tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37885867157747424652024-03-13T20:37:35.193+00:00Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Cruachan AíInterpretative and Community Centre for the Rathcroghan Celtic Royal Complex, Roscommon, Ireland - Ancient Cruachan, home of Queen Maeve, the Táin, and the Medieval village of Tulsk.Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-47714465539839570532015-12-21T12:07:00.000+00:002016-02-24T14:27:00.921+00:00Rathcroghan Spotlight - Carns Archaeological ComplexThe group of monuments which make up the Carns Archaeological Complex have an intriguing story to tell. With a body of archaeology that dates from prehistory through to the recent past, interaction with Carns has mutated through time, based, one might suggest, on the values, motives and agendas of the individual societies that chose to use this landscape. Beyond it's archaeological importance, there are a number of historic and literary references to the monuments and the landscape they inhabit, which in turn, elevates the importance of this landscape only further.<br />
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Firstly, we must note some of the extant monuments. The Carns complex has at its nucleus the mound of Carnfree, and it is from this central point that we can view the rest of the landscape, as it is located, quite literally, at the high point of a ridge at approximately 120m above sea level. The mound of Carnfree (Carn Fraích) is deemed to be prehistoric in origin, it being a cairn of stones and other material said to mark the burial of the great Connacht warrior of the Ulster Cycle of tales, Fraoch.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ymyQ4Nbipg/VsM5kVJ1ULI/AAAAAAAACiU/ykrwX83v1P8/s1600/carnfree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ymyQ4Nbipg/VsM5kVJ1ULI/AAAAAAAACiU/ykrwX83v1P8/s400/carnfree.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnfree Mound (Image courtesy of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre)</td></tr>
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This cairn was identified by John O'Donovan in the 19th-century as being the famed inauguration place of the O'Conor kings of Connacht. Despite it's seemingly modest appearance, it's elevated prominence over the surrounding region indicates at it's veracity, particularly considering the usual practice of locating inauguration places at commanding viewpoints of a region. More than this, Carnfree's associations with a legendary legitimising ancestral figure, and Carns' obvious location in close vicinity and direct line of sight to the prehistoric royal landscape of Rathcroghan, attests to Carnfree's importance as a place of ceremonial assembly and inauguration for a prominent Gaelic royal dynasty.<br />
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Moving from Carnfree to the west we have the conjoined earthwork, figure-of-eight monuments of Duma Selga. This fascinating combination of ringfort and ring-barrow gives immediate thought to the great joining of Tech Cormaic and the Forrad on the Hill of Tara in Co. Meath. This incorporation of enclosure/settlement and burial/ceremonial mound is something we also see at Caran Fort on the Rathcroghan complex, and at Rathbrennan, close to Roscommon Town, among others. The conjoined nature of the features at Duma Selga suggests that there might have been two, or indeed more, phases of archaeology at the monument, with the second phase deemed to be one of settlement or perhaps a building of more temporary use. Magnetic susceptibility uncovered several high values that may be evidence of heavy burning. Magnetic gradiometry and electrical resistance surveys indicate a possible structure in a similar area to the 'burning' on the ringfort. Coupling this data with Bishop Tírechán's (7th-century) account of St. Patrick coming to Selc to the sons of Brión, and references in the Metrical Dindshenchas to the past glories of the royal barrow of Duma Selga, all suggest to this set of monuments being of central importance to Carns, and the region at large.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp5w-VfXfkk/Vsx5ezdkM5I/AAAAAAAACkA/JVvMeZJp-lg/s1600/Dumha%2BSelga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp5w-VfXfkk/Vsx5ezdkM5I/AAAAAAAACkA/JVvMeZJp-lg/s320/Dumha%2BSelga.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duma Selga (Image courtesy of M. Casey)</td></tr>
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To the south-east of Carnfree mound lies Carn Láma. Carn Láma is a large, grass-covered tumulus, measuring 18.5m in diameter at the base, and is said to contain the remains of the warrior Fraoch's hand. It stands at 3.7m above the surrounding landscape, and has the remains of a distinctive step running around the base of the mound. Surveying on the summit of the mound uncovered areas of ever increasing high values, which may be due to the use of sod and topsoil in its construction, but the very high values may indicate an episode of heavy burning. It has been theorised that this may even have been due to some industrio-ritual activity, where a society continues to hold a level of significance to particular existing funerary monuments for activities such as ironworking.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csp8BNMe5fc/Vsx5e59F1DI/AAAAAAAACj8/WEmK1NUwcM8/s1600/Carn%2BL%25C3%25A1ma%2Baerial%2Bdetail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csp8BNMe5fc/Vsx5e59F1DI/AAAAAAAACj8/WEmK1NUwcM8/s320/Carn%2BL%25C3%25A1ma%2Baerial%2Bdetail.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn Láma (Image courtesy of M. Casey)</td></tr>
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Excavation by the Discovery Programme at the Ecclesiastical Site of Carns provided strong evidence of a very long period of use and reuse. The earliest available evidence comes in the form of another, large 'figure of eight' structure, which could have a date from the late prehistoric or early historic period. This was uncovered through the application of a magnetic gradiometry survey. Our next possible phase of interaction with the immediate area at Carns comes with the discovery of a standing stone inscribed with ogham, which would date interaction to the 5th or 6th-century.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ7B7SvYORE/VssX_CglDAI/AAAAAAAACio/5CIn463uPos/s1600/Carns%2Becclesiastical%2Bsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJ7B7SvYORE/VssX_CglDAI/AAAAAAAACio/5CIn463uPos/s400/Carns%2Becclesiastical%2Bsite.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carns Ecclesiastical Site (Image courtesy of Michael Herity)</td></tr>
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A building platform of 11th-century date was uncovered, possibly the foundations of a dwelling, which was then chronologically succeeded by a large, two-celled 15th or16th-century church. All of this was contained within a two metre thick drystone wall, which had an earlier ditch located within the perimeter of the wall. This repeated interaction with the area is testament to it's importance over several generations, and indeed, centuries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48Ar2WfmRW8/VsM5jKSjc1I/AAAAAAAACiQ/NLBoGwo8ARc/s1600/cloch%2Bfada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-48Ar2WfmRW8/VsM5jKSjc1I/AAAAAAAACiQ/NLBoGwo8ARc/s320/cloch%2Bfada.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloch Fada na gCarn (Image courtesy of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre)</td></tr>
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Aside from these spotlighted monuments, Carns is also home to a number of other prehistoric funerary monuments, the most prominent being topped with a 3m tall standing stone, the Cloch Fada na gCarn. (the Long Stone of Carns). There is also evidence for a moated site which has been attached to an earlier ringfort, as well as an 18th-century sean baile, which must represent the last phase of pre-modern interaction with the Carns Archaeological Complex. Daniel Curley.Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-52310667202997158692014-12-10T12:24:00.004+00:002016-02-24T16:00:25.539+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 8 - Rathcroghan Mound, inconspicuous monument with a complex pastThis edition of the monuments spotlight will deal with the most prominent monument on the Rathcroghan complex, the feature known as Rathcroghan Mound. Despite the use of <i>rath</i> in it's naming, the mound does not seem to have any defensive or martial background.<br />
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Through the application of a wide range of geophysical survey techniques, a very complex, multi-period set of connected features were uncovered that has caused scholarship to re-evaluate the place that the medieval literary landscape known as <i>Cruachan</i> held in Iron Age and medieval Ireland. I say this because, as recently as 1994, one of the prime indicators or characteristic features of a 'royal' site, such as Emain Macha, Tara, or indeed Rathcroghan, was the presence of a prominent ritual 'enclosure'. The feature was deemed present at all of the traditional royal sites, except for <i>Cruachan </i>(Raftery, 1994, p. 70).<br />
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Through the application of a magnetic gradiometry survey on the mound and it's vicinity, as well as analysis of aerial photographs from as early as 1983, the presence of a very large enclosure was uncovered, roughly 360m in diameter, around Rathcroghan Mound (Waddell, Fenwick, Barton 2009, p. 142). As well as encompassing the mound itself, it also contained a number of other features, some of which can be readily identified in the below image.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZhFWMt2rDQ/VMi-ZoTRrAI/AAAAAAAACME/14gU7-24eUA/s1600/5.6%2BGrad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="381" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rathcroghan Mound & 360m enclosure, magnetic gradiometry image (Waddell, Fenwick, Barton 2009, Fig. 5.6)</span></div>
