distance seem to rear their giant masses even to the sky and form as it were an impenetrable barrier between the coast and the interior.
On the brink of one of those precipices we have mentioned there stands the ruins of a castle seemingly of great antiquity. Nothing now remains but the basement story and that seems as if it would be able to withstand the war of winds and waves for hundreds of years longer. According to the legend this castle was inhabited by a gallant chieftain at the period of the incursions of the Danes and who was the father of seven blooming daughters. He was himself a brave warrior animated with the greatest hatred against the Ostmen, who, at that period were laying every part of Erin waste. His sword never rested in its sheath and day and night his light gallies cruised about the coast on the watch for any piratical marauder who might turn his prow thither.
One day a sail was observed on the horizon it came nearer and nearer and the pirate standard was distinguished waving from its masthead. Immediately surrounded by the Irish ships it was captured after a desperate resistance. Those that remained of the crew were slaughtered and thrown into the sea with the exception of the captain and his six brothers who were reserved for a more painful death. Conveyed to the fortress their wounds were dressed and they were allowed the free range of the castle. Here gradually a love sprung between them and the seven Irish maidens who yielded to their ardent protestations and agreed to fly with them to Denmark. Everything was arranged for the voyage and one fearfully stormy night in winter was chosen for the attempt. Not a single star shone in the sky the cold blast came sweeping from the ocean the rain fell in torrents and the water roared and raged with terrific violence amid the rocky caverns. Escaping down from the battlement by a rope ladder they discovered to their horror that on reaching the ground they were surrounded by armed men. Not a word was uttered but they well knew into whose hands they had fallen. Conducted again within the fortress they found themselves face to face with their injured father. One deadly glance of hatred he cast on the prisoners and muttering some few words to one of his attendants he pointed towards his daughters. The man on receiving the command recoiled a few paces transfixed with horror and then he advanced nearer and seemed as if remonstrating with him. But the parent's face assumed an absolutely demoniac expression and more peremptorily repeating his order he stalked out of the room.
And now commenced a fearful scene. The lovers were torn from each other's arms and the women were brought forth again. The storm had grown more violent and the spray was dashing far over the cliff whilst the vivid flashes of lightning afforded a horrible illumination to the dreary scene. Proceeding along the brink of the precipice they at length came to a chasm which resembled somewhat the crater of a volcano as it was completely closed with the exception of the opening at the top and one small aperture below through which the sea rushed with terrible violence. The rolling of the waters sounded fearfully on the ear of those around and now at length the sisters divined their fate. One by one they were hurled into the boiling flood one wild shriek the billows closed again and all was over.
What the fate of their lovers was the legend says not. The old castle has crumbled into ruins, the chieftain sleeps in an unknown grave his very name forgotten, but still the sad ending of the maidens is remembered and even unto this day the cavern is denominated the Cave of the Seven Sisters.
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