Temple Cronan, the Burren, County Clare Photo: EO’DTemple Cronan Photo: EO’D
Temple Cronan, the Burren, County Clare has been dated to the 12th Century.
The church is Romanesque in style, with carved stone heads (human and animal) on projections around the walls. Small shrines lie to the east and south east of the church and beyond the enclosure traces of several dwellings can be seen. A small track leads from Temple Cronan to a holy well – and to a wonderful walk through the hills. A beautiful site, in a beautiful place – the Burren, County Clare.
Aran Islands, West of Ireland Photo: Fabio Grasso Creative Commons
Fishermen have legends all their own. They say that the reason why the flounder has one side white is that the Blessed Virgin once placed her hand upon it, and that the spot where her lily hand rested has been the colour of the snow ever since.
An eminent tradition is to the effect that it was the haddock in whose mouth St. Peter discovered the tribute money; that the spots upon its body near the gills was caused by the pressure of the Apostle’s fingers.
The pike, like the passion flower, carries upon it the marks of the Crucifixion such as the cross, nails and sword. This, sailors will tell you, is because the pike remained above the water when all the other fish fled to the bottom of the sea in panic when they found that the Saviour was to be put to death.
The Blessed Virgin has always been considered the especial patroness of those “going down to the sea in ships.” To her they appealed when in danger of shipwreck and ships sailing past any of her sanctuaries used to salute her by striking their topsails or chewing up the topsail sheets. Most of the ships in the Royal Navy of England were in Catholic days given one of her own sweet names. The fishing fleets of all continental countries have always honour her in a similar manner.Eight different species of fish, including cod, haddock, halibut and mackerel, are lying on a beach. Coloured etching by J. Miller after J. Stewart. Wellcome Images; Creative Commons
While Our Lady as Star of the Sea has ever been the protectress of all sailors, St. Nicholas has in a special sense been the patron of fishing towns. Many caves along the coast of France have been used as chapels in which both the Blessed Virgin and St. Nicholas have had especial honour.
Formerly it was considered a token of great good fortune when mackerel fleets could arrange to start out on May day; and the sailors took delight in decorating May day garlands. When the mackerel nets, with floats attached, were thrown into the water the sailors would sing;
Watch, barrel, watch, mackerel for to catch!
White may they be like a blossom on a tree!
God send thousands, one, two and three!
Some by their heads, some by their tails
God sends thousands, and never fails.
Then the captain would cry “Seas all!” and over the nets would go.
Ships of olden time often bore an image of Our Lady as a figure head. With her leading them they never lacked courage to fare out into the wide waste of waters.
“Catholic Bulletin
Kildare Observer 22nd January, 1898 p10Cliffs of Moher Photo: Norma Scheibe
Acrostic on County Clare by Mrs Maunsell – Christmas 1897
Can we fitly sing the praises of our native Clare Ocean washed, and verdure coated, hills and lakes and valleys fair, Under trees whose spreading branches ferns flourish, flowers blow; Now we see wild rocky stretches, Shannon ripple, Fergus flow. Time has left his track in ruins, noble halls and castles grand, Yet their stately, silent presence lends a glory to the land.
Cliffs of Moher, proud, majestic, rise unrivalled on the coast Lovely sands, and snowy billows, lost in wonderment we boast; And it cannot pass unnoticed, by all lovers of the sea, Reigning o’er our pleasant homeland, queenly watering place Kilkee Erin’s sons may well be proud and sing her praises long and loud
Over one hundred and fifty signatures, headed by that of the parish priest, have been appended to a petition of protest against the proposed removal of the civic guards’ barracks from New Quay, County Clare. The petition has been forwarded to the Chief Commissioner and is as follows …
read more on In the news at theburrenandbeyond.com
Slemish mountain, County Antrim where, it is told, St Patrick worked as a shepherd while a slave Photo: Man vyi Wikimedia Commons
We wake the echoes by that storied lake Where sainted Patrick in days of old Prisoned the wily serpent, which, ’tis told Still cries unto the saint his bonds to break
Excerpt from A summer night on the Galtees
by T McG
A few days ago a regatta took place at New Quay. Mr O’Connell Esq., M.P. acted as commodore, and he and John Scott, of Cahercon, Esq., both subscribed 10/s towards the amusements. The sailing and rowing matches were excellent.
The chief race for hookers was won by a Connemara boat, in consequence of Flaherty’s boat from the Claddagh having stranded. There was a private match between Mr Scott and Mr J. Hynes with their canoes, which was won by Mr Hynes. Mr O’Connell and Mr Scott remained a week and enjoyed the hospitality of Mr J. Hynes.
A pretty legend is related in connection with the snowdrop;
Eve was weeping because of the dreariness of the earth after she had been driven from Eden. She longed to see a flower once more, but none grew in the place of her banishment. The snow fell steadily.
Eve called to an angel and told him of her woes. The angel came to her, caught a drifting snowflake, breathed upon it, and gave it to her. It transformed, and the Snowdrop was born.
“Summer comes, Eve” said the angel, and he left. As he did a halo of the little flowers grew from his footprints.
Tuam Herald 11th March, 1899 p4 (abridged)Photo: Kinvara Stone EO’D
A large and representative meeting of the electors of the parish of Kinvarra was held recently at Kinvarra for the selection of a candidate for the office of County Councillor of the Gort Division and of candidates for the District Councillorship of Kinvarra, Doorus, Killinny and Cahermore.
The Revd John Moloney, P.P. Presided and the attendance included the Revd Father Davoren, C.C. And Messrs J.W. Brady Murray, John Flatley, William Flatley, Fergus O’Dea, John O’Dea (Doorus), John Quinn, PLG; Miko Hynes, Ml O’ Donoghoe, Martin Corless, Patrick Curtin, John Quinn (Kinvarra), Thomas Greene, (Loughcurra), F. Green, P. Hynes PLG; M Brennan, Stephen Leech, Thomas Leech, John Morris, John Fahy, PLG; Thomas O’Halloran, John Finucane, Thomas Fahy, Patrick Hynes, (Corrishooa (sic.)); John Burke, Thomas Burke, Thos Kavanagh, J. O’Connor, Michael Howard, John Tierney, Wm. Whelan, A. Staunton, P. Kennedy, Ml. Kennedy, William Connor, John Davenport, T. Doogan, Ml Grady, E. Holland, F. Fox, Wm. Quinn, Michael Mooney, F. Lally, T. Lally and many others.
Among the ladies present were the Misses Hynes, Mrs Cullinan, Mrs Watson, Mrs Johnston, Mrs O’Halloran, the Misses Joyce and Mrs O’Donnell.
(further details in Kinvara in the news-archives on theburrenandbeyond.com)
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