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These include a feature which surrounds the immediate environs of the mound, an attached avenue, a seemingly earlier feature within said avenue, as well as a smaller, more northern parallel monument, with similarly aligned avenue. All of this points to a protracted period of use, as well as some reinterpretation of the environment during its period of use.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBuBVoPI6u8/VL06FdzPPSI/AAAAAAAACLA/bd5NkcXYDwQ/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBuBVoPI6u8/VL06FdzPPSI/AAAAAAAACLA/bd5NkcXYDwQ/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_5a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3D LiDAR model of Rathcroghan Mound (OSi & Kevin Barton)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In keeping with the discoveries surrounding the monument, the mound itself is a very complex feature. Extending 88m in diameter and rising on average 5.5m above the surrounding terrain, which is already 140m above sea level and a high-point of the glacial plateau, the summit of Rathcroghan Mound provides commanding views of the surrounding territory. Given the very deliberate placement of the monument here, it being the highest point in the complex, gives us some indication of the role that Rathcroghan Mound had in the society it was created for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">However, before engaging with it's possible function, some further detail on its make-up is required. In summary, an electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) survey produced evidence in the centre of the mound for a large sub-circular area, which seem to be the remains of a glacial ridge or cairn-like dump of stone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Aside from this, a further ERT survey uncovered evidence at three separate depths of 50cm, 1.5m and 2.5m of what seems to be a pair of concentric stone walls at approximately 22m and 35m in diameter. These provide an interesting comparison with the excavated evidence at <i>Emain Macha</i> or Navan Fort, where the lauded 40m structure was seemingly buried to produce the later mound. A further, higher resolution magnetic gradiometry survey of the summit suggests evidence of a broad series of enclosures or structures placed on top of the mound, perhaps dividing the summit into different ritual precincts. Suggestions of a large timber structure on the summit would indicate a later episode of the monuments life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Even through this annotated description of Rathcroghan Mound and it's environs, it is clear that it served a range of interlinked ceremonial roles during its perhaps multiple periods of use. That function seems to focus on ritual activities, and given it's prominence in the landscape, the view of it as a focal point of a great assembly or <i>óenach</i> is a convincing one. It's use as a place of inauguration is not beyond possibility either, despite the fact that any such practices at the site must have ceased in prehistory, (Fitzpatrick 2004, p. 82) </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">with the monuments of the Carns complex taking up this role into the medieval period. Daniel Curley.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Rathcroghan Mound is located in the centre of the map, surrounded by the 360m enclosure)<a href="http://www.cruachanai.blogspot.ie/2014/12/rathcroghan-monuments-spotlight-no-8.html" target="_blank">http://www.cruachanai.blogspot.ie/2014/12/rathcroghan-monuments-spotlight-no-8.html</a></span></div>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-76216702283310939662014-02-24T14:58:00.002+00:002014-02-24T21:31:14.562+00:00Pancake Tuesday <div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pancakes</span></u></b> </div>
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Its that time of year again Pancake Tuesday he is a quick and easy recipe for very tasty pancakes we will have on the menu @ Rathcroghan Cafe <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients </span></b><br />
flour 100g<br />
salt pinch<br />
milk 1/4 ltr<br />
melted butter 10g<br />
sugar 50g<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Method </b></span><br />
Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl, make a well in center.<br />
Add the egg and milk, gradually incorporating the flour from the sides, whisk to a smooth batter<br />
Mix in the melted butter<br />
Allow to stand for min 30 mins<br />
Cook on a heated pan until brown flip over and cook on other side<br />
Turn onto a plate and sprinkle with sugar<br />
Serve with Lemon, Orange, Jam, Syrup or any topping of your choice<br />
Enjoy<br />
From Brian & Marie @ Rathcroghan Cafe<br />
<br />Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-70785791431779798172014-02-14T15:07:00.000+00:002014-02-26T19:11:24.177+00:00Medieval Tulsk - An explanatory essay and images by Daniel Tietzsch-Tyler<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By Daniel Tietzsch-Tyler</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Introduction</span></b></h1>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstruction drawing depicts the village of Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, as it might
have appeared towards the end of the 15<sup>th</sup> century, at an arbitrary
date of c. 1480 (Figures 1 and 2). The reconstruction is based on the results
of various archeological studies<sup>1,2</sup>, both published or continuing
and as yet unpublished, and on consultations with the archaeologists concerned
with the studies. These have investigated and thrown some light on three
archaeological sites, the remains of a Dominican friary in the village and
known locally as Tulsk Abbey, and two raised circular or sub-circular
structures (probably early medieval ringforts) that have some loose masonry
associated with them. These extend into a relict landscape associated spatially
with the friary and the larger of the earthworks, which is referred to as the
Tulsk Earthwork on a local map of heritage sites (Figure 3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AchRa8l2tKo/Uv4qnqTxI9I/AAAAAAAABXo/mpJ5b7lrOoA/s1600/Figure+1_Tulsk_Small+Reconstruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AchRa8l2tKo/Uv4qnqTxI9I/AAAAAAAABXo/mpJ5b7lrOoA/s1600/Figure+1_Tulsk_Small+Reconstruction.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 1 - Tulsk Village Reconstruction (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
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The Dominican
friary, probably a priory rather than an abbey, is situated just south side of
the (N5) Dublin-Castlebar road between the centre of the village and the major
crossroads of the N5 and the Roscommon-Boyle road (N61). The friary was founded
in the 1440s and a large south transept was added to the nave of the church,
probably around the very end of the 15<sup>th</sup> century<sup>3</sup>. A
simple tower house was constructed over the chancel of the church following its
dissolution in the mid-16<sup>th</sup> century, possibly associated with a bawn
(as suggested by a dashed line on the 1837 O.S. map, labelled ‘Site of Castle’:
see Figure 8). At some stage after dissolution of the friary (or perhaps over a
prolonged period) the cloister ranges were entirely demolished, though a
limited trace of their substructure has shown up in geophysical survey. A
relict landscape of earthworks has been identified south of the friary that
includes evidence of extensive banks and ditches as well as the former trace of
the Ogulla River and certain associated features.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3qDrS9DpsU/Uv4qaSqiovI/AAAAAAAABXg/F2FjK2pVHPk/s1600/Figure+2_Tulsk_Small+Reconstruction_Labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3qDrS9DpsU/Uv4qaSqiovI/AAAAAAAABXg/F2FjK2pVHPk/s1600/Figure+2_Tulsk_Small+Reconstruction_Labelled.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 2 - Tulsk Village Labelled (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The larger
of the ringforts in the village (the Tulsk Earthwork), which defines a
sub-circular ellipse with an east-west diameter of 36m and a north-south
diameter of 27m, is situated just east of the Ogulla River on the north side of
the Dublin-Castlebar (N5) road across from the friary remains in the village
graveyard. The Discovery Programme has excavated this site over successive
recent years. Unexpectedly, these excavations revealed the basement level of a
large tower-house of 15<sup>th</sup> century date – perhaps the O’Conor Roe
castle recorded in 1406<sup>3</sup>, which used the modified ringfort as its
bawn. The tower-house was subsequently remodelled, possibly after prior
demolition, and extended during the late medieval (16<sup>th</sup>-mid 17<sup>th</sup>
centuries) English reconquest of Connacht. The tower-house itself appears to
have had a multiphase development during the course of the 15<sup>th</sup>
century. Once again, there is an extensive relict landscape of banks, ditches
and other features associated with this site. Across the Ogulla River from this
site is a smaller circular earthwork associated with some loose stonework that
has been digitally surveyed but has not been excavated and which is known
locally as ‘Tulsk Castle’. It is situated in Castleland townland and so, even if
it was never the site of a castle <i>per se</i>, it is likely to have been the
site of structures associated with the tower-house in some way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstruction drawing is set late in the second half of the 15<sup>th</sup>
century to illustrate the tower-house on the excavated ringfort when fully
developed and prior to the late medieval remodelling, and the Dominican priory
before the south transept or the later tower-house over the church chancel were
added to it. The following explanation begins with the main archaeological
sites: the Dominican friary and its associated relict landscape, the recently
excavated tower-house and ringfort complex and the relict landscape associated
with it, including the unexcavated ‘castle’ in Castleland townland. These are
followed by an explanation for the representation of the medieval village of
Tulsk. To make the reconstruction, a draft plan of all the geographical and
archaeological elements was drafted (Figure 3), from which a virtual wire-frame
model was generated using AutoCAD software. The line-work was then drawn in
black ink on plastic tracing film. Colour was added using Adobe PhotoShop
software.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjxzkX6kxwc/Uv4quL1iBtI/AAAAAAAABXw/YG9sLflwk6U/s1600/Figure+3_Tulsk_Draft+Compilation+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MjxzkX6kxwc/Uv4quL1iBtI/AAAAAAAABXw/YG9sLflwk6U/s1600/Figure+3_Tulsk_Draft+Compilation+Map.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 3 - Compilation Map (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Dominican Friary</span></b></h1>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Only the
ruined church of the Dominican friary in Tulsk survives to this day. In the
reconstruction a very simple cloister complex is depicted on the north side of
the friary church (Figure 4). The cloister complex is elongated north-south to
reflect geophysical evidence for the northwest corner of the complex falling
just outside the modern cemetery limits. Despite one opinion to the contrary,
it is depicted as a set of <i>two-storey</i> structures modelled on other Irish
examples in the northwest of the country, particularly those of Dominican
affiliation and built in the mid-15<sup>th</sup> century – of which there are
relatively few with substantial remains. A provisional digital reconstruction
of Roscommon Abbey being constructed by the Discovery Programme staff is
instructive in this case. It was assumed initially that the cloister ranges
there too were single storey buildings, based on roof-creases for the east and
west ranges that survive on the church wall and on the roof-crease for the
cloister walk against the church between them. Looking at the surviving remains
of the Roscommon Abbey, there is clearly a gap between the level of the lower
terminations of the two roof-creases and the level of the cloister walk that is
sufficient for a row of dormitory windows in between. This suggests that the
friars’ dormitory probably formed a second storey, perhaps extending up into
the roof space, with windows set low in its walls. Also, again despite one
contrary opinion, the roofs follow the model most commonly found in Irish
friaries in which each of the cloister ranges is gabled separately at each end
as if it were a free-standing structure (some early examples, however, do
follow the pattern of the larger Cistercian and Augustinian monasteries in
which the roofs of the cloister ranges are generally perceived to have merged
together).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The one
surviving window opening in the south wall of the friary church is interpreted
as a two-light ogee-headed window in the reconstruction. A second, similar
window is depicted where the arcade into the later south transept exists today.
