Jul 25, 2011

St. Abban

Window in a church in Los Angeles.
There are numerous Irish saints that we know little about, just that they are mentioned in old manuscripts. The Lives of these saints were often written several hundred years after they supposedly lived. One of these is St. Abban. Abingdon near Oxford, England, may have been named for him, or as some suggest, may have named in an attempt to shed Norman Britain in a better light with the Irish. I don't know. I don't spend time trying to prove these obscure Irish histories.

But, I do love the stories and legends associated with the saints. Here is one about St. Abban.

Wolf
 Photo by Arrr! Steve Gregory

He was tending the cows belonging to his foster family when he was but a lad. A wolf approached. Abban communicated with the animal and learned that he was starving. He allowed him to eat one of the calves. Later, the family was distraught over this. Abban told them that if God could create the calf, when one did not exist before, He could surely make another calf out of nothing now. And miraculously the calf was restored. Amazed, the family took Abban to the King, saying that they were agreed that Abban should worship the God who did this thing for him. So when Abban was twelve years old he went to live with his mother's brother, Bishop Iubar, and thus began his religious training. He seemed to understand the nature of God while those around him were astonished by it. Of course they were amazed by the miracle, but to this young boy, it was nothing to marvel at. Of course God could do that. He's God!!

Killabban (literally the church of Abban) in County Laois, is supposedly where St. Abban is buried. But he is associated with many places in Ireland, so who can know? Abban lived in the 5th century, or maybe the 6th century, or maybe he lived to be 300. All that is said about him.

Jul 22, 2011

Sharing the Love

Greetings!
Wow, has it been a busy summer, or what? I was hoping to have something posted today that was truly inspiring, but I think my brain is fried. (And not just from the heat either.)

I would like to encourage anyone reading this blog to sign up for my newsletter. It's usually monthly and we have a trivia contest every month with free prizes! (Yeah, what kind of prize is not free? Told you my brain is fried.) BUT, one reason you might want to do that NOW is that I'm going to share something with my newsletter subscribers before the general public hears it. Curious? Hop over to my web site: www.cindyswriting.com and click the link to subscribe.

And just so I don't leave you empty-handed....

For your browsing pleasure:
50 Best Blogs for Celtic Culture & History
(Mine's not listed, but maybe someday!)
See you next week!

Jul 20, 2011

County Down

I mentioned before that County Down, Northern Ireland, is where my ancestors came from (some of them, anyway.) Next time I go I hope to do some hiking. This video is very inspiring! What do you think?


Jul 18, 2011

The Mountains of Mourne


So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waitin' for me
In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.

You can look at Irish song lyrics and even listen on this web site. Tom took this photo while our Irish friend stood by and quoted this song.

Jul 11, 2011

Irish Authors

From County Sligo comes a site you'll want to check out. I was delighted to hear from Jho Harris at www.podcasts.ie who introduced me to some Irish authors. At the site you can listen to some podcast interviews.

You can find the writers here: http://www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/

Later in August I'll be featuring one of the authors on my historical fiction blog, Favorite PASTimes. I'm currently reading Kate Kerrigan's Ellis Island, and loving it.

But there are many other pages to check out as well, such as Musicians. (You can even listen to Tommy Sands sing here.)

Myths and Legends can be heard here.

There is much, much, more. Be prepared to spend a lot of time and really enjoy the podcasts. Let me know what you find there!

Jul 4, 2011

Happy Birthday, America!

Greetings!
I have blogged in the past on American/Celtic topics. Here are some links to help you celebrate the 4th!
















I'm proud of my Celtic heritage, but I'm also proud to be an American. Happy Birthday, America!

Jul 1, 2011

O'Dangal's Vision

St Martin's relief
Photo by Lawrence OP
I read about this in  The Wonders of Ireland by P. W. Joyce, 1911.

