Slieve Gullion Creative Arts Centre - An oasis of tranquillity

The Slieve Gullion Creative Arts Centre- Teac Mallon -created by Brigid Brady and her sister Maura McKevitt marks a genuine attempt to relive and recapture the boundless rural and historic lore of this part of South Armagh.

It is a new concept designed to accommodate the local community, particularly women, and to attract tourists to the area.

A cross-community, cross-border oasis of tranquillity, through creativity i.e. art, creative writing, storytelling, drama, holistic therapies and counselling, with special emphasis to those members of society with disabilities, seen and unseen, Teac Mallon is the tranquil setting of a converted milking parlour with traditional open fire and stone walls situated at the foot of Slieve Gullion with a wealth of Archaeology in the immediate area; where myth and legend exist only because people give them light.

This is an ancient area. People have lived here for over 6000 years and have left their traces in stone, in megalithic tombs, burial chambers and Cairns.

The area contains the remains of twenty or so large stone tombs. Many of them, such as Ballymacdermot, are situated in prominent positions with magnificent views over the countryside.

The monument at Ballykeel is also an outstanding example of a portal tomb and the south cairn on the summit of Slieve Gullion has the distinction of being the highest surviving passage tomb in Britain or Ireland. Excavations at several of these burial monuments have uncovered stone tools, pottery and human remains.

Ballykeel Dolmen
Set on the fairly level terrace on the western slopes of Slieve Gullion and known locally as the ‘Hags Chair’ this is an impressive example of a portal tomb or dolmen.

Clonlum South Cairn, located to the east of Slieve Gullion, contains the remains of an important megalithic tomb.

Killevy Old Churches are located on the eastern slopes of Slieve Gullion. Killevy is the reputed site of an important early Christian convent founded by St. Monnina (who is buried in the grounds of the church) in the 6th century.

Slieve Gullion – the North Cairn is the highest surviving passage tomb in the British Isles and known locally as the ‘Calliagh Berra’s House’.

Slieve Gullion – the South Cairn, built during the Bronze Age, lies on the northern summit.

Killevy Castle (Bell’s Castle) built in the 19th century from stones taken from the Clonlum Court Tomb is in a picturesque setting with both arable and mountain surrounding it - consisting of 365 acres - an acre for every day of the year!