The east window of the church is based on contemporary analogues in the region.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9YnWqVCOMY/Uv4q8MU7EGI/AAAAAAAABYQ/Yr-SGi3Cpqs/s1600/Figure+4_Tulsk+Priory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9YnWqVCOMY/Uv4q8MU7EGI/AAAAAAAABYQ/Yr-SGi3Cpqs/s1600/Figure+4_Tulsk+Priory.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 4 - Tulsk Priory (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Relict Landscape South of the Friary<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The reconstruction interprets a number of relict features preserved in the landscape south and southwest of the abbey according to published archaeological accounts (Figure 5) and discussions with the archaeologists concerned. This landscape has been related to the friary in the reconstruction (Figure 3). The main elements of this landscape are:</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">a couple of complex sets of closely-spaced, sub-parallel embankments running for some distance more-or-less north-south from the west side of the ‘early enclosure’;</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the meandering, presumably original course of the Ogulla River running through Tulsk;</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">a shorter second set of more widely-spaced sub-parallel embankments running more-or-less north-south from the east side of the ‘early enclosure’, including a ‘T’-junction with a short set of more-or-less parallel embankments running for a short distance east of these;</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">a number of subsidiary relict embankments that define a network of enclosures between the two sets of north-south embankments;</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">short segments of what appear perhaps to be two very incomplete, apparently concentrically arranged circular banks south and west of the friary that <i>might</i> represent a much earlier enclosed ecclesiastical site or perhaps an even older multivallate ringfort erected at this important cross-roads of ancient route-ways, or both in succession (referred to as the ‘early enclosure’ hereafter).</span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In all cases the linear landscape features are assumed to be embankments (Figure 1), based on the survey published by O’Conor <i>et al</i>.<sup>1</sup> and discussion of the same in the Discovery Programme Report 7<sup>3</sup> reproduction, and inspection of aerial photographs and newer geophysical survey images provided by The Discovery Programme and discussions about these with archaeologists on the ground and in the office.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The western
north-south feature appears to represent a discontinuous pair of embankments
with a ‘ditch’ between them where they are paired, and with a path or track-way
running along their east side. The river is shown following the meandering
millrace identified by O’Conor <i>et al.</i><sup>1</sup>. A mill was suggested
for the area by those authors based on an interpretation of the original river
course as a mill-race<sup>1</sup>, though it seems more likely that this was
the original course of the Ogulla River before it was straightened. After some
research and consideration of the mapped earthworks, two straight east-west
orientated banks, connected at their eastern ends by a now incomplete
north-south bank ( overprinted by the western pair of north-south banks) were
interpreted to define a rectangular fish and, or millpond fed and drained by
the original Ogulla River channel along its eastern margin. The core of the
southernmost loop in the river as interpreted by O’Conor <i>et al.</i><sup>1</sup>
has been retained in this interpretation as a small island that separates the
main pond from a short millrace over which a horizontal watermill is depicted
at its northern end (modelled on that excavated by Neil Jackman at Kilbegly in
the south Co. Roscommon<sup>4</sup>). A managed overflow is also depicted at
the northwest corner of the main pond (again based on the Kilbegly site). While
this is pure speculation, there most probably were a mill, a millpond and one
or more fishponds associated with the friary somewhere along the Ogulla River,
and these are likely to have been sited close to where they are depicted in the
reconstruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The more
widely-spaced embankments running north-south from the east side of the ‘early
enclosure’ are interpreted as a north-south roadway, along the lines suggested
by Discovery programme archaeologist Brian Shanahan in the field. In the
reconstruction, this road is shown dividing when it comes to the friary inner
precinct, one branch swinging eastwards in an arc around the inner precinct
until it crosses the Ogulla river into Tulsk village, and the other continuing
north to pass the O’Conor Roe tower-house (see below). The junction of the
north-south embankments and the east-west orientated embankments is interpreted
in the reconstruction as a ‘T’-road junction, perhaps representing the meeting
of the medieval Dublin road (N5), part of the ancient Slighe Assail<sup>5</sup>,
with the medieval Roscommon-Boyle road (N61). The banks defining the east-west
part of this junction and the east side of the north-south road are interpreted
as parts of two small farmstead enclosures on either side of the Dublin road,
part of an outlying element of the main Tulsk village settlement. The
embankment on the east side of the north-south road is interpreted as a boundary
associated with the friary lands (see below). Looking at the O.S. map of the
region, the sinuous nature of the Roscommon road not far south of the Tulsk
crossroads suggests a more ancient character than the straight famine-relief
road at the crossroads. On that basis, that part of the road has been retained
in the extreme foreground of the reconstruction (as well as the
archaeologically-defined, embanked road), but curving into the Dublin road just
before the ‘T’-junction. The importance of Tulsk as an ancient crossroads and,
by this time, a major O’Conor residential centre, suggests that many roads
would have converged here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Between the
two north-south embankment features, there are several more-or-less east-west
embankments, and (from the latest Discovery Programme Geophysics results) some
minor north-south features between them. These are interpreted as defining
medieval field boundaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstruction takes the partial inner ring of concentric embankments defining
the ‘early enclosure’ around the friary – perhaps part of an early medieval
ecclesiastical enclosure – to define part of an inner precinct boundary around
the friary. The remnant embankment is depicted surmounted by a timber fence or
palisade, the gaps filled by straighter stretches of palisade (Figure 4). This
is depicted as plain timberwork on the inside, but whitewashed on its exterior
face (see below). An orchard-cemetery on the east side of the friary is shown
fenced off within the inner precinct, at the west end of the church. The bulk
of the inner precinct enclosure is occupied by cultivated ground, on which
stubble waste is being burned, and an area of market gardening north of the
cloister ranges. The gates into the precinct to east, south, west (by the
river) and north are shown open to reflect the inferred open invitation of the
preaching Dominican friars, also the parish priests, towards the local
community. Up towards the southwest boundary of the ‘early enclosure’, a number
of appropriately sized, more-or-less rectangular earthwork features have been
interpreted as the sites of buildings associated with the friary. More
specifically, these are imagined as: (nearest the friary, within the inner
precinct) a guesthouse and a small stable; and (outside the inner precinct) a
small house (with smoke) and outhouse, and two barn structures. All of these
are placed in their own embanked enclosures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally, a
finite outer precinct is defined in relation to the friary, which encloses the
fields and farm buildings described above. Taking the squared-off pond as a
model, I have closed this outer precinct with an arbitrarily-placed east-west
embankment sited south of the village in today’s more intensively farmed
country, and put a palisade or fence on this embankment too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzLBTJfJbyo/Uv4q0ghZVrI/AAAAAAAABYE/9DiafqAXFvc/s1600/Figure+5_Tulsk_Relict+Landscape+of+O'Conor+et+al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzLBTJfJbyo/Uv4q0ghZVrI/AAAAAAAABYE/9DiafqAXFvc/s1600/Figure+5_Tulsk_Relict+Landscape+of+O'Conor+et+al.jpg" height="400" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 5 - Relict Landscape of Tulsk (Courtesy of O'Conor, K. et al)</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Tower-house and Ringfort Complex</span></b></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Following
discussion<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> with Rory Sherlock, </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">an archaeologist involved in the 2009 excavation of the larger ringfort and tower-house complex (the Tulsk Earthwork)</span>, a tentat</span>ive staged plan of the excavated tower-house was drawn up
as an aide to an interpretation of the evidence. Because only the lowest
(basement) level of the tower-house survives, its reconstruction has been kept
as simple as possible based on contemporary analogues from the wider region
(including examples from northwest Co. Galway, County Sligo and east Co. Mayo).
