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This month we remember two formidable Irish patriots from different centuries while also going further back into the Irish mists of time with the origin story of the mythical Áine, who took her revenge on a King!
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Until next time,
Michael
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FIND YOUR NAME IN OUR GALLERY OF IRISH COATS OF ARMS
The Irish national broadcaster, RTE, continues to be examined by a Government committee on its recent shortcomings.
At the heart of the recent controversies are the excessive payments made to several TV and Radio presenters as well as the ridiculous 'exit packages' that were paid out to executives that were leaving the company.
The overall impression is that RTE is being used as a golden money trough from which those in authority can line their own and their associates pockets. Meanwhile lower-ranking staff at the organization are treated poorly and paid poorly.
Despite the continuing enquires into the RTE governance there is no sign of an end to the appalling bleeding of taxpayers money and no sign that the reputation of the national broadcaster can ever be restored.
In short, RTE has become yet another national disgrace.
COLLEGE GRADUATES FARE BEST IN IRELAND
Recent data from the Central Statistics Office of Ireland has revealed encouraging insights into the prospects of Third Level students (who graduated from Universities, Colleges, etc.).
For students who graduated in 2021, a staggering 92% were either in employment or further education, or both, within a year. In terms of employment the top sectors that these graduates veered to were: Wholesale & Retail (27%), Accommodation & Food (19%), and Health & Social Work (14%).
CSO source: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-feo/furthereducationoutcomes-graduationyear2021/
MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES REVEALED
The CSO has also released its annual listing of the most popular baby names during 2023.
For Boys the top 10 were: Jack, Noah, James, Rian (pronounced rye-an or reen), Oisín (usheen), Fionn (fyunn), Tadhg (tie-igg), Liam (leem), Cillian (kill-ee-an) and Daniel.
For Girls the top 10 were: Grace, Fiadh (pronounced 'fee-ah'), Emily, Sophie, Lily, Ellie, Mia (mee-ah), Amelia, Éabha (ava or eva), Ella.
For those with a long memory of names once very associated with Ireland:
Boys: Ruairí ranked 92, Tomás 90, Eoin 75, Brendan 288
Girls: Mary ranked 130, Margaret 190, Anne 316, Catherine 316, Patricia 404
CSO source: https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/babynames
Áine is the Celtic Goddess of Summer and Wealth. She represents the sun, love and fertility, with the power to ensure plentiful crops and harvests.
Áine has always been associated with County Limerick in the western part of Ireland where the Hill of Knockainey (Cnoc Áine) is named for her. Her name is also remembered at Toberanna (Tobhar Áine) in Tyrone, at Dunsany (Dun Áine) in Louth and Lissan (Lios Áine) in Derry.
Áine is among the most revered and powerful of Irish mythological Goddesses!
She is remembered for overcoming adversity and exacting powerful revenge on the man who wronged her.
Ailill Aulom was the ruling King of Munster but was restless and worried as he had a problem. Every time he would sleep he would awaken to find that the grass in his fields would not grow. This was a potentially devastating problem for the King as the grass provided food for the livestock, ensuring food for the people.
Ferchess the Druid advised him to visit Knockainey at Samhain Eve, to seek out the restorative powers of that place. He set out for Knockainey and arrived with the expectation of his problems being solved.
But fate was to intervene and the fragilities of the human spirit were to collide with the power of the creatures from the Otherworld.
Ailill fell into a drowsy half-sleep and later found himself sleep-walking when he encountered a beautiful vision. It was Áine, the daughter of Eoghabal of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Human desire overwhelmed him and he shed his royal dignity, driven by lust. He set upon the lone woman and forced himself upon her.
Áine was outraged and exacted immediate revenge. In her fury she bit off his ear, maiming the King, marking him for life.
In Celtic tradition only a perfect unblemished person could attain the role of High King of Ireland. Ailill had been maimed. He was imperfect. Áine had delivered a devastating blow to her attacker.