During Ireland's Golden Age of Christianity pilgrims would journey to religious centers such as Rome and Tours. They greatly venerated Martin of Tours, probably because of the association that they believed had existed between Martin and St. Patrick. One day while a man named O'Dangal approached Martin of Tours'a tomb he saw a great crowd of people. When he got closer he discovered that while there was a great deal of activity, he heard no sound. In the middle of the crowd he saw his mother passing out meat and milk to the poor. He knew his mother was in Ireland, however. He decided to test his vision and he sneaked up and took the lid to the milk vessel. Then he stood back and saw his mother searching about for it. He kept the lid, continued his journey, and then went home to Ireland.

He asked his mother what she had been doing on the very day he'd had his vision. She said she had called together the poor of her community and had passed out meat and milk. But strangely, she had lost the lid to her milk vessel. He produced it and she saw that this was indeed the missing lid.

This story was told to persuade the people that an arduous and dangerous journey to a holy site need not be made in order to do good--the work the venerated saint had done in his lifetime. Do good where you are.

This rhyme brings the point home:


To go to Rome
is much of trouble, little of profit:
The King whom you seek there,
Unless you bring him with you,
you will not find. 

"Lord God, you were glorified by the life and death of Saint Martin.
Renew the wonders of your grace in our hearts 
so that neither death nor life may separate us from your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen." ~ This prayer accompanied the photograph above.

Jun 29, 2011

The Swan Woman

Taken from The Wonders of Ireland by P. W. Joyce, 1911


Once there was a poet who, while journeying across the country, came across a flock of wild swans as he stood on the banks of the River Boyne. They flew very near him so he picked up a rock, took aim, and threw it. It struck one of them and knocked it to the ground. When he hurried to his prize, however, it was not a swan at all, but a lovely woman in white clothing, and she was perfectly well. She explained to him that some time ago she was sticken with a terrible illness. As she lay on her bed, a group of demons gathered her up and took her away. To her friends, however, she appeared to be dead. The demons took her on their wild flights and she had been flying with them ever since until the poet happened to strike her and bring her back.

He took her home and restored her to her friends.

This is one Irish story with a happy ending! But like ever other Irish story, this one probably has a deeper meaning. What do you think?

Jun 27, 2011

Ancient Prayer of Anoitment


This prayer could be used for baptisms or for a blessing. It is found in a paper by Fr. Sean O'Duinn.
It was originally in Irish and according to Fr. O'Duinn it likely dates to the 9th century. I think it would be a wonderful prayer to rededicate one's own life.


May the yoke of the Law of God be on this shoulder;
May the intelligence of the Holy Spirit be in this head;
May the sign of Christ be on this forehead;
May the hearing of the Holy Spirit be in these ears;
May the scenting of the Holy Spirit be in this nose;
May the vision of the People of Heaven be in these eyes;
May the conversation of the People of Heaven be in this mouth;
May the work of the Church of God be in these hands;
May the welfare of God and neighbor be in these feet;
May this heart be a dwelling place for God;
May this complete person belong to God the Father.

Jun 22, 2011

A Man Who Recorded History

Austin Cooper lived from 1759-1830 and was a historian. His family calls him the Antiquary to distinguish him from the many Austins in the family line. Ge was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries in London, but perhaps his greatest contribution to preserving history was his drawings. He traveled about Ireland on official business (collecting taxes) and sketched the ancient ruins and prehistoric sites, thus preserving on paper some of what can no longer be seen.

He was not alone in his desire to record history, thankfully. Besides his contemporaries, Austin's descendants worked to print and preserve some of these drawings. The material was kept in the family near Dublin until about 1960 when it was transfer with another descendant to England. The National Library of Ireland eventually acquired it and O'Brien Press published a book in 2000, Cooper's Ireland, Drawings and Notes from an Eighteenth-Century Gentleman.

There are drawings by Cooper in the National Library that are not in this book, and the library also has 18th century drawings by others as well.

You can read more about Austin Cooper and see some of his sketches on this blog by a member of his family.

Jun 17, 2011

Sheep

When I find a reference to the same thing in two different places (not intentionally like research) I stop and take notice. In two places today I read something about The Good Shepherd. While that's not an obscure subject for Christians, I still thought about it in a different way.