Of the limited excavated evidence (confined to the lowest level of the
tower-house), the arched garderobe chute is shown in the well-preserved base
batter of the tower, which has rounded corners (Figure 6). A chimney and a
single turret capping a putative stairs are depicted on the tower roof.
Following Rory Sherlock’s advice, the tower is crowned with stepped battlements
in the Irish style, and rendered and whitewashed as was customary at the time
(this last interpretation has been extended to apply also to the friary
buildings).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The edge of
the older ringfort is depicted surmounted by a timber palisade to define a
contemporary bawn. It is shown rendered and whitewashed on its exterior face to
give it the appearance of a more formidable stone wall from the outside, with
the timbers cut to define simple crenellations protecting a plank wall-walk.
This was common practice on medieval timber castles<sup>6</sup> and its
depiction here is judged to be sound because this was a major O’Conor
stronghold and knowledge of and the adoption of wider West European military
building practice is evident in the construction of the tower-house itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
structures within the tower-house bawn are based on inspection of the
geophysical images of the earthwork. Once again, geophysical point-features
were used to infer post-holes and these could be readily interpreted to define
number of inter-connected, rectangular structures of different sizes aligned
approximately southwest-northeast. These have been interpreted as
timber-framed, thatched structures comprising an outer (soldiers’) hall, a
kitchen, storerooms or chambers, and covered porches and walkways connecting
them. Note, however, that even if the geophysical features are indeed post-holes
– and they may represent nothing of the sort, it is quite possible that the
structures they represent are late or post-medieval in date. The only wholly
inferred structure in this part of the reconstruction is a covered timber
stairway on the outer edge of the inner ditch (cut across the ringfort in front
of the tower-house, but not really visible in the drawing), which assumes a
typical second storey entrance into the tower-house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Based on a
comment about evidence of loose masonry at this point and a rectangular pattern
of point-features on the geophysical images of the site, a low rectangular
stone gatehouse is inferred in the south face of the bawn, though with a
south-westerly alignment. The presence of a stone tower-house suggests the
likelihood that this was indeed stone-built – indeed, it could suggest that the
bawn itself was stone walled and the face of ringwork beneath the bawn wall
revetted in stone. If there were a stone gatehouse, the stepped battlements on
the tower-house suggest that the gatehouse would have been similarly crowned.
Note, however, that the gatehouse could still have been of timber construction
and finished in the same way as the bawn palisade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qu0QOwKwDcU/Uv4qBqHGyJI/AAAAAAAABXY/BY9A5nVEMLM/s1600/Tulsk+Figure+6_Tower-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qu0QOwKwDcU/Uv4qBqHGyJI/AAAAAAAABXY/BY9A5nVEMLM/s1600/Tulsk+Figure+6_Tower-house.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 6 - Tower house at Tulsk Fort & Castleland (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Landscape Northwest, North and East of the
Tower-house</span></b></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstruction interprets geophysical images of a pair of parallel linear
features curving from the ringwork gatehouse towards the friary to represent a
road or track, and a number of shorter, subsidiary linear features (Figure 7)
to represent small enclosures or fields on either side of it (Figure 3). More
conjecturally, this area is depicted as enclosed up to an inferred remnant of
the outer embankment of the ‘early enclosure’ by a fence or palisade, often on
top of embankments. This area is taken to represent cultivated land directly
related to upkeep of the O’Conor retinue based in the castle (Figure 5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Following
much current archaeological thought, the modern townland boundaries are taken
to represent much older territorial boundaries and, as such, several of these
are depicted trailing across the reconstruction as embankments. Consequently
the Castleland townland boundary that follows the Ogulla river beyond the
tower-house and at the rear of the modern dwellings along the north side of the
main road (N5) through the village is thus interpreted as having had
significance also in the 15<sup>th</sup> century O’Conor landscape. It appears
in the reconstruction as an embankment that follows the west bank of the river
towards the northeast and runs along the northeastern edge of the medieval
village and on along the townland boundary to the northwest, where for some
distance a later, probably 17<sup>th</sup> or 18<sup>th</sup> century wall
exists today. The boundary between the townlands of Tulsk and Carrownageelaun
townlands is also shown as an embankment extending from the Dublin road (N5)
into the woods along the eastern edge of the reconstruction (Figure 1). It
should probably continue along the east side of the Roscommon road (N61) where
it runs to the southern edge of the drawing. The boundary between the Tulsk and
the Grange (and, further southwest, the Ogulla) townlands is defined south of
the Dublin-Castlebar road (N5) by the Ogulla River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
Castleland earthwork (Tulsk Castle), however much reworked in the centuries
since then, is inferred to have been a feature also of the 15<sup>th</sup>
century landscape (Figure 6). Looking at a digital terrain model and aerial
photographs of the earthwork provided by The Discovery Programme, it was
clearly some sort of circular ringfort at one time, and the reconstruction
infers that a break at the southern point of the perimeter bank marks the
entrance. Using the digital terrain model, a thatched, timber-framed
rectangular structure has been inferred on the built-up interior, where a stone
building probably stood later, depicted as a stable or barn. A stone-faced
embankment extending northeast and tangentially with the east side of the
ringfort today is tentatively inferred to exist in 1480 too, and this together
with several linear features evident just north of the ringfort on the digital
terrain model are depicted enclosing a pair of yards that extend from a low
palisade on the ringwork bank. While there is no evidence as yet for the age of
any of the features on this site, and that the stone structures are almost certainly
later than the 15<sup>th</sup> century, this interpretation is probably not
unreasonable. I have extended this interpretation to create a context for this
otherwise isolated stable or barn by enclosing the area in the angle of the
townland boundary along a somewhat irregular and therefore perhaps ancient
boundary that appears on the 1837 O.S. map (Figure 8), and enclosed it in an
embankment topped with a low palisade or fence as an area of pasture serving
the needs of the O’Conor retinue in the castle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another
question comes to mind at this point: are we seeing an ancient landscape in the
cluster of sub-circular earthworks preserved and much-reused here, a satellite
to the major sites of nearby Rathcroghan? A landscape defined by: a major
multivallate ringfort, later an early medieval ecclesiastical enclosure and
then the site of the friary; a second sizeable ringfort, later adapted as a
bawn for a tower-house, perhaps with major avenues running north and south from
it (see below); another still smaller ringfort across the river in Castleland
townland, also reused in more historical periods; and at least one ringfort,
smaller still, visible on aerial photographs half a kilometre west of the
village and about 200 metres southeast of the N5 (and included towards the
top-left of the reconstruction drawing as a derelict structure).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the
reconstruction, an interpretation has been made of the possible medieval road
pattern east of Tulsk village, one that predated the straight Roscommon-Boyle
famine-relief road (N61) that runs from a short distance south of the Tulsk
cross-roads to higher ground some 7-8 kilometres north of the cross-roads, at
either end of which it resumes a more sinuous, probably more ancient course. It
was deemed necessary to deviate from the present route because of the obvious
need for drainage in that area. One possibility is that the road might have
crossed the river into the village and then branched off the (N5)
Dublin-Castlebar road west of the village, perhaps using the country road that
takes an irregular northward route half a kilometre west of the village centre.
