It all kicked off two weeks ago when I spotted the three ravens competing amongst each other for the ultimate prize; ‘Kingship of the Valley’, and to nest in the Black Hills of the Red Mountain, overlooking the passage tombs of Brú na Bóinne on the other side of the River Boyne. The valley is still scared with mud lined puddles surrounded by yellow grass. It was the flood of floods for as long as I can remember but the greatest smogis board or banquet for the thousands of coastal birds that settled down around it for the winter months. No seal to be seen chasing spring salmon up the river; such was the flow of water exiting for the sea. Life is something that happens while you are busy making plans; it didn’t catch us out this year, perhaps because we did the living history bit first by making currachs and threw the planning bit out the window.
Tory has always held a fascination for me, home to the Fir Bolg, who were, during the Iron Age, such marauders that they could pillage and raid at any time from the sea. The leader had only one eye and countless scares and deformities. They were believed to be a hang-over from the late Bronze Age that threw only scorn and witchcraft at the Druids of the De Danann, who are said to have resided in Brú na Bóinne. I reckon they were just Scottish with a different fashion code to that of the Gaels.
When you see a fella getting out of the car with a bag of measuring tapes, it can only mean one thing……business! The heads were down straight away, like swimmers in the early morning rush adamant to get their day started well. Tea was an unwanted distraction to the work but the cake won us a few minutes to find out their names. Kilkenny, Meath, Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry and Donegal itself was but a few counties represented in what could be described as a gathering of Gaels. By the end of the day, plans were completed and a list of lengths and thicknesses ready to be ordered to begin the old boat’s restoration. It will be saws and chisels next time round and there is no doubt that this little currach is being built go léir ‘as Gaelige’.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thosaigh sé dhá sheachtain ó shin, nuair a chonaic mé trí fiach dubha ag iomaíoch in aighaidh a chéile don duais bunaidh; ‘Ríogach na Gleanna’, agus nead a thógáil sna ‘Black Hills’ ar Shliabh Dhearg, le radharc Brú na Bóinne thíos futhu ar an taobh eile d'Abhann na Bóinne. Níl biseach ar an ngleann go fóil tar édis na toilte ar fad; le lacháin uisce lán de láib timpeallaithe le tuí buí. B’iad na toilte ba mheasa dá bhfaca mé riamh anseo, d’athraigh an gleann ina tearmann do na mílte éin cósta a tháinig is a d’fhán i gcomhair míonna an gheimhreadh. Ní fhacamar aon rón an geimhreadh seo de dheascar cumhacht na huisce ag silleadh i dtreo na farraige.
I gcónaí chuir Tóraigh iontas orm, áit cónaí do na Fir Bolg a bhí, le linn an Iarannaois, in ann ruathar agus bradú a dhéanamh am ar bith.Súil amhain a bhí ag an ceannaire, chomh maith le neart míchumthaí. Creideadh gur póiteanna iad ón Chré-uamhaois Dhéanach a chaith fuath agus asarlíocht i dtreo draoithe an De Danann a bhí ina gcónaí i mBrú na Bóinne. Dar liom, b'Albanaigh iad ach le cód faisin difriúil ó na nGael.
Nuair a fheiceann tú duine ag teacht amach ón gcarr le mála de miosúir, tá fhios agat gur obair atá i gceist! Bhí ceann gach duine sios díreach, ar nós snámhaí luath ar maidin, chun tús maith den lá a cinntiú. Bhí an cupán tae mar ábhar seachráin nach raibh ag teastáil ach thug an cáca seans dúinn aithne a chuir ar a chéile. Bhí contae Cillcheannaigh, Mí, Muineacháin, Baile Átha Cliath, Ciarraí and Dún na nGall féin ann. Ag deireadh an lae, bhí na pleananna réidh agus liosta den adhmaid atá ag teastáil scríofa síos, chun tabhairt faoin sean bhád a athchóiriú. Beidh sáibh agus siséil ann don cead lá eile agus an báidín seo á thógáil go léir ‘as Gaeilge’.
Tory has always held a fascination for me, home to the Fir Bolg, who were, during the Iron Age, such marauders that they could pillage and raid at any time from the sea. The leader had only one eye and countless scares and deformities. They were believed to be a hang-over from the late Bronze Age that threw only scorn and witchcraft at the Druids of the De Danann, who are said to have resided in Brú na Bóinne. I reckon they were just Scottish with a different fashion code to that of the Gaels.
When you see a fella getting out of the car with a bag of measuring tapes, it can only mean one thing……business! The heads were down straight away, like swimmers in the early morning rush adamant to get their day started well. Tea was an unwanted distraction to the work but the cake won us a few minutes to find out their names. Kilkenny, Meath, Monaghan, Dublin, Kerry and Donegal itself was but a few counties represented in what could be described as a gathering of Gaels. By the end of the day, plans were completed and a list of lengths and thicknesses ready to be ordered to begin the old boat’s restoration. It will be saws and chisels next time round and there is no doubt that this little currach is being built go léir ‘as Gaelige’.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thosaigh sé dhá sheachtain ó shin, nuair a chonaic mé trí fiach dubha ag iomaíoch in aighaidh a chéile don duais bunaidh; ‘Ríogach na Gleanna’, agus nead a thógáil sna ‘Black Hills’ ar Shliabh Dhearg, le radharc Brú na Bóinne thíos futhu ar an taobh eile d'Abhann na Bóinne. Níl biseach ar an ngleann go fóil tar édis na toilte ar fad; le lacháin uisce lán de láib timpeallaithe le tuí buí. B’iad na toilte ba mheasa dá bhfaca mé riamh anseo, d’athraigh an gleann ina tearmann do na mílte éin cósta a tháinig is a d’fhán i gcomhair míonna an gheimhreadh. Ní fhacamar aon rón an geimhreadh seo de dheascar cumhacht na huisce ag silleadh i dtreo na farraige.
I gcónaí chuir Tóraigh iontas orm, áit cónaí do na Fir Bolg a bhí, le linn an Iarannaois, in ann ruathar agus bradú a dhéanamh am ar bith.Súil amhain a bhí ag an ceannaire, chomh maith le neart míchumthaí. Creideadh gur póiteanna iad ón Chré-uamhaois Dhéanach a chaith fuath agus asarlíocht i dtreo draoithe an De Danann a bhí ina gcónaí i mBrú na Bóinne. Dar liom, b'Albanaigh iad ach le cód faisin difriúil ó na nGael.
Nuair a fheiceann tú duine ag teacht amach ón gcarr le mála de miosúir, tá fhios agat gur obair atá i gceist! Bhí ceann gach duine sios díreach, ar nós snámhaí luath ar maidin, chun tús maith den lá a cinntiú. Bhí an cupán tae mar ábhar seachráin nach raibh ag teastáil ach thug an cáca seans dúinn aithne a chuir ar a chéile. Bhí contae Cillcheannaigh, Mí, Muineacháin, Baile Átha Cliath, Ciarraí and Dún na nGall féin ann. Ag deireadh an lae, bhí na pleananna réidh agus liosta den adhmaid atá ag teastáil scríofa síos, chun tabhairt faoin sean bhád a athchóiriú. Beidh sáibh agus siséil ann don cead lá eile agus an báidín seo á thógáil go léir ‘as Gaeilge’.
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