From that time on the King was known as Aulom meaning 'one-eared', and could never reign over Ireland. Despite this his descendants became known as the Eoghanachta, and were a powerful Irish dynasty centered at Cashel, dominating the southern part of Ireland.
It is in this manner that the legend of Áine grew. She became associated with the ability to grant power and sovereignty.
Áine is also known as the Queen of the Fairies and as Áine Chlair (Áine of the Light). Incredibly, rites in her honour were held as recently as 1879, when the Midsummer rituals were performed by the native Irish, ashes from their fires being spread onto the fields, ensuring fertility and an abundance of crops.
Áine! Among the most powerful and beautiful of the Celtic Goddesses.
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CATHAL BRUGHA: THE UNYIELDING PATRIOT
Among the many celebrated characters in recent Irish history few have had as much impact as Cathal Brugha, renowned as he was for his unwavering dedication to the cause of Irish independence.
He was very active in the 1916 Easter Rising, The War of Independence and the ensuing Civil War in what was perhaps the most critical seven years in the history of the country.
Born Charles William St. John Burgess in Dublin in 1874, he later adopted the Gaelic name Cathal Brugha, reflecting his commitment to the Irish language and culture.
Brugha's journey into the heart of Irish nationalism began in his youth, when he joined the Gaelic League and became fluent in Irish. He later embraced the revolutionary fervor sweeping Ireland, becoming an active member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB,) and Sinn Féin.
However, it was during the Easter Rising of 1916 that Brugha truly emerged as a central figure in the struggle for independence. Under Commandant Éamonn Ceannt, Brugha commanded the heavily out-numbered rebel fighting forces at the South Dublin Union. He displayed immense courage and tactical skill despite sustaining severe injuries. His leadership played a crucial role in sustaining the rebellion's momentum.
Following the surrender and eventual execution of the Easter Rising leaders, Brugha continued his resistance against British rule. He played a key role in the reorganization of Sinn Féin, advocating for the establishment of an Irish parliament and rejecting British authority. Elected as a Sinn Féin MP for County Waterford in the 1918 general election, he defiantly abstained from the British Parliament and instead joined the first Dáil Éireann, serving as Minister for Defense. He actually presided over the very first meeting of the newly declared Dáil Éireann on 21st January 1919.
Brugha's commitment to the cause of Irish independence never wavered, even as tensions escalated during the ongoing Irish War of Independence. As Minister for Defense he clashed with Michael Collins who clearly had more power within the organization of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Nevertheless he actively participated in guerrilla warfare against British forces.
The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which led to the establishment of the Irish Free State, deeply divided the Irish nationalist movement. Brugha vehemently opposed the treaty, arguing that it fell short of true independence and undermined the sacrifices made during the struggle.
When civil war erupted between pro and anti-treaty forces, Brugha remained steadfast in his principles, siding with the anti-treaty faction. Tragically, his unwavering dedication to the cause would cost him his life. In July 1922, during the height of the conflict, he was fatally wounded in a skirmish with Free State forces at the Hammam Hotel in Dublin City Centre.
Cathal Brugha's legacy endures as a symbol of Irish resilience and sacrifice. His unwavering commitment to the cause of Irish independence, his leadership during pivotal moments in Irish history, and his ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom continue to inspire generations of Irish nationalists. Brugha's name is etched in the annals of Irish history, a testament to his enduring impact on the nation's journey to independence.
EXPLORING CONNEMARA: THE WEST OF IRELAND
One of the complaints about some of the most popular of Irish tourist attractions is that they have become too commercialized. Too busy. Of course this is a problem with so many tourist sites in just about every country. Big crowds, long queues, difficult parking, expensive.
This is a charge that cannot be levelled at Connemara, the often wild region that is nestled into the very western part of County Galway. Perhaps it is the fact that the area is relatively more difficult to access that makes it somewhat less well known than the likes of Killarney, Dingle and Kenmare to the south.
