~~~~~Celtic Voices

Happy Flag Day!

2011-06-14T08:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Beautiful Ireland

2011-05-18T20:58:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I just need a visual. You?

Ireland's Workhouses

2011-05-02T06:37:00.000-04:00

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

The Blasket Islands

2011-04-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

I haven't been there. It's on my list. It's also on the cover of my book:

The Blasket Islands lie on the "edge of Europe" and were inhabited by hearty fishermen and their families who made their living lobster fishing. But it's past tense. The island no longer has inhabitants. This Time Magazine article from 1952 marked the sad event when the last occupants left for the mainland.

But when the community thrived, it was Gaelic speaking and virtually cut off from the influence of the people who lived just two miles across the sound. This microcosm of civilization attracted several scholars who traveled there and encouraged some of the people to write their life stories. One of these islanders was named Tomás Ó Criomhtháin. His tombstone reads: "There will not be those like us again".

His story is still in print as well as some of the others. I'm going to have to add that to my wish list! Never mind. Just ordered it on my Kindle. :) I will let you know what I think!

More Irish in the West

2011-04-08T05:17:00.003-04:00

In my last post I linked you to a map that showed where the Irish are concentrated in the US. I was surprised by Montana, but there is another surprise as well: Nevada.

Irish Miners at the Comstock in Nevada

The Irish went to Nevada the same reason they went to Montana and other parts west. The best I could tell by the map is that there is a high percentage of Irish ethnicity near Hawthorne. Parts of Nevada were mined, just like California, and I suppose lots of Irish came out to find their pot of gold. According to the web site linked above, 42% of the population of the Comstock Mining District were Irish. This mining district is near Carson City, over a hundred difficult miles north of Hawthorne. Perhaps future generations moved southward. I really don't know the reason why that particular part of Nevada is still so Irish. Do you?

It's also interesting to note from that web site that the immigrants who came to mine were from County Cork, the only county in Ireland in the 19th century with mines. Mining has a long history in Ireland, back to 2,000 BC or so. There are other Irish counties with a mining past. County Wicklow, for instance, had a gold rush of its own in the late 18th century. According to this web site there was a mining depression when prices fell in the 1880's in Ireland.

Abandoned Copper Mine in Allihiles, Co. Cork

But major copper mining took place in Allihies in County Cork until the 1960's and apparently it was from this region that the Irish in Nevada originated.

I never knew! Did you?

Celtic Christian Season of Lent

2011-03-11T06:02:00.002-05:00

Someone shared this link with me and I thought it would be appropriate to share here.

Not every Christian today observes Lent, the forty days preceding Easter. Not everyone gives something up. Those who do, use this time, and whatever sacrifice they choose to make, as a season to prepare his/her heart to accept the meaning of Calvary. This post might help you observe lent in a Celtic way.

Celtic Crossovers: May the Lent of the Irish Be With You.

Wishing you a season of spiritual growth and renewal.

The Willow

2011-03-09T06:24:00.008-05:00

On the grounds of the monastery in Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland, we found these willow shelters charming and inviting.

The willow is a perfect fit for Ireland's moist, temperate climate. Did you know that in Northern Ireland the willow plant is being explored as a possible source of energy? Ireland imports most of its fuel. It's very expensive and the reason why most homes are kept cool. Looking at biofuel alternatives makes sense.

This project by school children sums up the uses of willow pretty well.
This blogger is growing willow on her property in Ireland.

The view from the willow shelter in Rostrevor.

The roof of the willow structure. Sitting on the bench and looking skyward is great for bird watching.

I would love to have something like this in my yard. How about you?

What Surprised You the Most About Ireland?

2011-03-07T05:19:00.001-05:00

Last weekend I had a lovely time speaking to a group of ladies at their annual book tea. Fun, fun! Love to talk to readers (and even some other writers) who are passionate about books.

One question, from my friend Kathy, was, "What surprised you the most about Ireland when you visited?" She knew that I had long wanted to go and just went last fall. My answer was all over the place, and I told the group that I could--if given no time restraint--talk about that all day!

It was a good question because Kathy knew that I had studied, and read, and researched all things Irish (especially all ancient things Irish) for a very long time. Certainly my visit contained some of the expected. But any journey worth undertaking is sprinkled with the unexpected, and it's those wee surprises that stick in your mind the most it seems to me.

One surprise was the color. I expected the vivid green grass, of course, and was not disappointed. Tom even took a close up photo of the grass dripping with morning dew.

