Sacred Sites

There are numerous sacred sites in Northern Ireland and Ireland. We saw only a few of these. For me, they were a highlight of our trip. Here are the ones we visited, including one in London very close to the hotel we stayed in.

Zippy drove us to the Beaghmore Stone Circles– a two hour drive on narrow, winding roads typical of Northern Ireland. The stone circles are dated at 2000-1200 BC. They might be ancient, but the energy I felt radiating in the area was highly vibrant. In Hindu mythology, the white cow is associated with the goddess (Parvati). The white cow is also the symbol of more than one form of the goddess in Celtic mythology.

Layd Church was initially built on the site in the 1600’s, but it is said to have been a sacred site much earlier than that.

Raymond led us to Oisin’s Grave, which is within walking distance of the tower, and close to where he lives.

I was immediately taken by the imposing presence of St. Paul’s Cathedral. “Long before Christianity arrived in Britain, Ludgate Hill was already a sacred site. It is believed that it was originally the site of an ancient megalith and then later a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana, in alignment with the Apollo Temple which once stood at Westminster.”(http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/london-st-pauls-cathedral)

The Thames might not be considered a sacred site, but in my mind it has always been one of the mighty rivers of the world, so I was thrilled to finally be walking by it and over it.

Beaghmore Stone Circles (County Tyrone, Northern Ireland)
Same Stone Circle from Center Stone

White Cow Close to Stone Circle

Another Stone Circle (Beaghmore)
Layd Church Sacred Site (Cushendall)
Oisin's Grave (Cushendall)
Saint Paul's Cathedral (London)
View of Saint Paul's Through a Glass-Walled Apartment
The Thames!

 

“…when I’m 64?”

Since today is Brian’s birthday, I thought I’d do a recap of his time in Cushendall. Did he behold the magic of Cushendall, make art, and find new friends? Pictures speak louder than words!

Brian's First Breakfast in Cushendall (The Glens Hotel)
And Thus Fueled Up, He Begins to Work
Seeking a Broad Perspective
Ah... Cushendall!
Gotta Have A Workshop
What Do You Think?
Coming to Life
Capturing the Beauty
The Creatures of Cushendall
All in a Day's Fun (Zippy!)
All in a Day's Fun (Raymond!)
Anything for Art
Debut
Hello, Cushendall!

 

Are We Having Fun Yet??? (Happy 64th Birthday, Brian!)

In His Element

Trekking
Session at Johnny Joe’s
Practice in the Tower
Hosting Tower Kitchen Session
Gig Rehearsal
A Serious Shoot
With a Fun Result
Off to the Gig (Rathlin Island)
Dry Feet
Another Day, Another Trek

 

A Friend, a Flute, and a Whistle
Galway

 

Back in Anchorage– THANK YOU!

We are back home, still on Ireland time, and missing everyone we met on our journey to Cushendall. We look forward to seeing our friends in Anchorage, especially when our biorhythms adjust! The big word is THANK YOU to everyone who has offered their generous hearts to us on our journey– in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, London, and here at home. And to all of you who have been checking in on the blog from time to time– we have felt your loving interest!

There are more pictures to come, as well as a link to our stop-motion animation piece “The Creatures of Cushendall”– so here’s hoping you will check in again in a few days.

With love and gratitude,

Pam

Brief Update

Our time in Cushendall has been very full! I took a few minutes today just to sit and do nothing while waiting for the laundry to be delivered, and it occurred to me that I have had very few unoccupied moments. My mom suggested I write a diary every day, which is a great idea– but when??? I hope to write when we get home before too many memories have faded.

Tonight Anda is doing portraits at a wedding, Ben has a session at Johnny Joe’s, and Brian and I expect to trek a bit out of town for a party before heading back into town to the pub. The day was spent doing “serious filming”– more later.

With luck, I’ll be able to assemble my book this weekend! As Brian says, “Done is good.”

We have a checkered flag flying in the tower window in support of the local hurling team. Brian was  given a new jacket, as he plans on going with others to Belfast on Sunday to support the team. I hear firecrackers now. Hurling is quite the thing here!

Love to all, and thank you for your loving support!

Pam

 

Things Are Alive 30

The Fairy Hill

The perfect last picture for the book is of Tiveragh, the fairy hill. The “wee folk” are reputed to appear there from time to time, but especially on Halloween. Brian and I had hiked up the road out of town from the tower to the Cottage Wood. Brian thought the view would be good from there, and it was close to home in case of a change in the weather. As luck would have it, Ben appeared and told me that there was a good view of the fairy hill just a little farther up the road. Brian kept me company as I sat on my art supply box in a cattle gate pull-off on the side of the road to draw. The next day I returned on my own to complete the picture. It seemed to me that the hill did indeed have an unearthly quality, which I hope comes through in the drawing. (Recommended reading– Meeting the Other Crowd: The Fairy Stories of Hidden Ireland by Eddie Lenihan and Carolyn Eve Green)

Morning, Noon, and Night

Sunrise from the Tower

The sun rises over the rooftops as we watch from the third floor window of the tower.

Filming Commences

Great fun!!!!!!!!!!  More to come!

Ancient Stone Circle

We arrived after a long drive into County Tyrone, with our new friend Zippie as our driver. The Beaghmore Stone Circles are a sacred site dated 1200-800 BC. They may be ancient, but they have the strong quality of being alive.

Ancient Inspiration

Anda draws while the rest of us circle round amongst the stones.

New Friends

Pictures speak louder than words in this case!

Coming Home from the Fairy Hill

The smoke is from a peat fire. Home is the tower, which is directly downhill from the fairy hill… hmmm.

Ben Summits Lurig

Ben and Brian hiked in the mist and were rewarded with a panorama of Cushendall, the sea, and a rainbow. Ben called from the summit and asked me to look for them from the tower window. I scanned the ridge and finally saw two tiny sticks. When Ben squatted, one stick disappeared, so I knew it was them up there.

Ben and Brian's view from Lurig Summit
Rainbow at Lurig Summit
Drawing the Fairy Hill

Here I am drawing my 30th and last picture. Hooray! And the fairy hill was the perfect place to end the book, which I will assemble in the next couple days.

Goodnight Moon

Crows fly under the full moon as we look out from the third floor tower window.

 

 

 

Things Are Alive 29

Pastures, Church, Mountain, and Sea

I’m pretty convinced by now that there is no limit to the fecundity of this part of the planet. No matter how small or how sweeping the focus, all of the senses– gross to subtle– keep unfolding more treasures, happily finding residence in the heart. For me, coming home to the Heart is what Ireland is all about.

Anda and I spent a couple hours on the beach yesterday afternoon, sewing and drawing, respectively. It was gloriously sunny. Today we walked out the road just a wee bit so that we could look down through the pastures to the church and then up into the high pastures that hold the town within them like a cup brimming with vitality. Crows soared overhead and the smell of peat drifted through the air.

 

And So It Goes…

Tower Studio

Anda has the highest floor of the tower as her private domain. It is far removed from the noise and hustle of the streets below. However, as the hurricane sweeps through north and west, the windows rattle a brisk beat that keeps her fingers moving.

Pub Portrait

Johnny Joe’s Pub is the place to be for those who love traditional Irish music. While Ben plays his flute with the local musicians, Anda draws portraits of and for gracious and friendly pub-goers who are unable to cram themselves into the tiny room that pulsates with music.

Tower Kitchen Session

At the bottom of the tower, Irish tunes resound, thanks to Ben’s being welcomed into the Cushendall music scene. After this one was over, Ben headed off to Johnny Joe’s with the retirees who didn’t have to get up and go to work early in the morning.

Pamela Ann McDowell Saylor