The Twelve Bens, Connemara
Or perhaps it is the fact that rainy weather is often more likely to gravitate at the western seaboard, the clouds rushing in from the Atlantic Ocean before gleefully drenching the local inhabitants.
Regardless of the reasons, Connemara is a somewhat less tourist-traveled location than many parts of Ireland and is all the better to explore because of it.
Traveling to Connemara from the East (from Dublin, then Athlone, then Galway City) involves a relatively straightforward drive until the outskirts of Galway city are reached, at which point a series of roundabouts and turns invoke the inevitable question: why is there not a ring-road (a by-pass) around this city? Once navigated the journey to the delightful town of Oughterard takes about 20 minutes with a further 45 minutes to Clifden, the capital of Connemara.
There are of course train services to Galway and bus services onwards to Clifden. If driving then do plan your route carefully and check the map to navigate around Galway (and make sure you avoid arriving in Galway during rush-hours!).
Clifden is a hidden town in the very western part of Ireland. It is a big enough for a good walk-around and offers great sea-food fare as well as plenty of bars with traditional Irish music. There is a delightful short drive from Clifden called the 'Sky Road' which is well named because once you are at the top you will need your camera. Look west and the next stop is North America. A breathtaking vista.
So far, so typical, except that Connemara also specializes in outdoor pursuits. Sailing, kayaking, scuba-diving, surfing, rock-climbing, fishing, boating, ferries to the local islands, hill-walking, adventure centers. Connemara is perfect for those who like outdoor pursuits and for those willing to 'give it a go'.
The Delphi Adventure Center is about 50 minutes drive from Clifden via the N59, and what a drive!
Cleggan is the first stop north of Clifden where the Ferry departs for Inishboffin Island (takes about half an hour, hire a bike at the harbour and cycle around the island, great beaches to explore), or take some time in Cleggan itself for some horse-riding or a stroll along on the small rocky beach. Omey Island is nearby for a longer hike.
Continuing north-east is where you will find some of the most incredible views of the 'Twelve Bens' (also known as the 'Twelve Pins'). These quartzite mountains rise up from the landscape like some form of extra-terrestrial landscape. While the barren rocks are visible on those nearest, the further mountains fade into the distance, enveloped by mist like an elaborate living watercolor. Amazing.
The town of Letterfrack is home to the gateway to Connemara National Park. This free amenity offers a small interpretive center, a cafe, picnic tables, playground as well as several well-marked trails up Diamond Hill (442 metres high, not too bad!). The park is a perfect place for a picnic and to get some exercise.
Kylemore Abbey, Galway
The famous Kylemore Abbey is the next stop along the N59 and is perhaps the most famous and oft-visited attraction in Connemara. The Abbey was actually a fully functioning school until quite recently but now offers visits into a number of buildings, including the Abbey itself, where self-guided and guided-tours are available. A short walk along the nearby lake brings visitors to fine views of the mountains.
For many though, an even bigger delight than the Abbey will be the incredible gardens. A short shuttle bus ride will deliver visitors to the restored gardens that are quite extensive and magical to walk around if the weather is fine. The views are incredible. A circuit of the gardens can be concluded by a visit to the cafe or a ramble through the marked forest hiking trail (or both!).
Kylemore is well worth a visit and could be combined with a trip to Connemara National Park for a great day out.
Continuing on after Kylemore is the town of Lennaun (Leenane), magically located at the head of Killary Fjord. Killary Adventure Centre and the Delphi Adventure Resort both offer all manner of activities and are a great resource if you are holidaying with the kids. Delphi offer single day and multi-day 'camps' and activities while both centers offer kayaking, mountain-climbing, hill-walking and more.
Kayaking on the Fjord (wet-suit, life-jacket, all equipment provided) is a great experience in a wonderful setting.
Further north is the gateway to County Mayo, to Louisburg and to the much larger town of Westport where Westport House and Gardens is a big attraction.