This route would have avoided the need to ford the many streams that spring
just east of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">However,
looking at The Discovery Programme topographical and geophysical survey results<sup>7</sup>,
there is the suggestion of a 10-metre wide embanked ‘avenue’ that runs
northwest to merge with the outer ditch of the tower-house (Figure 7, feature 8<sup>7</sup>)
and the similar feature north of the ringfort (Figure 7, feature 10<sup>7</sup>).
This may represent an ancient route-way, either interrupted by the building of
the ringfort or alternatively contemporary with the ringfort and leading into
it from south and north. The southern segment of this avenue (feature 8) can be
traced linearly into the embanked road interpreted to skirt the eastern edge of
the ‘early enclosure’. The reconstruction, therefore, extends these two
features into each other as the possible medieval precursor of the subsequently
straightened N61. Continuing northwards, the inferred road is interpreted to
skirt the eastern side of the castle ditch (protected from the low-lying,
poorly-drained ground by a low embankment) before rejoining the ancient
route-way (feature 10), then fording the river and continuing along its west
bank. This interpretation is highly speculative, but there is enough
circumstantial evidence on the ground to make it a real possibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61DC9THCikI/Uv4qyzewiFI/AAAAAAAABX4/PlqlV23UCv8/s1600/Figure+7_Tulsk_Tower-Ringfort+Digital+Model_Discovery+Report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-61DC9THCikI/Uv4qyzewiFI/AAAAAAAABX4/PlqlV23UCv8/s1600/Figure+7_Tulsk_Tower-Ringfort+Digital+Model_Discovery+Report.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 7 - Digital Model of Tulsk Ringfort and Tower house (Courtesy of Discovery Programme)</span></div>
<h1>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">The Medieval Village of Tulsk</span></b></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstructed village of Tulsk (Figure 9), which is necessarily entirely
speculative, is based on work published by archaeologist Kieran O’Conor<sup>8</sup>
and discussed with him in more detail in relation to this particular
reconstruction, and on recent research on Gaelic medieval rural landscapes in
an adjacent area of Co. Roscommon by, for example, McNeary and Shanahan<sup>9</sup>
and on comparable marginal parts of England in Cornwall<sup>10</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Many roads
come together in the reconstructed medieval village of Tulsk. One is a roadway
shown on the 1837 O.S. map (Figure 8) and later as a laneway on the 1913 O.S.
map that forms an acute angle on the south side of (N5) Dublin-Castlebar road
just west of the Ogulla Bridge road, shown with more-or-less equal status to
the other roads passing through the village. Thus, moving clockwise around the
village, depicted are: the market place narrowing to a road over a small timber
bridge crossing the Ogulla river to the southeast before continuing into the
friary and on to the Dublin road (N5) beyond; the road that goes to the
graveyard and holy well near Ogulla Bridge; the now-vanished roadway or laneway
mentioned at the start of the paragraph; and the road to Castlebar (N5).
Omitted is the road that turns off the Dublin Castlebar road at the west end of
the modern village since it is not to present on the 1913 and earlier editions
of the O.S. map.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWhp4RS1V94/Uv4q0gNMGqI/AAAAAAAABYA/EgUY2SG6n3c/s1600/Figure+8_6-inch+scale+OS+Map+of+Tulsk+1837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWhp4RS1V94/Uv4q0gNMGqI/AAAAAAAABYA/EgUY2SG6n3c/s1600/Figure+8_6-inch+scale+OS+Map+of+Tulsk+1837.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 8 - 1837 6 inch OS Map (Courtesy of OSi)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As
interpreted in the reconstruction, the main part of the medieval village of
Tulsk is limited to seven principal homesteads, with another three forming the
outlying element southeast of the friary. All of these are set in small,
irregular embanked enclosures that compare with those identified close by in
the local landscape<sup>4</sup>. In all cases a thatched house (with smoke
rising from the roof) and, attached or separate, one or more thatched
outbuildings are depicted – very much along the lines of Herring’s reconstructions
of similar settlements in Cornwall<sup>10</sup>. The thatched, round-cornered
style of the buildings is based on recent archaeological excavations<sup>8</sup>
and Bartlett’s images of a century or so after the date of this reconstruction.
The outlying sub-settlement southeast of the friary is shown in two cases with
just one house, each with a small extension, and in once case with just two
houses (perhaps for an extended family). The remainder of each house enclosure
is shown divided between various forms of subsistence farming: for vegetables,
pulses, occasionally fruit trees and livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.
I have kept the road at the centre of the village as the broad sub-triangular
space, giving it an inferred greater antiquity as a market space corresponding
more-or-less to the (later) ‘Fair Green’ indicated on the 1837 O.S. map (Figure
8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Also shown
in the reconstruction are five ‘creats’ – thatched round-houses made of wattle
and daub, continuing a Gaelic Irish building tradition that dates back to the
Bronze Age and was still practiced at the time of Bartlett’s <i>c.</i> 1600
survey<sup>8</sup>. They are shown on the outskirts of the village along the
road to Castlebar (N5) and the road to the holy well near Ogulla Bridge. Their
location is intended to suggest – perhaps naively – that they are the homes of
poorer folk, being somewhat anachronistic. They are shown unenclosed, with the
open roadside verges simply ploughed up to provide vegetable gardens for a
subsistence existence. Beside the creats along the road to the holy well, the
peasant occupiers are shown selling food and other goods to pilgrims heading
towards the holy well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
reconstruction is peopled throughout. People are walking towards or away from
the village on the Dublin road, the Roscommon road, the Boyle road (with a
train of mules) and on the lane south of the Castlebar road. Another person is
driving a cart along the road to Castlebar. Several people are meeting or
passing through the village itself, but many more – men, women and children – are
working the plots associated with their dwellings. Others are travelling, on
foot or on wagons, laden to and empty from the mill beside the millpond.
Several pilgrims are making their way out of the village towards the holy well,
some detained at the peasant stalls beside the creats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Many
village men are working in the friary inner precinct, where stubble is being
raked into heaps and burnt under the supervision of a Dominican friar (Figure
4). Perhaps these same people spent the early morning doing the same on the
large field between the tower-house and bawn and the Ogulla River, where the
fires have been left to burn out unsupervised now. A guest is walking towards
and greeting the Dominican Prior at the west end of the church while his horse
is taken by a servant to the stables associated with the guesthouse, where the
Dominican guest-master is also visible. Two older friars walk with the aid of
sticks, one toward the north entrance of the precinct (where the mounted man is
entering) and the other in the cemetery-orchard east of the friary church.
Other friary servants are working on the priory farm, at one of the two barns
and herding typical black medieval cattle into a large field at the southern
end of the friary’s outer precinct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the
outer enclosure of the tower-house castle, two people of rank (or one with his
personal servant, the other red-headed – perhaps an O’Conor prince) are walking
down the ramp from the bridge into the bawn while a servant is bringing their
horses from the stable in Castleland townland (Figure 6). Three cloaked castle
soldiers are playing dice just inside the outer gate of the castle. They are
dressed in a red livery, reflecting their master’s nickname – O’Conor <i>Roe</i>,
as are the three soldiers who trail behind their mounted master between the
bridge over the Ogulla River and the north gate into the friary’s inner
precinct Figures 4 and 6).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uq2EA_-ZzpA/Uv4rYfF1dAI/AAAAAAAABYY/fXq1YwM_VQg/s1600/Figure+9_Tulsk+Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uq2EA_-ZzpA/Uv4rYfF1dAI/AAAAAAAABYY/fXq1YwM_VQg/s1600/Figure+9_Tulsk+Village.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 9 - Tulsk Village (Courtesy of Tietzsch-Tyler)</span></div>
<h1>
<b>References</b></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>1 </sup>O’Conor K.D.,
Keegan, M and Tiernan, P., 1996. Tulsk Abbey. <i>County Roscommon Historical
and Archaeological Society Journal</i> <b>6</b>, 67-69<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>2 </sup>The Discovery
programme 2005. North Roscommon in the Later Medieval Period: An Introduction. <i>Discovery
Programme Reports</i> <b>7</b>, 85pp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>3 </sup>Brady, N.,
Connon, A., Corns, A., McNeary, R., Shanahan, B. and Shaw, R. 2005. A Survey of the Priory and Graveyard at
Tulsk, Co. Roscommon. In: North Roscommon in the Later Medieval Period: An
Introduction. <i>Discovery Programme Reports</i> <b>7</b>, 40-58.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>4 </sup>Jackman, N.
