A Samhain remembrance.

We descend into winter's darkness.
Around us leaves fall, animals begin to hibernate and nature appears to sleep yet we hold fast in
the knowledge that spring will return and new life will emerge.

Candles lit for the departed.

It is fitting that the month of Samhain, November, is the time when we remember those who have gone before us,
our ancestors, our loved ones.

In Irish mythology and folklore Donn was considered to be the god to whom people went after their death.
In one text Donn tells his people:

"To me, to my house you shall come after your deaths." 

DONN by Jane Brideson showing the House of Donn at sunset.
Read about this painting HERE

He was known across the island but is remembered particularly in the West where his most famous dwelling is
Teach Duinn, the House of Donn.

Also called Bull Rock, it lies off the coast of Dursey Island, Co. Cork and is now home to a lighthouse.

Bull Rock
The rock, with its natural archway, was described as 'Donn's house behind Ireland'. 

In the folklore of Kerry and Cork the belief persisted that the spirits of the dead travelled across the sea, along a path illuminated by the setting sun, to Donn's House.

The House of Donn at sunset.

Local fishermen understood that spirits travelled west to the Land of the Dead or to mythical islands such as
Tír na hÓige, the Land of Youth, where they enjoyed the afterlife.

And so it is still, when we light a candle in the west to honour those who have left this life,

or open a west facing window to allow a spirit to depart at death
 or look to the sunset to remember...

Kerry Revisited

We have recently returned from a a few days away in Cahersiveen on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. A beautiful place surrounded by mountains, sea, ancient sites and mythology.
Cahersiveen - Cathair Saidhbhín - means 'Little Sadhbh's stone ringfort' and in mythology Sadhbh was turned into a deer by the druid, Fer Doirich, for refusing his love. She eventually returned to human form and married Fionn mac Cumhail but was tricked by the druid who transformed her once more into a doe. 
Sadhbh was the mother of Oisín, whose name means 'young deer' and he grew up to be considered the greatest poet in Ireland.
Sadhbh's Ringfort may originally have looked similar to Cahergeal Fort which is situated a short drive away from Cahersiveen. 
We also visited the magical Well of the Fair Women above the town. 

For information and pictures of Cahergeal Fort please visit this wonderful site: 
http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/cahergeal-and-leacanabuaile-forts/

The hidden Well of the Fair Women on Beentee Mountain

Photographs of the stones near the Well © Ita Wrafter

St. Finan’s Well in the Glen at St. Finan's Bay

View from the well across the bay

Lughnasadh Blessings.

I recently took a break from writing to enjoy the great weather and to visit author, Dan Cronin in Kerry.

We have been writing to each other and talking on the 'phone a great deal after I visited The City last year - see ANU post August 2012.
His book about his homeplace in the foothills of the Paps of Anu was invaluable and Dan, who is 92, is truly an inspiration. 

Dan and Margaret, gave us a great welcome when we arrived and we could have stayed for hours talking about mythology, folklore and life.

Margaret and Dan

Back home we recently celebrated the first harvest, Lughnasadh or Brón Trogain, the older name for the festival at a local site in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom. 

 Tobar Lugna, Lugna's Well, Co. Offaly.

Photo by Colin Russell

The offerings included berries, herbs, flowers, barley and turf.

Photo by Colin Russell

Tomorrow I am back working on the book but wish you all 

Lughnasadh Blessings and a fruitful harvest.

LUGH

Lugh’s name may have its roots in early words such as leuk, 'light' or lug, oath. 

His titles include Lámfhada, 'Long Arm' and Samhildánach, 'Equally Skilled in Many Arts'.

The Milky Way, Sliabhbra Luigh, is known as Lugh's Chain. 

Places within the painting associated with Lugh are:

Carn Uí Néid, Mizen Head, Co. Cork, Tory Island, Co. Donegal, Cruachan Aigle, 

now Croagh Patrick, and Sliabh Bladhma, the Slieve Bloom where the Lughnasadh 

fire was lit on Arderin, An Earagail, 'The Oratory', Mount Errigal, Co. Donegal, 

Lugh's Seat, on Moytura Hill, the Hill of Tara and Newgrange.  

Lugh holds the Sleá Bua, ‘Spear of Victory” as his light shines upon Rath Lugh, 

Co. Meath. In one story Lugh finally kills Balor, his evil grandfather at Mizen Head

and he places Balor’s head in the crook of a hazel tree, where it splits the tree in two. 

Bronze spear head, described by William Wilde in 1861, now in the National Museum

of Ireland, Dublin.

Anu / Danu

Anu, her hair flows out into the universe and her body is the land of Ireland. 

In Ireland the name Anu / Ána is that of a non-sovereignty, land goddess providing food, prosperity and protection in Munster. 

She appears in the old myths as Anann or Anand and is described as one of a trio of sisters, together with Badbh and Macha, called 'the women rulers'. 
We are also told that Anand is one name for the Morrigan.

Anu is also associated with Danu, whose name originates from the Celtic dánuv meaning 'flowing one' and she was later described as the 'Mother of the Gods'.



On the horizon are Da Chích Anann, 'the two breasts of Anu', Co. Kerry topped by cairns which give the appearance of erect nipples, their entrances aligned to the setting sun. 
Below lies Gleann Freaghan, Glen of the Ravens, birds associated with the Morrígan.

As a goddess of prosperity and abundance Anu gives milk and corn to sustain her people. 
In her right hand is the fertile land, a harvest of oats and wheat and in her left, the abundant sea and nourishing milk. 

At the centre of the painting is the well outside the northern wall of Cathair Crobh Dhearg, 'Fort of the Red Claw', at the foot of the Paps, which are the remains of a Neolithic monument. Also known as 'The City' it is considered to be one of the earliest settlements in Ireland and as such has been a place of spiritual devotion since pre-christian times.

To the right is the silhouette of Cnocbúi, 'mountain of Búi', another name for An Cailleach and to left, Beanna Bó, 'Cow's Horns', Benbo Mountain, Co. Leitrim.
In the centre is Toberaune, 'the well of Anu', one of six wells at Cnoc Barrainn, Knockbarron, Co. Offaly, the spring of which is surrounded by a stand of birch trees.

At the bottom of the painting Anu connects once more to water, the Salmon of Wisdom and the circle of life.

Below are photos from a recent visit to the Paps.

The Paps seen from the 'Fort of the Red Claw'

The well outside the northern wall

Words & pictures © Jane Brideson 2012