The drive south of Clifden is a winding one through Ballyconneely and on to Roundstone. The beaches at Gurteen and Dogs Bay are amazing! Pristine sand and almost tropically clean seawater (not so tropical temperature though!). Another great day out for the kids and for adults longing for some invigorating air sweeping in from the Atlantic.
Connemara has well regarded golfing near Ballyconneely, Oughterard and Westport. Galway City is only an hour away and is a buzzing vibrant place with great shopping, Galway City Museum, an Aquarium and lots to see and do.
If stuck for something to do on a rainy day then the jaunt to Glengowla Mine at Oughterard is very interesting. Dan O'Hara's Homestead Farm is even closer to Clifden and is also worth a visit.
Connemara can be tricky to navigate. You really do need a car or guided tour (or use local buses), but the reward is that the region is simply less cluttered than many other Irish tourist locations. Of course when the rain starts Connemara can be a forbidding place.
But when the sun shines it ranks among the most stunning locations in Ireland.
After the 1845 to 1849 Irish Famine emigration soared with as many as a million native Irish leaving their homes in the decades after the famine to settle in places like Boston, New York, Newfoundland, Perth, Sydney and beyond. The US Census Bureau now reports that 34 Million US Citizens claim Irish descent. Most emigrants like to commemorate their heritage and thus the Saint Patrick's Day Parade came into being.
The earliest record of a Saint Patrick's Day Parade was in the year 1762 when Irish soldiers serving in the British Army held a Parade in New York City. Earlier records suggest that the day was celebrated by the Irish in Ireland as early as the ninth and tenth centuries.
Again, this was a very difficult time in Irish history with Viking raiders terrorizing the native Gaelic population. It is thus no surprise then that in times of strife the local population would turn to religion and to a commemoration of their own heritage and individuality - a practice that has been repeated by populations of troubled places since the dawn of time. The New York Parade is now the longest running civilian Parade in the world with as many as three Million spectators watching the Parade of over 150,000 participants.
The first official Parade in Ireland was in 1931. The 1901 law that copper-fastened March 17th as an Irish national holiday was later amended to insist that public houses close down on the day. This restriction was later lifted in the 1970's.
In the mid 1990's the Irish Government really started to promote the event when it changed from a single day's Parade into a 5-day festival attracting as many as a million visitors into the country.
Parades are now held in just about every major city in the world with the biggest in several US cities reaching epic proportions.
THE WEARING OF THE GREEN
The tradition of wearing Shamrock to celebrate Saint Patrick seems to date from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. This was a very turbulent time in Irish history. The suppression of the Gaelic way of life by the ruling British invaders resulted in many aspects of the Catholic religion in Ireland being forced underground. Strict laws were enforced which prevented the Catholic population from attending schools so 'hedge-schools' were operated in secret.
These were schools run outdoors in secluded places (sometimes literally 'under a hedge!). The teaching of religion was also forbidden so it is only to be expected that teachers would use naturally available resources to inform their pupils. Thus the Shamrock plant was used to illustrate the message of the Christian Holy Trinity.
Saint Patrick was credited with using the Shamrock in such a manner so the wearing of the Shamrock by the oppressed Catholic population became a means of demonstrating their defiance to the ruling British class. It also imbued a sense of kinship among the native Gaelic people, differentiating them from their oppressors.
Wearing a clump of Shamrock is now a firmly established tradition throughout the world to celebrate not just Saint Patrick but Ireland itself. The Shamrock symbol is widely used by businesses seeking to associate with Ireland and, along with the Harp, is perhaps the single most recognizable symbol of Ireland. It is a shame though that the Shamrock is not a blue plant as the color originally associated with Saint Patrick was blue!
GREENING OF BUILDINGS AND RIVERS
The use of the color green reached new heights (or plunged new depths!) when in 1962 the city of Chicago decided to dye part of the Chicago River green. Since then the campaign to have just about every possible landmark turned green for the day has taken off in earnest.
