WOODEN CURTAINS

I am back on-line temporarily with my own computer, it was returned on Thursday having had a new hard drive fitted. Then came the task of re-installing documents and software, it was during the latter procedure that a new fault became apparent in that the 'puter was unable to eject an installation disc ! So next morning saw us back on the phone to mac help, the outcome being that it will have to be returned to their repair people.

During the time that I was without my beloved 'puter neither my brain nor hands were idle, as the pics below show. First was the erecting of a new shelf that was cut from a board which was once part of a friends dining table - imagine if it could talk what stories it might tell and of how many times it was washed with wine.

The second project was to make a set of wooden curtains (shutters) for the window of the third oldest room of this cottage. Previously we had fabric curtains & then a venetian blind, none of these were truly satisfactory. So I had an idea of doing something very different and decorating individual boards using pyrography by putting ourselves & our "companions" into the design.

Whilst the new computer glitch is being attended to I shall be applying a protective coating of linseed oil, which over time will slowly darken the wood and increase the contrast between the illustrations and the bare areas.

Wooden Curtains

Self smoking pipe

Mrs H's morning ritual

The new shelf with a painting by me

APOLOGIES !

A Dutch barge at Pullough Bridge on The Royal Canal

(also in process of a refit)

*********************

I thought it best to inform you all that I am having some work done on my computer in the next few days and Normal Service will resume as soon as possible.

Until then take it easy xxx

An Irish Druid's Tree & Church Art

In the village of Pollagh, County Offaly, there is a church which stands close to the banks of The Royal Canal, from the outside it is visually quite plain. Being of a simple design it appears to be quite humble, for this building was quite literally built by the people of the community, the bricks were made locally and the work was also done by them, a gift given freely and greater than any cash donation.

On opening the narrow double doors and entering one is met with a glorious & breath taking sight of the Chancel.

So !

Let the eyes see.

The open heart feel deeply.

The mind understand

Broad depths of humanity.

The Chancel

The Altar

The Font

The Lectern

The Tabernacle

Stained glass windows by the late Harry Clarke

www.harryclarke.net/biography.html

The Altar Server's seat.

Pullough Church was the first commission for Michael Casey and the artists of Celtic Roots in1991 in this locality.

The Altar furniture was created from Bog Yew and has been carbon dated as being 4,800 years old.

The artist reflects on the making of the altar table's plinth

"I would take it out on my trolley into the garden and allow the winter sun to light it up, and as figures began to emerge in the fusion of sunlight and instinct, there were moments when it was no longer a piece of wood but a celebration of life… "

Yew was one of the traditional trees of the ancient druids, the other tree is Rowan and unlike the druids of other countries Oak was not revered.

The Beara Peninsula

It is my philosophy when taking a few days holiday, to make the journey as interesting as possible by taking the scenic route and to avoid as far as possible the motorways. This I can do when visiting most of my favourite areas especially the Bheara Peninsula (of which 4/5th's are in Co.Cork and1/5th in Co.Kerry) From home it is approximately a 350 km drive and the time it takes is of little importance.

To some this area is also known as The Ring of Beara, no matter the name that is put on it, Bheara has an atmosphere all of it's own and to me it feels like a warm island that is full of friendship and surprises. From B & B's which serve delicious breakfasts, to those who have a lamb grazing the lawn, to some that only rent a bedroom with no breakfast.

Around every corner is a different view, some roads twist steeply up mountainsides and one in particular has a magnificent view of Bull Rock, otherwise known as The House of Donn (Teach Donn).

In Irish folklore Donn is the underworld god of death, who told his people to come to his home after they had died. Bull Rock has a sea tunnel, through which the setting sun shines and it is via the pathway of the evening sun that the newly dead find Donn's home.

Close to Ballycrovane Harbour is a tall megalith whose top two feet pops up over the rocky strewn hill as you round the bend. We have visited this standing stone quite a few times and it is reputed to be the tallest in Europe with a height 5.3 metres.

It is not just a standing stone but an Ogham Stone on private land where the land owner charges a small fee of €2.00 (or did) to every visitor. Ogham is the earliest form of script in Ireland and comprises of a series of lines which pass through a vertical stem line to the left, right or diagonally across. Ogham is read from the bottom upwards. Normally the inscriptions are carved on the corner of a stone, however on the Ballycrovane stone they are in the middle of a plane surface which suggests that they were added after the stone was erected.

A couple of miles or so past the Ogham Stone and standing on a seaward facing hill is The Cailleach Bheara called by some 'The Hag Stone' or 'The Wise Woman of Beara'.

This stone is venerated by visitors from all over the world, they adorn her with ribbons and leave offerings in her wrinkles (crevices).

The stone its self is an erratic meaning that it is not native to the area.

A painting by © Jane Brideson depicting

The Cailleach of Beara.

She The Cailleach is the Divine Feminine, the oldest goddess of this island and like every remarkable figure she can be found all over the land as well as in Scotland, the Isle of Man and England.

The peninsula is renown for it's megaliths and folklore at every visit I learn or see something new.

I believe it is that plus the people that keep drawing me back and I yearn to make another visit .

For further information & map www.bearatourism.com/map.html