But when we got to the Giant's Causeway and the northern coast, the sapphire blue of the Atlantic Ocean bordered by dark gray volcanic rock and that beautiful green grass...unbelievably beautiful. Many of our days in Ireland were sunny, casting the landscape in excellent light. Sunny days in Ireland? That was another surprise!

Another surprise was that we could just walk up and around and through many ancient structures. Sometimes we were the only visitors. With only a few exceptions, there were no barriers or signs that said, "Don't touch!" The downside, of course, is that some of the sites were vandalized and crumbling, but much of it was sound and quite beautiful in an ancient sort of way.

Tea was no surprise. And we love tea and fit right in. Except for the fact that we eschewed the milk. But what was a surprise was sitting down to tea with members of Northern Ireland's Assembly in the Parliament Buildings as they were waiting to take a vote. A friend had taken us there because his friend is a MLA or Member of the Legislative Assembly. The tea was unexpected as was the fact that they offered green tea!

Another tea surprise: no iced tea in Ireland. They didn't seem to know what it was. Those who did said no, they didn't have any. They thought you had to buy it in a bottle, apparently, and didn't know how to make it. So if I wanted a cold drink I stayed with still or sparkling water (still being the opposite of sparkling.)

Another surprise (see I told you I could talk about this all day!) was the still and peace and awe I felt when I stepped inside the little church at Saul.

These are only a few unexpected things. I have more and maybe I'll talk about those later.

I'd love to hear some of your surprises if you've been to Ireland or any other Celtic country OR any other trip you may have journeyed on.

Blessings on your journey!

Crumbling History

2011-03-04T06:24:00.005-05:00

This is sad, but it's hard to hold nature at bay. All the more reason to make another trip to Ireland soon!

Malachy McCourt

2011-03-02T06:20:00.000-05:00

"Never use one word when a hundred will do."

I Feel Related

2011-02-25T06:20:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has searched for his/her roots does so because of a need to feel connected. John Steinbeck undertook such a journey (much like Rosie O'Donnell whose search for her roots was just profiled on the show Who Do You Think You Are.) Most Americans have bloodlines reaching back to several ethnic groups. When Steinbeck went looking for his roots, he acknowledged that he was only half Irish. But he said, "Irish blood doesn't water down very well; the strain must be very strong."

Alister McReynolds and Wilson Burgess at the gravesite of Steinbeck's ancestors in Ireland. They followed Steinbeck's journey for a BBC program.

Steinbeck visited Ireland in search of his roots according to Alister McReynolds's book, Legacy, The Scots Irish in America. I'm proud to say that Alister is a friend of mine. He's a scholar and a native of Northern Ireland.

Apparently Steinbeck, during his journey to Ireland, proclaimed, "I feel related." In the January 31, 1953 edition of Collier's Magazine, Steinbeck talked about his journey in an article called, "I Go Back to Ireland."

If you didn't see last Friday's Who Do You Think You Are episode where Rosie O'Donnell finds her Irish roots, no worries, you can watch it here. Please let me know what you think. There were a couple of things Rosie said I thought were pretty profound and spoke to what every family historian feels.

American Presidents with Celtic Roots

2011-02-21T06:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Presidents Day!
Most of the American presidents with Irish roots are Scots-Irish with ancestors who came over in the 17th and 18th centuries from Northern Ireland. These include:

Andrew Jackson whose parents were born in Carrickfergus in Co Antrim.
James Buchanan whose father was born in Ramelton in Co Donegal.
Ulysses Grant whose grandfather was from Dergenagh, Co. Tyrone.
William McKinley had roots in Dervock in Co. Antrim.
Woodrow Wilson's grandfather was from Dergelt, near Strabane in Co Tyrone.
Richard Nixon had ancestors from Ballymoney in Co Antrim and also from Carrickfergus in Co Antrim.
Bill Clinton's Irish roots are not as clear cut. He is said to have a distant cousin in Kinawley in Co Fermanagh.
The Bush presidents have roots from Rathfriland, Co Down as well as in Co Cork (in the Republic of Ireland) and possibly from Co Antrim as well.

President Obama with Brian Cowan, Taoiseach of Ireland*

Presidents with roots in the Republic of Ireland include:

James Polk, whose great grandfather came over from Lifford in Co Donegal.
John F. Kennedy with roots in Co Wexford and Bruff, Co Limerick and Kinawley, Co Cavan.
Ronald Reagan's great grandfather was from Ballyporeen in Co Tipperary.
President Barak Obama has ancestry from Moneygall in Co Offaly.