In recent years this has included the Irish Parliament building, the Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls and even the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt!
A PINT OF PLAIN
The Irish association with drinking is well known and not always positive. Fortunately there are plenty of examples of the appropriate use of alcohol and Saint Patrick's Day is one of them. It is a widely held tradition in Ireland that beer or whiskey can be taken on Saint Patrick's Day although native Irish pub-goers can only look on aghast as visitors top the heads of their creamy pint of Guinness with a green Shamrock. Sacrilege! It is estimated that as many as 13 Million pints of Guinness are consumed on Saint Patrick's Day, up from the usual 5.5 Million per day!
DRESSING UP
The tradition of dressing up in Irish outfits is not just confined to participants in Parades. Jovial creatures of Irish origin the world over use the opportunity of Saint Patrick's Day to dress up as Leprechaun or even as Saint Patrick himself. Kids love to wear the big green, white and orange hats and receive sweets thrown to them by similarly clad operators of the various Parade floats.
THE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY DINNER
Corned beef and cabbage is as traditional and Irish meal as you will ever find and it is often hauled out for Saint Patrick's Day. Traditional Irish music in the background and a family gathering are other Irish Saint Patrick's Day traditions that have been going on for centuries.
J.B.O'LEARY: TRANSPORTED TO AUSTRALIA! by Brendan Leavy
John Boyle O’Reilly was an Irish poet, writer and patriot. He was born June 1844 in County Meath, Ireland. John’s parents sent him to England, to live with his aunt to escape the famine. His aunt got him a job with the local newspaper as a reporter. It gave him a chance to explore his literary skills.
In 1865 John met a man called John Devoy. Devoy was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) His modus operandi was to overthrow the British Army on Irish soil. Devoy’s mission was to recruit as many Irishmen in the British Army into the IRB. Once recruited these men would be known as the Fenians. Named after a band of ancient Celtic warriors known as the Fianna.
We were born with scorn and insult,
But the Saxon yet shall feel,
The strength of Irish vengeance,
And the points of Irish steel.
J.B. O’Reilly
John recruited about eighty armed men ready for the rising. The British Army found out about the plan and swooped on the IRB stronghold.
In July John Boyle O’Reilly was court-martialed and sentenced to death for treason. Because he was only twenty-two his sentence was commuted to twenty years penal servitude.
In October 1867, John found himself in chains on the convict ship Hougaumont with 61 other Fenians. They were destined for the Swan River Colony in Western Australia.
In January 1868, after a three-month voyage, the Hougaumont finally dropped anchor off Fremantle.
After approximately three weeks in Fremantle Prison (The Establishment) John was told he would join a road building party near Bunbury, one hundred and twenty miles away.
While working on the roads in Bunbury John met with the priest of the district, Patrick McCabe and a road carter, Big Jim Maguire. They hatched a plan to help John escape.
To cut a long story short, John escaped and lived in the bush for a while.
In March 1869 with the help of Big Jim Maguire and other men, John left Australia on the American whaler Gazelle.
John would go on to write several books of poetry. However, it would be his loyalty, to his Fenian comrades, still locked up in Fremantle Prison, and immortalized his name in Irish folklore. He helped them escape on the whaling ship Catalpa in 1876.
The American President, John Kennedy often quoted John Boyle O’Reilly in his speeches: 'The world is large when two hearts divide, but the world is small when your enemy is loose on the other side.'
'The tree of democracy will never bear fruit, unless it is watered from the well of justice, independence and fair play in the hearts of the people.'
John Boyle O’Reilly, father, poet, writer, felon, orator, conservationist and humanist died of a heart attack at forty-six, but not before he left a legacy that lives on in the hearts and minds of those in pursuit of justice and equality for the common people.
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He was very active in the 1916 Easter Rising, The War of Independence and the ensuing Civil War in what was perhaps the most critical seven years in the history of the country.
