Lough Annascaul

Annascaul Valley is a typical glacial valley. The mountainsides surrounding the lake are strewn with boulders.
A legend associated with Lough Annascaul is the story of the Giant, Cúchulainn and Scál ní Mhurnáin at Lough Annascaul. Scál, a woman who lived near the lake, was attacked by a giant and appealed to Cúchulainn for help. At first he and the giant exchanged insults. Insults gave way to boulders and the battle raged for a week. Eventually Cúchulainn was wounded, let out a roar of pain, hearing this, Scál believed her champion had been killed, she jumped into the lake and drowned. This simple story is believed to be of an early origin, perhaps desended from a myth of rivalry between two gods for the possession of a goddess. On the top of the mountain on which Cúchulainn stood there are three stone cairns called Leaba, Tigh and Uaigh Cúchulainn (the bed, house and grave of Cúchulainn).