Here, not far from the quiet Kilbaha Bay, around 34 kilometers west of Kilrush, lies a place that, despite its quiet beauty, hides a difficult secret. It is the Tomb of the Yellow Men, a name that has stirred the minds of locals for decades and inspired numerous legends.
The stories about these men vary, but their tragic essence remains unchanged. Some say they were the crew of a Portuguese ship that was brutally murdered here long ago. Other stories tell of French sailors who were stranded on these shores after a shipwreck. An unfortunate cut on a rope that was too long and later too short resulted in many of them drowning in the cold waves of the Atlantic.
Regardless of their exact origins, these men are part of Ireland's rich and diverse maritime history. A country that, thanks to its strategic location on the Atlantic, has always been a meeting place for explorers, settlers, navigators and traders from all corners of the world. The Yellow Men, some believed, might have come from the Far East, perhaps China or Japan. Others argue, based on the nickname, that they may have been Spanish, as the sailors of the Spanish Armada were also known as "Yellow Men" in Ireland.
The truth about her identity may remain hidden in the mists of time, but what is certain is the way the community of Kilbaha honors her memory. In 2010, a monument was erected on the exact spot where they now rest. The locals look after this site lovingly, as if the Yellow Men were one of their own. They lay flowers blooming in the colors of the tricolor and offer their prayers as they pass.
Translated by Google •
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