There are many other American patriots with Irish roots who were not president but who made significant contributions to our country including my husband's ancestor, Charles Thomson who was secretary of the Continential Congress and designed the Great Seal of the United States of America. The designer of the White House was James Hoban, from Desart, near Callan, County Kilkenny.

It's safe to say that Ireland paid an important part in the building of country.

Most of the information for this post came from this blog.

*Taoiseach of Ireland is the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland appointed by the President of Ireland.

Romance in Ireland

2011-02-14T07:59:00.000-05:00

In ancient times, before the church, couples were wed outdoors in front of a king at a site of some spiritual significance. Large trysting stones were part of the ceremony, at least one was on Cape Clear, an island off the southern coast of Ireland. On this island native Gaelic is spoken. A five thousand year old passage grave can be found along with a 12th century church ruin, and a 14th century castle. St. Ciarán, one of Ireland's earliest Christian fathers, is the patron saint of the island. This island is on my list for my next visit to Ireland.

There is a standing stone on the island with a hole right through it. Apparently a man and woman would stand on each side, stick their arms through, and hold hands while declaring their intention to marry or the actual marriage ceremony in front of the king would be conducted there. How sweet is that?

Contemplative Prayer

2011-02-09T06:39:00.002-05:00

In light of the previous discussion here on Celtic Voices, I thought it might be good to look at contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is not so complicated as it might seem. It's simply being in relationship with God, being present, being open to hear God's voice. The Celts sometimes called this centering prayer. The early Celtic Christians were influenced by the Desert Fathers. A 4th century monk named John Cassian introduced the eastern monastic practices to the western world.

Psalm 119: 9-16 NIV
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
   By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
   do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
   that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, LORD;
   teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
   all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
   as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
   and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
   I will not neglect your word.

This is a passage I'm contemplating right now. The psalmist probably wasn't reading his Bible all day. There weren't any Bibles back then. People had to memorize what little scripture they knew, and they sought God through prayer and contemplation. We are fortunate to have Bibles today, but I wonder, am I memorizing and contemplating less because I have a Bible at my fingertips? Am I thinking about who God is and trying to seek Him, less?

Just some food for thought!

The Contemplative Life

2011-02-07T06:48:00.004-05:00

Much of what Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, had to say is very Celtic in nature. I will just leave you with this snippet. Let me know what you think. I'd love some comments!

Ollam

2011-01-28T12:07:00.000-05:00

An ollam is a highly respected poet in the order of Irish druids. Ollam is the highest of seven ranks of the filid (traditional order of poets.)

To become an ollam poet, one had to study for many years, and all learning was auditory, nothing was written down. An ollam was the master of 350 oral tales, not counting those he or she created. An ollam could work a spell that unlocked understanding, had the poetic ability to prophesy, and could improvise in verse.

An ollam was equal in rank to many kings and bishops and traveled with with a retinue. But because he was so honored in the ancient Irish culture, he was protected just by his use of satire, which folks, even kings, feared.

An ollam also held the knowledge of genealogy, which was very valuable since family trees and birthrights were not written down. As a result, ollams were usually needed at a new king's inauguration, where he would not only recite the genealogy, but also tales of praise for the new king.

Ollams existed in Ireland until the end of the sixteenth century and as you can imagine, their influence was political and widespread. In earlier times these filids (not sure if that's the plural form) had so much power that they were becoming a nuisance. With their great traveling band they could approach anyone and demand food and lodging with the threat of satire if they were not catered to. This became a great burden to the minor kings who did not hold great wealth, but who were obligated to host the filid and his party for as long as the filid wanted. The filid were about to be banned when St. Columba (a poet as well) temporarily put aside his banishment to Iona and came to Ireland to argue on their behalf. As a result these poets were not banned, but operated from then on within boundaries.

This stirs up all kinds of fiction ideas in my head! :)

Caves in Ireland

2011-01-24T07:36:00.005-05:00

Crag Cave in County Kerry

There is a rich history in the underground of the Emerald Island, apparently. On this site you can find a list and descriptions of caves in Ireland, including Dunmore Cave in Kilkenney, where there was a Viking raid in the 10th century. There was no limit to where the Vikings would go, apparently, and it's said that 1000 people were slain there. There are human remains that suggest that's true.

But caves were also burial sites in the ancient world and even places where people lived. In some hedge schools met when the weather wasn't good for meeting at the hedges.

From the IT Sligo site:
Approximately 700 caves are dotted around limestone regions of Ireland and of these, 100 have produced archaeological material. Most of the discoveries have been made by antiquarians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and by cavers in more recent decades. It is only in recent years that the archaeological community is beginning to realise the significance and rich potential of caves as multi-period sites that have been used over the past 10,000 years.

