Sheemore known, locally as the as the hill of the fairies is dotted with fairy trees and tombs on the ascent. Sheemore is the larger mound (Sheebeg) being the smaller) and still the best formed.There are three cairns on the summit. Today it is lit up at night by a huge crucifix mounted on its peak, writes Martin Branagan.

Sheebeg is a much smaller mound and very accessible. Both hills are said to be mystical and folklore recounts they are meant to open up releasing fairies and spirits on Halloween.

The Sheemore ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 4 March 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. It took place at Sheemore.

The ambush was carried out by the IRA’s South Leitrim Brigade on a British Army and Auxiliary Division convoy

The British force suffered casualties and admitted one fatality, a captain in the Bedfordshire Regiment, although some local sources claimed several more were killed. The Black and Tans later undertook reprisals in Carrick-on-Shannon, including burning the Temperance Hall in Gowel.

Martin Branagan is a co-founder of LeitrimExperience.ie and is passionate about promoting Leitrim as a tourist destination. Under the LoveLeitrim banner, Martin is touring the county in search of its hidden gems.

A Dubliner by birth and Leitrim resident by choice, Martin can be contacted on +353 (0)86 173 8417 for all advertising queries.

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