The Good Shepherd is a reference to Jesus. In the Book of John, Jesus refers to himself as The Good Shepherd. If you search the Bible, you find numerous references to sheep and shepherds. In one of the earliest, Joseph on his death bed says that God has been his shepherd. All this has led to tons of sermons on the subject.

I don't know about you, but I've often been told the story about how stupid sheep are. That's why they need a shepherd. And the conclusion is that human beings are also stupid and therefore need Jesus to shepherd us. I'm not doubting that we need Jesus, but I don't think people are stupid. (Generally speaking, that is!)

I didn't find that "stupid" reference in the Bible. If I missed it, would someone please show me? I don't think we're called to be stupid. Just the opposite: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." ~Matthew 10:16 NIV

It seems to me that it would be much easier to follow a shepherd if you were completely stupid. Having a mind to think and reason, like we do, makes it harder to trust. We think we know we better and that gets in the way. I don't think you have to throw away all your intellect, however. God gave us a mind. He did not make us....sheep, for instance. There is just something about sheep that He used as an illustration.

©2010 Cindy Thomson
Of course there are multitudes of sheep in Ireland, so I had the opportunity to observe them every day when I was there. I didn't really study them, but just noticed a few things. It was obvious that because they didn't know us, they moved away from us when we drove or walked by. This one did not move too far away from his meal, but he was ever observant of me.

Sure, sheep can make poor decisions and easily be led astray. I get that analogy. But like most things, there is more to the story. Any sheep experts out there willing to share their insights??

Jun 15, 2011

Adagio Trio

Today I'm bringing you a Q&A from a musical group called Adagio Trio. They have a Celtic CD out you might like to sample. 


From their web site:

The Adagio Trio was founded in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their unique combination of harp, flute, and cello provides a fitting compliment for meditation or relaxation. Their CDs have been used in various venues such as massage clinics, yoga and meditation classes, retreat centers, music therapy, hospice, etc. Most of their arrangements, such as "Ashokan Farewell", "Shenandoah", Ave Maria", "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", "Pachelbel Canon in D", and "On Eagle's Wings" are original arrangements. Adagio Trio has been featured on public radio stations throughout the country including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, New York, Oregon, and California, and featured numerous times on WHRO radio in Hampton Roads and WGUC-FM in Cincinnati. In the first six weeks, their debut album “Stillpoint” sold over 1000 copies. 





What led you to perform the Celtic music on Celtic Heart? And, how is this style of music uniquely suited to Adagio Trio?

We have always loved this style of music and wanted to learn more of how to play it. Kathy & Lin both have Irish ancestors and have loved Celtic music. We are not Celtic players, so we were all coached by local Celtic musicians so that our style sounded as authentic as possible. Our group of harp, flute and cello has a unique Celtic sound because the grouping is not typical. Unlike our other CDs, all of the pieces we arranged ourselves. We especially wanted to record this CD since our harpist, Lin had bought a William Rees Aberdeen Meadows Celtic harp in memory of her brother-in-law who was a lover of music and had died of cancer. The harp has such a different sound than the pedal harp. The flute and harp are traditional Celtic instruments, but the cello is not. I had to learn the fiddle style for some of the pieces on the CD.


Your music has brought comfort and relaxation to people who are recovering from medical problems as well as hospice patients. Did you set out to perform this kind of spiritually comforting music or did it happen by chance?

We did not intentionally try to create music for hospice or "spiritually comforting” music. However the type of music we chose was an expression of a variety of music that is uplifting and familiar. We tried to originally make a CD of music that we all enjoyed. When we started as a group in 1985, we were mostly a “gig” trio that played lots of weddings. Brides throughout the years had asked us about a CD, so we finally created our first recording “Stillpoint” in 1997. There are a few tracks on “Stillpoint” that are big requests at weddings such as “Pachelbel’s Canon” and “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”. As the first few recordings started to sell, others shared that our music had a calming effect. Hospices, massage therapists, and yoga centers have all used our music. We didn’t really see that coming. That prompted us to record more CDs since people were requesting it.



