This is the place to feel the presence of myth and history intersecting. Not only is it another one of the sacred sites I have been drawn to visit this summer, it is also the fulfillment of a Donegal dream. Having grown up in Donegal, I listened to the stories about this fiercely independent and mysterious island. Many Donegal natives never make the trip to Tory but fervently talk about one day making the rough journey across to the island, if only to say with a certain degree of pride “I have been to Tory Island”. Part of the mystery with Tory is that even if you plan a trip to Tory on a certain day, you can never count on making the trip on that day because you are completely at the mercy and vagrancies of the weather. Until the actual day arrives, you can only then say with certainty I will go today. There is a fear with many that making the trip over they will get caught by a change in weather and be stranded for days on the island. Today I think is not going to be one of those days. I set off with a certain degree of confidence. Is there a metaphor for living life here?
Tory Island or Oilean Toraigh in Gaeilge, is believed to have been the earthly home of mythical people before the arrival of Christianity. Most famous are the stories of the fierce Fomorian king, Balor of the Evil Eye, who made his home on Tory. One of his eyes had the power of causing death to anyone who had the misfortune to fall in the path of his glance. As a young man Balor had secretly spied on druids working on a spell of death when a plume of poisonous fumes fanned out over him blinding him in one eye. Unable to quickly run away, the druids found him and told him that the spell of death had entered his eye. Anyone he looked at with that eye would instantly fall dead. Most of the time, Balor kept the eye closed except for battle when it took 10 men to pull open his eye. His evil eye made him a most powerful King of the Fomorians because whole armies could be defeated with one look from Balor’s eye......
to be continued ....
Addition note - check out http://sligoheritage.com/archbalor.htm for additional insights into the Formorians and Balor of the Evil Eye. Some researchers believe that the Formorian stronghold was not on Tory Island but on Dernish Island off the coast of Sligo
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