It sounds like more archeological work is being done, which is great news for people like me who are so very interested in the ancient Irish culture.

The Spiritual Blessing of Celtic Prayer

2011-01-21T06:04:00.000-05:00

From Celtic Wisdom.

"One of the most difficult things to grasp is seeing the eternal God within others and ourselves. The truth today is that God is still here, but we are often blind to him. The Celtic monk Pelagius said that God is visible, because everywhere 'narrow shafts of divine light pierce the Veil that separates heaven from earth.' Praying for the ability to see with fresh eyes is a simple but profound prayer. Again, Pelagius said, 'The presence of God's spirit in all living things is what makes them beautiful; and if we look with God's eyes, nothing on the earth is ugly.'"

On the grounds of the Benedictine monastery in Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Another Celtic Prayer

2011-01-19T06:09:00.001-05:00

This is in my book, Celtic Wisdom.

O Holy Spirit, hasten to us!

Move round about us, in us, through us!

All our deadened souls' desires

Inflame anew with heavenly fires!

Yea! let each heart become a hostel

Of Thy bright Presence Pentecostal.

Whose power from pestilence and slaughter

Shall shield us still by land and water.

From bosom sins, seducing devils,

From Hell with all its hundred evils,

For Jesus' only sake and merit,

Preserve us, Thou Almighty Spirit!

--From The Celtic Psaltery by Alfred Perceval Graves

Why the Irish Sing

2011-01-12T06:54:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm going to give you one reason anyway.

My agent has a non-fiction proposal I wrote for a book called Celtic Song. He didn't get any takers so he's holding on to it for a "better time." But I'm hopeful it will be published one day. (Agent says it's really good, by the way.) ;-)

I'd love for that book to see the light of day because the history of how the Celts used music and song and poetry is colorful and intriguing.

I found this explanation of why hymns should be sung titled "In Praise of Hymnody" in the Irish Liber Hymnorum (or Book of Hymns--pictured above.) Well, I didn't find it in the original. There is a translation online. Wouldn't want to make myself look smarter than I am!

Whoever should recite the hymnody, would be making a song of praise dear to God, for it wipes out all sins, and cleanses the powers of the body and subdues involuntarily the lusts of the flesh; it lessens melancholy, and (banishes) all madness; it breaks down anger, it expels hell’s angels, and gets rid of the devils; it dispels the darkness of the understanding, and increases holiness; it preserves the health, and completes good works, and it lights up a spiritual fire in the heart, ie, the love of God (in place of) the love of man, and it (promotes) peace between the body and the soul.

This explanation in the Liber Hymnorum, by the way, was claimed to be an answer from an angel of God.

John Wesley gave this instruction regarding the singing of hymns.

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

It's interesting to think about how words, when they are sung, sink into your consciousness, and when they are words of praise, they lift your spirit and echo in your mind long afterward.

Many of the hymns sung in church date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Liber Hymnorum dates well before that, of course. Many of the hymns the early sang were the Psalms from the Bible. A hymn is an ode or a praise sung to God and could be ancient, more recent, or contemporary. Do you have any favorites?

Celtic Women

2011-01-10T06:26:00.001-05:00

Author and Celtic historian Peter Berresford Ellis chronicles the role of Celtic Women in his book, Celtic Women, Women in Celtic Society and Literature. There are many examples in the book of law and customs in other Celtic regions besides Ireland. But it is in Ireland where much more is known because of the Brehon Laws.

In referring to the Isle of Man, he notes that even though ecclesiastical law existed, which put more restrictions in general on women, the main law of the land was “The Breast Law,” which allowed women equal property rights when separating from their husbands even if they had been convicted of crimes. Truly women’s rights were acknowledged and protected in Celtic society.

In contrast, women in Rome and Greece were not afforded many rights. In Greece in particular they were separated from men and not allowed to leave their living quarters. While Roman women were permitted more freedom, they too had no authority when it came to business matters.

Fortunately, times have changed, and even in the church women today hold positions of authority and respect. But what is now a modern standard has been long adhered to by the Celts. All people, all living beings, are of God. This is not to say that women were always treated well; we cannot say that even today. But in the ancient world Celtic women fared much better than in the rest of western civilization.

Monasterboice

2011-01-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

When planning our trip to Ireland, I knew that Newgrange would be on our way to Northern Ireland after we left Dublin. So would Monasterboice. I had seen the Monasterboice Muirdach's Cross with its Biblical carvings, located in County Lough, pictured in many books. I wrote about it on page 73 of Celtic Wisdom. I thought it would be easy to find. It was famous!