Have you always been musicians?

Yes. We all have played our instruments for a living for many years. Kathy and I both graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in the 80s. That is where we met Lin, our harpist, who had already been freelancing in Cincinnati and now also plays for hospice patients and teaches Suzuki harp. Kathy and I live in Chesapeake, Virginia where I am the principal cellist of the Virginia Symphony, and she teaches and performs also in the area.


Any upcoming performances or recordings you’d like people to know about?

We will be performing a concert in Lebanon, Ohio, August 19th, 7:00pm, at Resurrection Lutheran Church. We will also be performing in Cincinnati at Joseph Beth Booksellers on August 20th, from 11:30am to 1:30pm.  We usually play tunes from our 5 CDs, which are a mix of classical, folk, religious, and Celtic music. We hope to perform a few more times in the 2011-2012 season. Because we live apart from our harpist, we cannot perform as often as we would like. We would encourage anyone interested in attending our concerts to keep in touch via our website: www.adagiotrio.com .

Jun 14, 2011

Happy Flag Day!

Flags have been important to groups of people since Biblical times, and certainly Celtic clans used flags and colors and tartans to identify themselves. Today is flag day in the US. We fly our flag at our house every day, but today is an especially good one to fly the red, white, and blue.


This is the flag outside of the funeral home during my father's funeral. Underneath the Star Spangled Banner is the US Army flag in honor of my father's service.

Jun 13, 2011

A monk sits among his brothers in a spacious hall filled with slanted writing desks. Although it is daytime, his desk bears its own candle for additional illumination. He has several pots of ink, the fruit of the labor of other monks who gather bark, berries, and minerals from the earth to produce vivid colors for his use. Likewise, the velum he writes on was painstakingly prepared by others.

Because he has a steady hand and very good eyesight, the monk spent years training to be an illuminator and calligrapher. He works with others to produce a sacred manuscript to be used in mass. Around him ordinary scribes do the important work of copying scriptures and other works. Only by possessing these copies can monasteries flung across Ireland and Europe teach the thousands who come to them to learn. Sometimes even nobility and kings come to the monasteries for education and enlightenment. This work is important and valuable, and yet he is careful not to become prideful. He is only an instrument.

Words. The pictures they create in a person's mind. The meaning they speak to one's soul. The monks in the scriptorium copy, draw, paint, and compose, and in doing so they deliver the beauty of words to the people.

It's a great responsibility, working in a scriptorium. But that is not why the monk does it. God Almighty has asked this of him, given him the skill and steadiness. To refuse his calling would be an act of disobedience, and he has taken a vow to obey God and the abbot.

So here he sits while birds sing outside and children frolic in the sunshine. While farmers plow and harpers strum. Only while resting does he pause to consider something besides his brush.

A white cat wanders about the tables, occasionally rubbing his back against a scribe's leg until a rustle in the corner captures his attention. Once the animal's mind is set upon his prey, nothing, not even a human's voice or the offer of a crumb of bread can divert him from his task. God created the cat to hunt mice. God created this monk to hunt words.





Pangur Ban (Old Irish for White Cat)
I and Pangur Ban my cat,
Tis a like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.
Better far than praise of men
Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.
Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.
Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.
'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.
When a mouse darts from its den
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!
So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.
Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.
~Translation by Robin Flower of a 9th century poem written by an unknown Irish monk

Jun 10, 2011

Irish history

I'm always researching Irish history. Before I actually went to Ireland I tried to get as many visuals as I could before I wrote. Now having been to Ireland I have a better perspective on many places, but I still believe that when you are writing about the past you need a good imagination. Photos, drawings, and even early Edison movies help spark my imagination.

That's why I was so pleased to find this post from the Irish History Podcast. These are amazing film clips.

How ever did one write before the Internet?

And speaking of podcasts, there are several I like.

Here is an archive of the Irish History Podcast shows.

The Irish Roots Cafe.

