Telephone Line Finally!

Finally have a land line (at least for today!). For those of you in the know it has been quite a saga to get this sorted out full of tricksters, trolls, magicans, shapeshifters, saboteurs, and yes even angels.

My telephone number in Sligo is 0719168300; from the US I think you need to dial 00353719168300 or 01353719168300!

My address is
Glen Road, Strandhill, Co Sligo

Go h-iontach!

Walking Across Cummen Strand to Coney Island (Inis Ui Mhaolchluiche)

Emer's car taking off to finish her journey across to the island

Cummen Strand and Knocknarea in the background

Red Hanrahan's Song about Ireland
The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.
The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and
kissed the quiet feet Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.
The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.
W. B. Yeats

Walk on Cummen Strand

Déardaoin Thursday July 28 Cummen Strand

Took a three hour and half hour hike across Cummen Strand at low tide to Coney Island or the gaeilge name for it is Inis Ui Mhaolchuiche.
It was amazing to be walking across to an island at low tide. I was a little over half way accross when a car pulled up beside me. I said hello (talk to everyone), how you doing? Her name was Emer. She and I chatted for a while, she in her car me standing on the empty strand. She was returning home to the island to visit her parents and sister and had timed her arrival from Dublin to coincide with the outgoing tide so she could get her car across! I met an island child - who asked me "Are you sure you are going to make it back before the tide comes in?" implying the tide was coming in ... his mother rushed in with "Pay no attention to him".

Walking through the Hidden Glen 

De Sathrain July 23
Four hour hike starting in the hidden glen about 500 yards from my flat. The entrance to it is on the Glen Lane hidden from view by a thick undergrowth. The unobserving passerby drives by each day on the lane. Is this not true for life too? what beauty we miss when dont explore or excavate!

Glen Road - Hidden passageway through Glen around edge of Knocknarea 

Hidden Glen - limestone covered ivy 

Visit to Wye, Kent

"Star" Thomas (white shirt in front) taking a bow in 6th year school production of Zoom. Thomas played the role of the Tortoise and was just fabulous!

Had an opportunity to travel over to Kent to see nephew Thomas in his school play.

Spend a few days there with the Millers: sister Fiona, Robert, Claire and Thomas. On Wednesday, the Wimbledon MacD's came down to Kent, brother Ter, Val and niece Catherine came to see the play and we had a "star" party after the show.

Megalithic Tombs at Carrowkeel near Ballymote

As I approach Carrowkeel, I am in awe of the hills and sense of sacred – they seem to speak loud to all who come in to walk the ground. Resources http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/313720.stm

A series of cairns criss cross the hills tops – there are about 14 cairns in all. I spent the whole afternoon with three of the most accessible. These cairns were built between 3000 and 2000 BC, using limestone. Each has a large interior with limestone roofs. I feel no inclination to enter these sacred spaces – rather honor and offer prayer and ritual outside. Who entered these sacred places with the dead? Did the people outside celebrate and dance marking life’s passages? One cairn (G) has a “lightbox” similar to the lightbox at New Grange (Brú na Boinne). The lightbox allows the light of the sun to enter for a month on either side of the Summer Solistice and the light of the moon to enter for a month on either side of the Winter Solistice. I am in awe of what I am seeing. How does one carry the sacred? attend to the moment? and connect with the ancient ones?
Visit to Carrowkeel

One cairn (G) has a “lightbox” similar to the lightbox at New Grange (Brú na Boinne). The lightbox allows the light of the sun to enter for a month on either side of the Summer Solistice and the light of the moon to enter for a month on either side of the Winter Solistice.
Entrance to Tomb at Carrowkeel

This is the view I have from my window each morning - in the evening time I can watch the seals as they swim to make their catch for the their evening meal!
Ballysadare Bay, Sligo.

Mist over Maeves Cairn

The day after visiting my new little grand daughter Maeve born in Drogheda - I returned to Sligo.

One of the first things I did was to take a hike up the mountain Knocknarea to Queen Maeve's tomb..... it is reported that the mythical Queen Maeve, an ancient Irish warrior queen is buried atop Knocknarea.

As I was walking up the mountain path, a heavy mist formed blanketing the hill and creating a special aura around me. I continued with my climb feeling that I was meant to be there even though it was not clear where the edges to the climb began or ended. The mist got so heavy I could not see 20 feet in front of me ... as I approached the top of the hill, I was completed shrouded in mist all around me. The air was still and damp; It was so quiet. when out of the mist in front of me there arose the shape of the cairn or tomb mound as if speaking to me (see photo). I was alone except for a singing bird that seemed to come from out of nowwhere. The singing started as I was standing there ... a wistful and sweet sound.

In prayer I walked once around the cairn full circle - having no desire to climb up the hill of stones. It seemed as if the spirits were fully there. I felt a deep respect and love for the myth and ancient story ... buiochas le De... in thankfullness for Maeve and her new sweet life. She will bring goodness to this world....

Queen Maeve's Tomb - the cairn the top of Knocknarea

Maeve - few days old; a new cousin for Caitlin 

Welcome to Maeve!

The first visit with Maeve - Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda

A little welcome poem:
Maeve – Cáilin na Gruaige Dubh
Born July 4, 2005

Holding you in my arms
the day after you were born
You were still in the darkness of birth sleep, and yet
With the rise and fall of your breathing,
I felt
the beauty and strength and
warmth of your spirit soul.

As you nestled asleep in my arms
my heart listened
to the gentle soft beat from within you.
Your dark haired head full of strength has
led you through birth to life.
The first of many journeys you will take on your own
but never alone

Tired out
you lie sleeping in your tiny bed
We silently look on you with hearts filled with joy
on your sweetly formed mouth and face
celebrating the mystery of life begun afresh again in you

Mamó

Saturday Dé Sathrain
My day started with watching a bird hop acrss the grass and path from my front window as I am starting to pack and leave Glen Colm Cille for Sligo. I light a candle to connect and prayer. I cannot help watch this bird who seems to be saying this is what I am doing – the hopping and connecting with my surroundings.

On my way out of Glen Colmcille, I stop at the church to light three candles. One for Matt, Kristin, and baby. Matt has called me Kristin went into labor and then it stopped.

A Thiarna

Go gcaithe an coinneaí seo solas dom
In am an ghatair agus cinnúna
Go raibh sé ina thine agat a dhofaidh díom
Smál an diomas, an leithleachais, agus na mígheanmnaíocha

Go raibh sé ina laisair
Go bhfearas do theochroí is theach a m’ucht
Do mo chlann, mo chommharsana agus doibh siud a geastar orm
Trí idirghuí na Maighdine Muire
Cuirin faoi do choimirce
Iad siúd is cuimhneach liom go háirithe

Ní thig liom fanacht anse I bhfad leact I do dtheach
Is mian liom giota díom fein a thabhairt duit
Cuidigh liom leatsan leis and ghuí seo
I ngach rud a dheanaim inniu

is ro-deachcar cinnúna ata agam – I conaí I c’en aith?

I arrive at Knocknarea exactly at 3:00 p.m. to meet Michael Middleton who is renting this little flat to me. We have tea and strawberries. I learn more about who he is. This is really an unusal situation. Am I meant to be here - is this the edge place for me to connect between two worlds?

The rest of the time is a settling in time. I travel down to Sligo to shop for supper. On my way I see a double rainbow.

I am settled even if not fully unpacked.