The Glenshane Pass is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains, connecting the Maghera area with Dungiven. It derives its name from the townland of Glenshane (in Irish: Gleann Sheáin, ‘Shane’s valley’), situated on its western side. Both townland and pass are associated with an early-18th century rapparee named Shane Crossagh O’Mullan, a rather Robin Hood-like character who robbed the rich to feed the poor. Perhaps the most famous story about him concerns his humiliation of General Napier and his men, whom he is reputed to have disarmed under cover of darkness. Shane was aided only by his sidekick, Parra Fada, but tricked them into believing that he was accompanied by a large band of followers. They then stripped the general of his uniform and forced his men to march to Derry in their underwear. There is no doubt that Shane was a historical personage, as he was declared an outlaw in 1719 and was subsequently captured and hanged in Derry, though some of the stories about him have, of course, been embellished and embroidered in the telling over a couple of centuries. Nor was Glenshane originally named after him, as it was known as Glensenny before his time (possibly from Ir. Gleann Sionnaigh, ‘glen of the fox’). However, the folk memory of this larger-than-life character is so strong in this locality that it seems the place-name has been adapted to honour him.