And not to be missed, the Irish Fireside podcast.

Jun 6, 2011

Celtic Myths--Literally

I'm not talking about the fanciful legends that have been passed down, retold, and reinvented. I'm talking about a more modern occurrence. I was recently at a Celtic event and I heard a vendor telling a young girl about his ring. He said that the Celtic people spoke different languages and had trouble communicating so they used what was on his ring. I couldn't see the ring, so I was imagining what he might be talking about. I thought perhaps he had ogham marks on his ring. Then he said what he was wearing was a wedding ring and the design was called an eternity knot.

What? I was scratching my head. Where did he get that from?

You've probably seen this design. Tom and I have similar wedding rings. Below is a sample. You can click on the picture to go to this jeweler's web site.

The truth is, no one can know for certain what the ancient people saw in these designs. We can only speculate, or add our own interpretations so that the designs have meaning for us personally. But to tell someone that the Celtic peoples used the knots so that they could understand each other? That's a modern legend.

Have you heard any of these modern legends? Do tell!

May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!

Last year on this blog I honored my military family. This year is a little more dear to my heart because my father, a WWII hero, is no longer with us.

In thinking about ancient Celtic culture, I realize that people have always tried to remember. That's the reason, I believe, for the standing stones and high crosses.






I wanted to embed this video but it wouldn't allow it, so I'm just linking it. I hope you'll go listen, however. It's a beautiful song for Memorial Day.

Remember Me

May 27, 2011

Shipbuilding

The Vikings were conquerers largely because of their ships. Whether it's the Viking influence or something else, Belfast has been building for a long time. Even before the Vikings, however, the Irish were boat builders. They may not have had longboats, but they may have built a vessel that actually sailed all the way to America in the 6th century!

Belfast's location makes the city a major port for trade. You might remember that the Titanic was built in Belfast. As the Irish like to say, "She was fine when she left here!"

When Tom and I were in Ireland, we were invited to a two-man play titled The Boat Factory. It's about a young man's experience post WWII working on the shipbuilding docks. While we didn't always understand the jokes or the accent of the actors, we did enjoy this unique Irish experience. Shipbuilding has been a critical part of life in Belfast for a very long time.

My ancestors, the Littles, sailed from Belfast in 1771. They lived somewhere near Downpatrick, which today is about a 45-minute drive. The Littles were not shipbuilders but they did board a ship that could have been Irish built. I've been trying to figure out just what the docks looked like in 1771. Not much luck so far. If you have any resources for me, please share!

May 25, 2011

American Presidents in Ireland

President Obama's recent visit to Ireland has made me think about which presidents traveled to Ireland while in office, and why.

There are many speculations about why Obama is visiting Ireland right now. I'm not sure why he went there, to be honest. Everyone, of course, should go because it's a wonderful country to visit. Obama went to Dublin to meet with Ireland's president Mary McAleese and then to the tiny Moneygall, birthplace of Obama's 3X great grandfather.

The Irish were amazingly enthralled by his visit (at least it's amazing to this American.) If it weren't a political visit, if Obama stayed longer, if he was truly interested in his genealogy (someone else did the work for him, but that's not surprising) I would understand completely. A vast number of Americans can trace some branch of their family tree to Ireland. There are more Irish in America than there are in Ireland. (True, Obama is only 3.9% Irish, but that hardly matters. America is a melting pot.)

But to be fair, other standing American presidents went to Ireland for political reasons, including Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Nixon, and Kennedy. For some it was a much more emotional and meaningful experience than just political one, and I'm not going to judge that. Plenty of other people have.

I think that perhaps these presidents realize that if they connect with their Irishness (is that a word?) then they'll also connect with many, many Americans. And that does make sense to me (casting aside all the reasons he perhaps should not have spent money on a European tour while our economy struggles and we deal with tornado devastation. That's another topic for another kind of blog.) You???

May 20, 2011

Inspiration

As an author, I'm always looking for inspiration. It's not really that hard to find, but it shows up in all kinds of places. Obviously, the beauty of Ireland and the faith of the ancient Irish inspire my writing. These things also uplift my soul and bring me to a place of worship.

