The Englishman's Strand (Trá na Sasenach)

   The OSullivan Clan was the leading, native clan in the Ballinskellig's area during Cromwellian times. They had built a castle in Fermoyle and Captain Owen OSullivan was their leader during the period. 

   The English rejected the peace proposals put forward by the OSullivan Clan and gave orders to invade the OSullivan districts by land and sea in order to bring them into submission. To this end a strong party of three or four ships set sail from Tralee Bay to Ballinskelligs. The OSullivan's were apprised that the ships were making towards the Ballinskellig Rock. Captain Owen OSullivan, leading four companies, prepared himself for an invasion at Ballinskelligs Bay. 

   The ships came to anchor early that night in Ballinskelligs Bay and sent out three companies of about 160 men ((each?)) before daybreak, which took the inhabitants of the neighbourhood by surprise. They took as much booty as they could and drove all the cattle they could find to the banks of the harbour on Meelaguleen Strand, later to become known as Trá na Sasanach. The also took captive some of the natives. 

   Captain Owen OSullivan, arriving on the scene at this point with his four companies, assessed the situation. He ordered Captain John Brennan, with his company in a small valley on the eastern side of the strand, to attack the enemy on receiving Captain Owen's order. He likewise ordered another company under the command of one Lieutenant Mc Sweeny into another valley, at the western side of the strand, giving him the same instruction, to wait for the order to attack.

   Owen himself, with a young captain (a namesake of his) and their two companies marched towards the English, who sounded their trumpets with other acclamations of joy on seeing them approach. Captain OSullivan took the advantage of positioning his men behind a low fence surrounding a small field on the brink of the sea and strand. He ordered what small firearms he had to be discharged on the English as soon as possible, and not to wait for return fire, but to engage with pikes and broadswords. 

   The first salvoes made by the Irish had little or no effect on the enemy, apart from wounding a few. The English had the patience not to fire until the Irish came within range of musket shot. They then made such accurate and regular firing that they succeeded in killing six or seven of the Irish and wounding as many more. In this skirmish Captain Owen OSullivan was shot in the thigh. He rejected help from his second-in-command (his namesake), but ordered him to push on with the fight.

Though losing two or three men, the new commanding officer succeeded in dislodging the English, who started to withdraw towards the tide. In their retreat they lost four or five men. 

   At this point in the battle Captain Brennan arrived from the eastern front, who with his company attacked the English with ferocity. The English were exposed on the strand and were not given the chance to use their firearms, but had to fight with bayonets in their muskets, while the Irish fought with pike and broadsword, weaponry which they knew well and used expertly.

   The battle ended with all three English companies either killed or badly wounded, a few begging for their lives. The entire battle was over in a short space of time, and when Lieutenant McSweeny arrived from the western front, the action had already ceased. 

   Captain Edward Voclier was commander of the English forces. He fought with admirable courage, but after receiving ten wounds which did not prove fatal, ran into the sea and swam until he met with a boat bringing reinforcements, which took him aboard.

   On the previous night the ships' crews had taken captive some of the natives. Seeing the result of the battle, the crew wanted revenge and to hang these captives from the ships' masts. Captain Voclier behaved like a soldier and a man of honour in objecting to the hanging. He insisted that the battle was fair, and that innocent people should not suffer on that account. So he released the captives and had his own wounded soldiers and prisoners returned to him. 

   The Irish had about thirty killed in action and as many more wounded. Captain Owen OSullivan, much to the lamentation of is clan, was unable to serve afterwards as a soldier because of his injury. 

   Meelaguleen strand has since been known as Trá na Sasanach: the Englishman's Strand.

When the English Government got an account of the battle, they had a Cromwellian fort built in Valentia, which was strongly garrisoned in order to suppress and control the OSullivan Clan.

Diarmud's Bed (Leaba Dhiamada) 

   This placename is based on the well-known folk tale about Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fiahna. The tale is known as Toraíocht Dhiarmada agus Gráinnne (The Pursuit of Diarmaid and Gráinne). In the story, the High King, Cormac Mac Airt, promises his daughter Gráinne to the ageing Fionn . But at the wedding feast Gráinne falls for one of the Fianna, Diarmaid na mBan (Diarmaid of the Women), who was noted for his attraction to women. Gráinne puts Diarmaid under a spell to elope with her. Fionn pursues them around the country. In trying to escape from Fionn, Diarmaid and Gráinne often sleep on a stone slab. These stone slabs are known as Leaba Dhiamada (Diarmaid's Bed). There are many such placenames scattered around the country. 

   Eventually Fionn makes his peace with the couple. Years later, however, Fionn invites Diarmiad on a boar hunt and Diarmaid is gored. Water drunk from Fionn's hands has the power to heal, but each time Fionn gathers water he lets it run through his fingers before he gets back to Diarmaid.  Fionn's grandson Oscar shames Fionn into healing Diarmaid, but when Fionn finally returns with the water, it is too late, Diammaid has died.