From the top of Knocnarea, Co Sligo

Soon I part with my little home half way up this special mountain, Knocknarea. In the background below me you see Sligo bay, behind me across the bay to the right in a blue magical haze is Benbulbin, a mesa type mountain, and on the horizon way out beyond across the bay on a clear day you can see the Bluestack mountains of Donegal.

The photo was taken by Jon while on a visit here in August. He is my soulmate who has not waivered in his conviction and love that this pilgrimage is a sacred stepping, an exploration of the soul .... thank you, Jon, Grá geal mo croí.

we shall not cease from exploration
and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time ..... TS Elliot

The journey together continues..............

Cruachain - Royal Site of Connaught
On my last Sunday, I decided to do an exploration around Cruachain, the site of many wonderful mythical stories of Queen Maeve and her husband Ailill. It is from here they planned the Cattle Raid of Cooley which later was written about in Ireland's most ancient epic poem - Tain Bo Cuailgne.

I was blessed with a crisp beautiful Autumn afternoon when I arrived for my afternoon of exploration. Here in this photo I catch the setting sun resting on the mound at Rath Croaghan.

The Cruachain area is situated at the centre of the great limestone plain in Roscommon, known from early historic times as Magh Ai, today the starting point is at Rathcroghan cross roads. The site was the royal residence and inauguration site of Connacht. Standing 150m above sea level. It has 60 or so monuments, mounds and raths spread over the two mile area.

One Sidhe or fairy story is that of Feidelm the prophetess who came out of the fairy mound Cruachan to warn Queen Maeve that her armies would be covered in blood if she continued on her quest for the Brown Bull of Cualigne.

More to explore... for another day!

Rath na dTarbh - Fort of the Bulls.
From the Irish epic poem "Tain Bo Cuailgne" .

This is the site at Cruachain where the terrible battle bewteen the white horned bull of Ailill and the brown bull of Cualigne, captured by Mebh (Queen Maeve), took place.

Red Robin singing in the branches of this red berry tree at Cruachain -at the Rath na dTarbh

Jeff's Visit - to Matt and Kristin's in Belpatrick, Co Louth
Sons Jeff (left) and Matt (right)

Jeff flew over for a quick weekend trip to Dublin while in Frankfurt on a business trip. He had a chance to see Maeve and visit with Matt and Kristin in their new home.

Croagh Patrick - a pilgrimage site for thousands of years; now each July it is walked by tens of thousands of pentitent pilgrims on Garland Sunday (the last Sunday in July).

A few weeks ago, I was mediating using mountain imagery - mountains are sacred places, and this one in Ireland has a long history merging Christian and early Celtic ways. Instinctively, I knew I needed to climb Croagh Patrick.

I can say I did it! It was a laborous task, grueling, and at times I really did nt think I could make it to the summit. Forcing myself to continue as a challenge to face life fully, I crawled on my hands and knees literally clawing my way to the top along the final path to the summit. This is not a mountain for the faint hearted!

Completing this climb is one of the most humbling things I have ever done in life.

Climb up Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo - carrying with me special words and blessings. The cross is from my special friends in Midland and I carried their blessings (the blessings of the elders) and words with me to the top of the mountain. The stone at the head of the cross is one I have carried with me on this six month journey - it holds my dreams and prayers, and now is left here on this sacred mountain.

Here is a short "sceal" or story about the blessing of the "wise ones":
One of the first actions after the decision to make this journey, was to ask for a Blessing. I sought out dear friends who I consider are wise ones. I have known each of these dear friends for a long time some stretching back over 30 years. We have a long tradition of joining in prayer and social action together.

On this clear Saturday Spring morning in May, we were gathering once again for for breakfast and prayer. When Jon and I pulled up the car up to the kerb outside the little wood-framed gray house in Bay City, Michigan, I rolled the window down to savour the morning. Boxes of plants and herbs had been gathered for Jon to take home for planting in his new herb garden. I was struck by the simplicity of the moment and love which my dear friends have shared over the years.

It was then I thought of the way I could carry them in my heart while I was gone. I would ask each of them to give me a word or two which aptly describes their own personal experience of their journey as it is now unfolding for them. This way I could carry their hopes, their struggles, their giftedness to the world with me while I was gone.

National Museum of Country Life - Turlough Park, Co Mayo

National Museum of Country Life

It was magical for me to discover the Museum of Country Life in Turlough. I was entralled with the exhibit " Creideamh agus Draiocht" - Religion and Magic. Watch out, I will be putting into practice the ancient customs!

The image of the spinning wheel and iron nails from horse shoes connected with last week's Donegal Historical Society lecture in Ardara. Part of the Paddy McGill lecture series it was about the ancient temple and rites of inauguration of the Ard Ri na H-Eireann. The design from the ancient ones incorporated a wheel as part of the ritual (see my journal notes from Oct 28), and for the first time I understood the sacredness of the horse.

Discovery of the potency of red - a sacred color "dearg" no "rua" . It was viewed an unlucky to meet a red haired women while setting off on a journey. The "brad or ribin Bride" - St Brigids mantle, the patroness of cattle and dairy work. A piece of red cloth left out the night before her feast on Feb 1, would provide protection, and the power to cure headaches. The protective power of horse shoe nails - iron heated had a special protective quality.