I'm homesick for Ireland. Terribly. There is nothing wrong with wanting to go back to a place you visited and enjoyed, but I think this is magnified for me because of the emotional upheaval I was in while I was there.


My dad was very sick when I left for Ireland and passed away a few days before I got back. I knew he was going to die while I was in Ireland. I don't know how you feel about "conversations with God" but truly I had one when I was on the plane. In any case, I did know my dad was going to a better place without suffering. I just dreaded it and I carried that with me while I was in Ireland.


That's why I want to go back. I'm not saying I did not enjoy myself while I was there or that I didn't learn things and be inspired. Not at all. I just need to go back now. Know what I mean?


I saw this rainbow on Oct. 17 in Ireland, the day and hour my dad passed away back home.



Oops! I got off course there a minute! My point is that images of Ireland are what inspire me these days. And before I went to Ireland it was books and writings about Ireland and the ancient Irish Christians that inspired me the most. I still find it all inspiring, but images bring me back the most, I think.

That's why I ordered this this morning. I wanted to share it with you in case you feel the same way. (I fully expect the music and words to inspire me as well!)



What inspires you? Please share! I have more to learn!
PS: I'm off to a Celtic festival tomorrow. I'll report on Monday!

May 16, 2011

Happy St. Brendan's Day!

St. Brendan is one of my favorite Irish historical figures. Every year, on his feast day, I post something about him and his famous journey on the blog. You can find one post here and another here.


There are certainly a lot of things named for him--schools, colleges, bands, and even an alcoholic beverage!

I recently asked my newsletter subscribers to answer some questions about St. Brendan, and I was surprised at the variety of answers. But I suppose that's what can happen when you use the Internet.


Here is a link to a translation of The Voyage of St. Brendan.




Here were the questions:


1. St. Brendan is also known as The…..
2. How many men went with St. Brendan on his famous journey? (Be careful. This could be a trick question. But if you’re close I’ll give you credit.)
3. Name two books written about the legend of St. Brendan.
4. What patron saint was Brendan said to have met? (Hint: a certain author wrote a novel about this saint.)
5. St. Brendan is the patron saint of….



If you haven't already, go ahead and take a shot at the answers and leave them in the comments section of this blog. I'll enter you into a drawing to win a hand-knotted prayer cross (key fob size) made by the monks at St. Brendan's Monastery in Maine.

May 13, 2011

Trinity College

Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 (the charter was granted in December 1591.) Dublin donated the grounds, the site of the ruined monastery, All Hallows, which had been founded in 1166 by Dermot MacMurrough (a most interesting character that I will have to blog more about someday.)

Rubrics at Trinity College. I think it's now a dorm.
The oldest building still standing on the campus is called Rubrics and dates from the early 1700s. The original buildings are long gone.

The library at Trinity College is a must see stop on any tour of Ireland. Most people are interested in seeing The Book of Kells, as I was. But there is so much more not to be missed. I was disappointed that I could not take photographs inside the library. It’s an amazingly beautiful place. You can see for yourself on the Web.

So much of Ireland’s history is ancient so it’s a little unexpected to find the buildings at Ireland’s oldest college are more modern. That does not make them any less interesting, however, as you can tell from my pictures. I wish I had taken more. I will next time!
Statue of Edmund Burke in front of Trinity College


This is a picture of the library that I borrowed from somewhere on the Internet. If you know where, let me know and I'll attribute it properly.

May 10, 2011

Feast of St. Comgall

Today's Bangor Abbey
Today is St. Comgall Day. He was the founder of the monastery at Bangor in Northern Ireland. The Irish Annals place his birth between 510 and 520 and his death around 602. He was born in the ancient kingdom of Dalaradia in Ulster, in today's County Antrim. He may have first been a soldier and then studied under Finnian in Conlard, along with the other great monastic fathers. He practiced a strict form of Christian monasticism on an island on Loch Erne. Only one meal per day and that eaten in silence. Of all his monastic settlements, the most famous is at Bangor in present day County Down on the southern shores of Belfast opposite Carrickfergus. Bangor's picturesque setting is well known. (Read more about Bangor here.)