2009. Early Medieval Food-Processing Technology at Kilbegly, Co. Roscommon: The
Miller’s Tale. In: <i>Dining and Dwelling: Proceedings of a Public Seminar on
Archaeological Discoveries on National Road Schemes, August 2008</i>.
Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. <b>6</b>,
NRA, Dublin, 9-18.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>5 </sup>Doran, L. 2004.
Medieval Communication Routes Through Longford and Roscommon and their
associated Settlements. <i>Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy</i>, <b>104C</b>,
57-80.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.65pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.65pt;">
<sup>6 </sup>Culleton, E.
1999. The origin and role of the Irish National Heritage Park. In: P.G. Stone
and P.G. Planel (eds), <i>The Constructed Past: Experimental archaeology,
education and the public.</i> One World Archaeology <b>36</b>, London, 76-89<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">; </span>Higham, R. and
Barker, P. 2004. <i>Timber Castles</i>. University of Exeter Press, Exeter,
390pp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>7 </sup>Brady, N. and
Gibson, P. 2005. The Earthwork at
Tulsk, Co. Roscommon: Topographical and Geophysical Survey and Preliminary
Excavation. In: North Roscommon in the Later Medieval Period: An Introduction. <i>Discovery
Programme Reports</i> <b>7</b>, 59-75.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -5.7pt;">
<sup>8 </sup>O’Conor, K.D. 1998. <i>The Archaeology of Medieval Rural
Settlement in Ireland</i>. Discovery Programme Monograph No. <b>3</b>, Royal
Irish Academy, Dublin, 144pp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 5.65pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -5.65pt;">
<sup>9</sup> McNeary, R. and
Shanahan, B. 2008. Settlement and Enclosure in a Medieval Gaelic
Lordship: a case study from the territory of the O’Conors of North Roscommon,
Ireland. In: <i>Landmarks and Socio-economic Systems: Constructing of
Pre-industrial Landscapes and their Perception by Contemporary Societies</i>.
Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 187-197.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.65pt; text-indent: -5.65pt;">
<sup>10</sup><i> </i><span lang="EN-GB">Herring, P.
2006. Cornish Strip Fields. In: S. Turner (ed.), <i>Medieval Devon and
Cornwall: Shaping an Ancient Countryside</i>, Windgather Press, Macclesfield,
44-77; Herring, P. 2006. Medieval Fields at Brown Willy, Bodmin Moor. In <i>Medieval
Devon and Cornwall: Shaping an Ancient Countryside</i>, Windgather Press,
Macclesfield, 78-103.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><b>Acknowledgements</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following must
be thanked for their assistance during the course of the Tulsk reconstruction
drawing project. Niall Brady and Brian Shanahan of The Discovery programme; and
Kieran O’Conor and Rory Sherlock of the Department of Archaeology, National
University of Ireland, Galway for their archaeological advice. The
representation of their knowledge and ideas and any errors or misconceptions
that found their way into the reconstruction are entirely the author’s
responsibility. Thanks also to Lora O’Brien of the Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre,
Tulsk, and Seamus Conway and his colleagues in the Tulsk Action Group, who
generously provided the funding for the project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
© Daniel
Tietzsch-Tyler, January 2010<o:p></o:p></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-50818410853817490162014-02-10T13:26:00.001+00:002014-02-10T13:30:00.003+00:00School tour Oatcakes <span style="font-size: x-large;">As part of our school tour day programme the children are taught to make traditional oat cakes the original energy bar here is how we do it </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Is9k4UKY9M8/UvjS3qNmnTI/AAAAAAAABWo/FqzdYt22Er8/s1600/Oatcakes-sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Is9k4UKY9M8/UvjS3qNmnTI/AAAAAAAABWo/FqzdYt22Er8/s1600/Oatcakes-sc.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.000029563903809px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 35px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 278px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">85 g butter</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">110 g plain flour</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 teaspoon baking powder</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">225 g oats</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="name" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">cold water, to bind dough</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 25.20005226135254px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Method</h2>
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14.000029563903809px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="directionsSteps" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px 20px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Preheat the oven to 190 C / Gas 5. Grease a baking tray or line with baking parchment.</span></li>
<li class="directionsSteps" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px 20px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a large bowl rub the margarine into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the salt, baking powder and then the oats. Add enough cold water to bind the dough, but do not add so much as to make it sticky.</span></li>
<li class="directionsSteps" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px 20px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Turn the oatcake dough out onto a floured surface and roll out. Cut into discs and place on the prepared baking tray</span></li>
<li class="directionsSteps" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px 20px; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bake them or fry on hot pan on open fire until firm </span></li>
</ol>
</div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-8720196786565948112014-02-08T17:31:00.000+00:002014-02-08T17:31:31.987+00:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Adventures
in Roscommon Bogs<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"><b>There
have been some strange things found</b> in Irish bogs and the bogs of Roscommon are
no different. First we have the ordinary every-day items, for instance; In Daummin
Bog a wooden pail containing butter; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> National Museum of Ireland</span>.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWqHLPHy9aM/UvZjogjbq4I/AAAAAAAABWA/7x_ndNzd0FI/s1600/Museum+Artefacts+2008+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWqHLPHy9aM/UvZjogjbq4I/AAAAAAAABWA/7x_ndNzd0FI/s1600/Museum+Artefacts+2008+141.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; text-align: start;">And a wooden spoon was found, both were carbon dated and turned out to be Iron Age.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">In
Cappagh Bog near Sliabh Bán, a 12<sup>th</sup> century shoe was found, and strangely it was found quite close to the remains of an Iron Age Hurdle Road, perhaps an indication that this trackway was widely used for many centuries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">In a nearby bog the head of the red haired man was found in the 1930s and
in the 1940s another head of another red haired man was found in the next bog
over, the red hair would indicate how long the heads had been in the bog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"> A few years later and not far away, near
Ballyleague, a pair of shoes was found dating from the 1700s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"> In the 1950s <i>another</i> head was found in Ballindrimley Bog near Castlerea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";"> A pair of Iron Age bracelets were found in a
bog in Clooneenbane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The two female Bog Bodies of Derrymaquirk and Derrycashel, are unusual as both are formal burials and not thought to be sacrificed. Derrymaquirk Woman was buried with an infant.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">But
perhaps the most unusual was found in a Clonown, near Athlone in 1937. Several
men were cutting turf when they were attacked by a large fish-like creature that emerged from a bog pool. They said it
had the head of a cat and hissed at them. The men killed the creature in self defence and many people came out to see the body before it was dumped back into the bog.
