Turgeis or Turgesius

Lough Owel from Captains Hill

Colour photograph looking down from Captains Hill at a rowboat on Lough Owel

© Sean Magee

Lough Owel from Captains Hill
© Sean Magee

Lough Owel from Captains Hill

Colour photograph looking down from Captains Hill at a rowboat on Lough Owel

© Sean Magee

Enlarge image

There are conflicting legends relating to which lake Turgeis the Norwegian warrier who persecuted Christians was drowned in at the hands of King Malachy.

The Annals of the Four Masters states that after he had plundered Connaught and Meath and burned Clonmacnoise that he was taken prisoner by Maelseachlainn, son of Maelruainaidh and afterwards drowned in Loch-Uair.

Local oral tradition states that Turgesius was rolled down The Captains Hill in a barrell into the waters of Loug Owel.

MacGeoghegan on the other hand gives an account of his death in Lough Ennell.