Bangor was established sometime between 552 and 555. The Rule of St. Comgall survives from the 7th century in the Ambrosian Library at Milan and is referred to as The Antiphonary of Bangor. It was carried to Bobbio at some point in history by an Irish monk. Comgall oversaw his monastery for 50 years. It was known all over Europe as a great center of learning. As many as 3,000 monks may have studied there at one time and the monastery prospered until the Dane invasion of 822. The abbey was rebuilt in the 12th century and modeled after Armagh, the largest church in Ireland at the time. You can read more about the history here.

May 6, 2011

Danny Boy

Since I've been talking about Irish immigration this week, I thought I'd share a version of Danny Boy.



Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.





May 5, 2011

National Day of Prayer

In honor of National Day of Prayer, a Celtic prayer for you:

(These are excerpts from the prayer "Holy Spirit" in the Carmina Gadelica.)

Without Thy divinity there is nothing
In man that can earn esteem ;
Without Thyself, O King of kings,
Sinless man can never be.


Each thing that is foul cleanse Thou early.
Each thing that is hard soften Thou with Thy grace.
Each wound that is working us pain,
O Best of healers, make Thou whole !







Give Thou to Thy people to be diligent
To put their trust in Thee as God,
That Thou mayest help them in every hour
With thy sevenfold gift, O Holy Spirit generous !


May 2, 2011

Ireland's Workhouses

I'm doing some research on this and came across this video. I thought it was interesting and wanted to share it here.

May 1, 2011

Happy Beltaine!

May 1 is Beltaine, one of four major feasts of the Celtic calendar. Beltaine marks the end of the dark half of the year. Yay! It is also the traditional day of moving livestock to upper pastures, also called booleying. Read more about booleying here.

The Irish believe that Beltaine is a good time to start a project or hold a fair. It's considered a bad idea to let someone take fire (as in lighting a torch) from your house on Beltaine. This could give the person control over the people in the house.

Lighting bonfires on the eve of Beltaine (actually, the festivals always started at night) is long held. All fires were extinguished and the festival began when the king lit the first fire, which could be seen from a long distance because....well, there were no streetlights. This is apparently what got St. Patrick in trouble. He lit his Pascal fire before the king lit his Beltaine fire and God had to rescue Patrick and his followers by turning them into a herd of deer.

Welcome back, sun! We have missed you! :)

Apr 29, 2011

The Legend of Connla's Well

Connla's Well is a legendary place either under the sea or in the Otherworld. It's not clear who Connla was, but the well is said to be a source of wisdom. Nine hazel trees bend over it (I know, it's under the sea, but use your imagination!) and they drop hazel nuts into the water. There are salmon in the well that feed on the hazelnuts. One can gain wisdom in three ways: eat the hazelnuts after they drop into the water, drink the well water (Under the sea? Well, no matter!), or eat the salmon that have eaten the nuts.

Of course, there's always a catch. Remember the Garden of Eden? A woman named Sinann tried to gain wisdom from the well and the waters rose up and drowned her. The magic well is meant only for the gods, after all. But this resulted in the River Shannon coming forth from the well. It's also said that all the rivers in Ireland are fed from Connal's Well.

This might be a lesson on greed. You know what the Irish say: Better to own a trifle than want a great deal.

From Irish Literature, Vol. 8 by Justin McCarthy, et. al. (1904)


CONNLA'S WELL

A cabin on the mountain-side hid in a grassy nook,
With door and window open wide, where friendly stars may look,

The rabbit shy can patter in, the winds may enter free—
Who throng around the mountain throne in living ecstasy.