But this was not the first time one of these creatures had been seen in the locality. Perhaps this was the mysterious Dobher Chu, or Otter King of ancient legend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Compiled by B D'Alton</span></div>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-76469165324196365592014-02-05T16:51:00.003+00:002016-02-24T15:50:12.697+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 7 - Rathmore Raised Ringfort: a window into medieval settlement at Rathcroghan<div style="text-align: justify;">
The site of <i>Rath Mór</i>, the 'Big Fort', within the complex of monuments at Rathcroghan represents a very strong connection between the ritual sites of the Iron Age landscape and settlement practices of medieval Rathcroghan. The name was first recorded by O'Donovan in 1837 as a fine example of a raised ringfort and one of the few definite high-status medieval settlement sites on the complex.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFY9W0hWR8/UvJqfPH5T3I/AAAAAAAABVU/HNteyuzRuVU/s1600/rathmore+from+the+north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFY9W0hWR8/UvJqfPH5T3I/AAAAAAAABVU/HNteyuzRuVU/s1600/rathmore+from+the+north.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">View of Rathmore raised ringfort from the north. Note the entranceway on the left. (Courtesy of the National Monuments Service)</span></div>
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As it is located adjacent to a crossroads it would have seen significant traffic during its period of habitation, which may have provided some basis in its siting. The monument itself is an oval-shaped raised ringfort with, what seems to be, a revetment of drystone walling set into the side of the mound. The ditch surrounding the mound remains up to 8.5m wide and 1.1m deep, with bedrock exposed in places. The entrance is located south east of the monument and is served by a broad, still cobbled ramp, approximately 4m wide across the ditch. The summit is served by a penannular-shaped bank measuring 27m in diameter E/W and 30.4m N/S. However, including the extents of the centre of the summit the site measures to approximately 16m N/S. The height and diameter of the monument today indicate<span style="color: red;"> </span>the impressive nature of this ringfort during it's use.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Szu-3tVt2J0/VLzx8W98TQI/AAAAAAAACKQ/mEkpNyZmxoU/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Szu-3tVt2J0/VLzx8W98TQI/AAAAAAAACKQ/mEkpNyZmxoU/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_2a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D LiDAR model of Rathmore (OSi & Kevin Barton)<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">A magnetic susceptibility survey of the monument revealed an anomaly that may represent a hearth-type feature in the centre of the summit, with possible accompanying ash. These anomalies, if proven to be created by burning, would indicate domestic or industrial activities. Its location in the centre of the site may indicate a settlement hearth. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFQTI-I_Amw/VNjWyGTD89I/AAAAAAAACNI/cSMusDcyWL0/s1600/RM_LD_MG_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFQTI-I_Amw/VNjWyGTD89I/AAAAAAAACNI/cSMusDcyWL0/s1600/RM_LD_MG_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This image shows the draping of the magnetic gradiometry survey on top of the previous LiDAR model. Note the anomaly located just off centre, with what may correspond with a structure with settlement hearth at its centre. (OSi & Kevin Barton)</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This evidence is expanded upon by a further circular anomaly that surrounds the possible hearth, which could show through excavation, to be a hall of medieval date with an entrance corresponding with the cobbled ramp.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xey8x8R-7FM/UvJqKRLXjFI/AAAAAAAABVM/2BO1gtXSiUw/s1600/Medieval-Irish-feast-Mcsweyne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xey8x8R-7FM/UvJqKRLXjFI/AAAAAAAABVM/2BO1gtXSiUw/s1600/Medieval-Irish-feast-Mcsweyne.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">16th-century feasting, from John Derricke <i>The</i> <i>Image of Irelande</i> (1581)</span></div>
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Rathmore is one of a great number of large, possibly high-status, ringforts that exist on the complex at Rathcroghan. This Bronze and Iron Age ritual landscape provides the evidence that it was later supplemented by great dwellings and settlement sites. It is through the interpretation of this evidence that something of the interactions of successive generations sought to have with Rathcroghan can begin to be understood including what they believed this landscape symbolised for their community. Daniel Curley</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rathmore can be seen in the northwestern corner of this map</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Waddell, J., Fenwick, J., Barton, K., <i>Rathcroghan: Archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape</i>, (Wordwell, 2009)</li>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-12877176597607552022014-02-03T12:05:00.002+00:002014-02-03T12:05:52.045+00:00Treacle & Ginger Bread <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is the perfect accompaniment to our </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tomato and </span><span style="font-size: large;">Red Pepper soup </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">available daily </span><span style="font-size: large;">@ <b>Rathcroghan Cafe </b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Treacle & Ginger Bread</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mlCTud8hxX4/Uu99c6Pn1fI/AAAAAAAABUw/zSpWv8mahG4/s1600/treacle+bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mlCTud8hxX4/Uu99c6Pn1fI/AAAAAAAABUw/zSpWv8mahG4/s1600/treacle+bread.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>INGREDIENTS</u></b><br />
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<b>200g Plain Flour</b><br />
<b>2 tsp Ground Ginger</b><br />
<b>2 tsp Bread Soda</b><br />
<b>400g Wholemeal Flour</b><br />
<b>Pinch of Salt</b><br />
<b>120g Butter</b><br />
<b>2 Eggs</b><br />
<b>80ml Honey</b><br />
<b>100ml Treacle</b><br />
<b>300ml Buttermilk</b><br />
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<b>1.</b> Preheat the oven to 160 C/325 F/ gas mark 3. Sieve the flour, bread soda and ground ginger in a bowl and add in the remaining dry ingredients. Stir well.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine bread-crumbs. Make a well and add the treacle, egg and the buttermilk. Combine well.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Pour into a greased one pound loaf tin. Bake for 45 minutes in a pre-heated oven, then remove the bread from the loaf tin and turn it upside down (invert the loaf). Return to the oven and cook for a<br />
further 15 to 20 minutes. (To make bread rolls, spoon the mixture into a greased 12 cup muffin or individual square tin and bake for 20 to 30 minutes). <br />
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<b>4.</b> Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. This loaf will keep fresh for four to five days and is suitable for freezing.<br />
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Enjoy from Brian & Marie @ Rathcroghan Cafe </div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-71894352157169540992014-01-27T16:31:00.003+00:002016-02-24T15:48:51.807+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 4 - The Mucklaghs: An Iron Age ceremonial procession way?<div style="text-align: justify;">
The earthen feature known as the Mucklaghs<span style="color: red;"> </span>are one of the only monument types within the complex of Rathcroghan that has no evidence of settlement or habitation. For this reason the Mucklaghs are an entirely different<span style="color: red;"> </span>phenomenon visible above ground at Rathcroghan. The name given to this site originates from the Irish for pig, <i>muc, </i>first recorded by Knox in 1914. The monument is located to the south of the complex, lying between Cashelmanannan and Oweynagat which in itself is significant. It is possible that there was very deliberate interaction between the three monuments during their period of use, suggested to be the Early medieval period by Waddell et al (2009).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RebcuA0mmuc/UuaGD2CQI5I/AAAAAAAABUM/z0V9paWTeh0/s1600/Mucklaghs+aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RebcuA0mmuc/UuaGD2CQI5I/AAAAAAAABUM/z0V9paWTeh0/s1600/Mucklaghs+aerial.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mucklaghs from the air with Caldra pool seen at the centre of the picture. (Image courtesy of G. Bracken) </span></td></tr>
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The monument consists of two pairs of earthen banks. The northern pair mesures approximately 100m in length whereas the more southerly pair measure approximately 280m in total length.<span style="color: red;"> </span>The banks of the northern 'Mucklagh' are substantially taller than those of the southern pair, reaching over 2m in places. The latter curiously terminates to the south in what Knox describes as a cattle drinking pond, recorded as Caldra pool. Through excavation of the pool it may be possible to extract a comparable date for the surrounding monuments which would further any information as to the Mucklagh's function. The use of the pool may well be associated with ceremony and ritual, a possibility that was also entertained for the pool associated with Rathnadarve.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3XGZ4myG2M/UuaGC0RJLHI/AAAAAAAABUE/cIexPxdZr-w/s1600/mucklaghs+from+the+ground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3XGZ4myG2M/UuaGC0RJLHI/AAAAAAAABUE/cIexPxdZr-w/s1600/mucklaghs+from+the+ground.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Northern Mucklagh from the ground.</span></td></tr>
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The presence of the Mucklaghs entertains the very plausible theory that major ceremonial activities would have focussed on this section of the complex. A potential<span style="color: red;"> </span>procession suggested to begin at Cashelmanannan, continuing through the Mucklaghs to Oweynagat. Such processional earthworks which connect two monuments that share folkloric associations, centring on a sacred animal in Iron Age Irish belief practices such as the pig or wild boar, could solidify this theory further. The use of the cave as a place of warrior testing, initiation or rites of passage also ties into the wider framework of this collection of sites. <span style="color: red;"> </span>The use of the the southerly Mucklagh may be furthered in its hypothetical function as a ritual procession, baring from the spiritually significant Oweynagat cave and on to Caldra pool. It could be presumed that this earthern bank was intended for sacred purposes and perhaps votive offerings at the pool.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAoh772M34Y/VL0JGzciqkI/AAAAAAAACKg/B73osRmdqzc/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_6a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAoh772M34Y/VL0JGzciqkI/AAAAAAAACKg/B73osRmdqzc/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_6a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D LiDAR model of the Mucklaghs (OSi & Kevin Barton) </td></tr>