But this was our first day in Ireland and we were not yet accustomed to road signs and roundabouts and had little sleep on the overnight flight from the states. We drove in circles and finally decided to stop and ask directions--or maybe get a map. The towns are so small and so close together on the main road. When Tom asked, a clerk in the store said, "I don't know. Why don't you ask them in Monasterboice?"

Truly, this was our only rude encounter during our visit, but it was the first day! They were out of maps. If we had come during tourist season, we might have been able to follow a tour bus. As we started circling around again, I realized I was reading the road signs incorrectly and we finally found our way. We had to go down a wee country lane, but soon found the parking lot and jumped out of the rental car just as another car with two people in it did the same. They apparently weren't tourists, and they knew we were as soon as we spoke. The girl who had been driving advised us to stick our bags in our trunk (boot, as they call it) because there had been a lot of robberies in the area. Really? There didn't seem to be any people about and almost no traffic. We did and noticed a sign as we left the parking lot advising the same thing. So, that was a kind turn even if the fellow in the store had been rude.

The West Cross

The monastery ruins, the crosses, and even the grave stones, rewarded us with their beauty, size, and incredible age. If Newgrange had intrigued and amazed me just hours earlier, Monasterboice charmed me.

I wished I had visited this site before going. It explains what's there (with a map) much better than I can, so I'll share the link instead of rehashing it. One reason I didn't want to miss seeing this site is because it's one of the oldest monasteries in Ireland. The founder, St. Buite, lived early in the 6th century.

The North Cross

Tomorrow's Winter Solstice

2010-12-20T14:11:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow morning (where I live) a unique occurrence in the heavens will take place. It's the first time in 372 years that a lunar eclipse will coincide with the winter solstice. The moon is supposed to be high in the sky because of where it is located at the solstice, making viewing the eerily glowing moon easier--if, that is, there are no clouds to block it.

Where I live the eclipse will take place between 1:30 and 2:40AM, so I'm not likely to see it. How about you???

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll be blogging about the winter solstice in Newgrange in Ireland.

St. Fingar and St. Piala

2010-12-13T11:11:00.003-05:00

Today is the feast day of brother and sister Fingar and Piala. Never heard of them? Me either until I read a short entry in The Celtic Year by Shirley Toulson. I did a little Internet searching and discovered only a bit more.

Their story takes place in the middle of the 5th century. Fingar was from a royal family, the son of a king name Clito who drove him out, along with many others including Piala, because St. Patrick had converted them to Christianity. They went to Cornwall. One account says there were over seven hundred people who went. However, they were not well received. King Theodoric, a pagan king, ordered them all killed. So, Fingar and his sister were early Irish Christian martyrs.

It's often been noted, and I've written about it myself, that Ireland was converted with no bloodshed. It's true that there were no holy wars, nothing like The Crusades, and the people came to the faith because it melded so easily with what they already believed. But obviously people did die for their religious beliefs.

Fingar had a monastery named for him at Gwinear, near Hayle, the place of this massacre. Gwinear is the Welsh name for Fingar. As was common in the Middle Ages, a biography of this saint was written by his church (pictured above.) Many miracles were then assigned to the saint, of course--restoring a cow that was slaughtered to feed him and his companions, sticking a staff into the ground from whence came a fountain of water...but for me the thing to remember about Fingar and Piala and so many, many ancient Irish Christians is that they gave up their way of life, their homeland, and sometimes their families, to embrace the Christian faith.

This is still happening in some parts of the world. I don't know about you, but my life suddenly seems very easy.

What Do You See? Part Two

2010-11-29T06:29:00.000-05:00

Following up on my last post. I did not see everything you saw. How interesting! That cute, blue shop did not really look like an outdoor store, did it? And yes, the cow is fake, but it is standing outside a "butchery" so I guess it's advertisement.

It's true that the cars park all directions. One of my Irish friends told me he was surprised that in America you are supposed to park in the same direction on the side of the street.

I did see lots of CCTV signs. Maybe this is a Northern Ireland thing because of the troubles. I don't know. Someone should enlighten me. But it didn't bother me. We certainly have them all over in America.

Here's what I noticed that I thought was a bit out of character: the mini van. Not that the Irish don't drive them, but larger vehicles are rare. The streets lack the multitude of SUVs and large pickups that we have here. The reason is likely due in part to the narrow roads and in part to the high prices for fuel. Economy cars are the way to go.

I enjoyed hearing all your observations. How about another go at it? (And yes, there is another minivan, but trust me, there were not many. I just happened to take two photos of them!)