THE LEGEND

0n a small hill overlooking Moon Lake in Ardath is

Bounfort Castle，home of the Shrine of Eternal Peace

and one of the most sacred sites in the history of Chris．

tianity in Ireland．

Legend has it that one day in the year 988．while the

castle’S Irish defenders were under siege by a large

army of Norsemen，the vision of a woman appeared

on the castle’S balcony．She spoke and was understood

by all，although they were men of differing tongues．

And she said．“Let there be no violence here．Let

this forever be a place of peace．’’

Then the figure of Mary，Mother of God，rose in

the air，and lingered for long minutes before vanishing．

The Norsemen retreated．and Our Lady’s command

has been heeded since that day．Bounfort Castle has

never again been attacked by enemies，not even when

Cromwell’S thugs were ravaging the entire country—

side．