And when the sun sets dimmed in eve, and purple fills the air,
I think the sacred hazel-tree is dropping berries there,
From starry fruitage waved aloft where Connla's well o'er-flows;

For, sure, the immortal waters run through every wind that blows.
I think, when night towers up aloft and shakes the trembling dew,
How every high and lonely thought that thrills my spirit through
Is but a shining berry dropped down through the purple air,
And from the magic tree of life the fruit falls everywhere.

Footnote reads: " Sinend, daughter of Lodan Lucharglan, son of Ler, out of the Land of Promise, went to Connla's Well, which is under sea, to behold it. That is a well at which are the hazels of wisdom and inspirations, that is, the hazels of the science of poetry, and in the same hour their fruit and their blossom and their foliage break forth, and then fall upon the well in the same shower, which raises upon the water a royal surge of purple."—The Voagey of Bran.

Apr 27, 2011

Irish Artisans

Replica of the Ardagh Chalice
An artisan (metal worker, stone carver, blacksmith...) was respected in ancient Ireland. The craftsman held an enviable position in society. The artisans serving some of Ireland's beloved saints were even mentioned in a triad in the ancient books:

Three chief artisans of Ireland: Tassach with Patrick, Conlaed with Brigit, and Daig with Ciaran.


According to The Brehon Laws by Laurence Ginnell, 1894, whenever an artisan delivered his work he said a blessing on it. So strong was this tradition that if it wasn't done, fines were leveled.






Newgrange carving
PreChristian statue on on the Isle of Boa in Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.


I have great respect today for modern artisans because they have a talent to do something I'm not able to do. It's a gift. I suppose we still admire artistic skill today. But I wonder how many people today bless their work before parting with it. That seems like a good ancient practice to take up today, even without the threat of fines.

Apr 25, 2011

Does God Come to You?

I was thinking about that question in church, of all places. Does God reach down to us from some far off place like Bette Midler suggested in that song "From a Distance"?

Church is where I heard the idea that God comes to you, and it struck me as so very wrong. It's the Celtic belief that God is always there. He is the Creator, after all. I mentioned in my book, Celtic Wisdom, that a miracle is what happens when you realize that God has always been there. We are the ones who have to open our eyes, and even when we are believers we don't always see. That's why it's the Celtic belief (as well as others) that asking God to give us His eyes to see what He sees is essential. And when that happens, we see that God is moving in all of life--in nature, in the hearts of mankind, in our very own hearts....


I personally think it's a mistake to think that God comes and goes. Surely it does seem like He is far away at times, but just like that poem Footprints (remember the poem about the footprints in the sand and in bad times there was only one set?) He is there. God loves you! :)

Just felt like sharing. What do you think?

Apr 22, 2011

Anúna

Why didn't I know about this choral group before? In case you're not familiar, I thought I better enlighten you. Talk about the voices of angels! Here is their web site. Michael McGlynn founded Anúna, Ireland's national choir, in 1987. From the site: The name derives from the collective term for the three ancient types of Irish music, Suantraí (lullaby), Geantraí (happy song) and Goltraí (lament).... The group is Dublin-based and is an a cappella choir performing with between eleven and fourteen singers drawn from a larger group af approximately thirty members. Anúna do not work with a conductor, and use the entire space of a concert venue at different points in a performance. Most of their material is written or arranged for the group by McGlynn, and includes reconstructions of early and medieval Irish music. These songs are created specifically for the choir's unusual combination of classically trained and untrained voices.


Apr 20, 2011

More About Round Towers

In my last post I talked about the round tower in Antrim. Here is some more information on that tower.

Round towers are really interesting. They are so......well, tall for one thing. You can't exactly overlook them. Since they've been standing in Ireland for a thousand years or more, people have been puzzling over them for a long time. Most people today believe they were part of monasteries and held bells. They were also repositories for cherished possessions and books. The reason the doors were so high is so that a ladder could be pulled up and enemies would have trouble getting in.

Round tower at Monasterboice

I saw this video and just had to share it. The film makers are trying to find and explain the round tower imitations. The towers are anywhere from 70 to 200 years old, but they aren't ancient. However, what happens when he tries to get pictures of the second tower is really funny. Be sure to watch the whole thing.