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Medieval road evidence is fragmentary and the magnetic gradiometry surveys have shown up otherwise hidden features on the landscape around Rathcroghan Mound. However, nothing stands out on the landscape or in the imagination as much as these fabled ruttings of a magical giant wild boar. Although we are unsure of the specifics of the rituals or purpose, it is presumed that the theme at this site is centred on the spiritual. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLGuqVJUuTA/UuaHRDwFINI/AAAAAAAABUU/GQ03zH429fI/s1600/carnyx-replica-deskford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLGuqVJUuTA/UuaHRDwFINI/AAAAAAAABUU/GQ03zH429fI/s1600/carnyx-replica-deskford.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Replica of the Iron Age Deskford carnyx, Scotland, depicting the head of a wild boar.</span></td></tr>
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Comparable evidence to this type of linear earthworks can be seen with the so-called Banqueting Hall or <i>Tech Midchuarta</i> on the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath. Another more local example, comes from Black Pig's Dyke, however, its purpose seems to have been more practical and martial than ceremonial. In respects to this information it is clear to see how the Mucklaghs have provided a unique and prominent example on the complex of where people have potentially sought to explicitly link two monuments. Daniel Curley.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mucklaghs can be seen between Cashelmanannan and Oweynagat in the south-west of this map.</span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Waddell, J., Fenwick, J., & Barton, K., <i>Rathcroghan: Archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape</i>, (Wordwell, 2009)</li>
</ul>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-91695254371788284712014-01-27T12:45:00.002+00:002014-01-28T14:25:18.026+00:00Marie's Delicious Irish Scones<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;">Delicious Irish Scones<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SzaV933t4A/UuZUuF4xxJI/AAAAAAAABTs/sb8Rw0MXJUw/s1600/irish+scones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SzaV933t4A/UuZUuF4xxJI/AAAAAAAABTs/sb8Rw0MXJUw/s1600/irish+scones.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>225g/8oz Odlums Self Raising Flour Pinch Salt <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">25g/1oz
Caster Sugar (optional) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">25g/1oz
Margarine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>150ml/¼ pint Milk (approx)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For glaze Beaten egg or milk<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Method:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. Preheat oven to 210°C/425°F/Gas 7.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. Lightly dust a flat baking tray with flour.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">3. Sieve
flour and salt into a bowl, stir in sugar, if used. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">4. Rub in
margarine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5. Add sufficient milk to make soft dough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6. Turn onto a floured board and knead to
remove any cracks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">7. Roll
out lightly to 1”/3cm in thickness. Cut into scones with a cutter dipped in
flour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8. Place on the preheated baking tray, glaze
if liked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9. Bake in oven for 10 -15 mins. approx. or
until risen and golden brown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10. Cool on a wire tray<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Notes:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Make Fruit Scones: 50g/2oz of sultanas,
cherries or raisins may be added to the dry ingredients before adding the
liquid. To make wholemeal (brown) scones: Use 125g/4oz Odlums Coarse Wholemeal
and 125g/4oz Odlums Self Raising Flour following the same method as above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above quantities may be doubled if you wish<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Enjoy from
Brian & Marie @ Rathcroghan Cafe</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-72824778955603971292014-01-20T12:18:00.001+00:002017-10-10T16:13:26.150+01:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 5 - Rathnadarve: the Madison Square Gardens of Irish myth?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Ráth na dTarbh</i>, translating as 'the fort of the bulls' is one of the most interesting sites within the complex of Rathcroghan. The name was first recorded in 1837 by the now familiar John O'Donovan of the Ordnance Survey.</div>
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Rathnadarve, sketched by H.T. Knox in 1911, was described in the same publication as 'an ordinary rath which encloses an oval esker'. It measures about 115m, making it a rather large example of a ringfort. It is of univallate or single bank and ditch construction and can be seen clearly in the external ditch and internal bank running the entire circumference of the monument. The bank, where it is best preserved, averages 6m in width and 2.25m in height. The ditch averages 5m in width and 50cm in height, although the ditch would have been substantially deeper during its period of use.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE-rlp0MkJE/Ut0Ty6gc5MI/AAAAAAAABS4/Th9P5ZbjEUk/s1600/rathnadarve1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE-rlp0MkJE/Ut0Ty6gc5MI/AAAAAAAABS4/Th9P5ZbjEUk/s1600/rathnadarve1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rathnadarve (Image courtesy of M. Casey)</td></tr>
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In its present state, access to its interior is served by seven gaps in the bank, however, not all of these gaps would have represented an entrance. These breaks in the bank are from centuries of cattle grazing disturbing the monument. The most likely candidate for the entrance to the site is visible SSE of the monument, where the gap in question is 6m wide with some physical traces of a possible causeway evident. Immediately to the south of this 'entrance' is a small body of water, that has been tentatively suggested as a ritual pool.</div>
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The various geophysical techniques that have been used to analyse the monument have turned up some anomalies that suggest settlement. These include the presence of possible burning activities on the summit of the internal mound and a possible 8m structure in the north of the interior. Excavation would be required to gain a more accurate understanding of the features on the monument.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUwyelY5dtU/VL0eFHb5cBI/AAAAAAAACKw/QyJdMydIsdI/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUwyelY5dtU/VL0eFHb5cBI/AAAAAAAACKw/QyJdMydIsdI/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_4a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D LiDAR model of Rathnadarve (OSi & Kevin Barton)</td></tr>
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Aside from the archaeology, folkloric tradition locates Rathnadarve as the place where the Finnbennach and Donn Cúailnge, the two bulls at the centre of the great epic Táin Bó Cúailnge, met in mortal combat. This heavyweight bout took place at the very end of the story, a final battle after the men of Ireland had fought each other to a standstill. The tale describes them fighting night and day until eventually the Donn Cúailnge finally impaled his adversary on his horns, taking parts of the Finnbennach's carcass away with him as he headed back to his home at the foot of the Cooley Mountains.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRbvuPF5Jss/Ut0T1LzKfeI/AAAAAAAABTA/ViJHs58-MZ4/s1600/setwall-bulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oRbvuPF5Jss/Ut0T1LzKfeI/AAAAAAAABTA/ViJHs58-MZ4/s1600/setwall-bulls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desmond Kinney's mosaic of the Táin</td></tr>
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In fact, when standing on the banks that enclose the raised central space on Rathnadarve, it is not too far a stretch of imagination in order to see the two monstrous bulls of Irish myth engaged in a fight to the death. The possible ceremonial use of this monument, with raised interior, could be the perfect platform from which to address an Iron Age assembly. The 'ritual' pool would links this monument into the ceremonial and ritual use mentioned. It could be surmised that the pool was in fact a point of votive offering or 'sacrifice' into watery depths which is seen across the Celtic world as a means of appeasing the gods. Daniel Curley<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rathnadarve is located slightly to the west of centre in this map, with Rathcroghan Mound in sight close by.</span></td></tr>
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<li>Waddell, J., Fenwick, J., & Barton, K., <i>Rathcroghan: Archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape</i>, (Wordwell, 2009)</li>
<li>Green, M. J., <i>Exploring the World of the Druids</i>, (Thames & Hudson, 1997, 2010), p. 109</li>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-26935361138289057412014-01-20T10:54:00.002+00:002014-01-20T10:55:13.332+00:00Traditional Irish BoxtyBoxty<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDa2znEIhTE/Ut0AE3-fx7I/AAAAAAAABSc/qyFkBZzl_dY/s1600/boxty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_681277="null" cua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDa2znEIhTE/Ut0AE3-fx7I/AAAAAAAABSc/qyFkBZzl_dY/s1600/boxty.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ingredients </div>
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• 1 pound potatoes <br />
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• 3/4 cups flour <br />
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• 1 teaspoon baking soda </div>
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• 1/2 teaspoon salt </div>
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• 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk </div>
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• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil </div>
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Peel the potatoes. Take half the potatoes cut up and boil for about 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Mash and place in a bowl. </div>
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Meanwhile take the other half of the raw potatoes and grate on the large holes of a box grater in a bowl lined with cheesecloth. Squeeze the water from the potatoes into the bowl and let it sit for about 20 minutes, until the starch settles to the bottom. Pour off the water, reserving the starch. </div>
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Add the grated potatoes to the mashed potatoes. Then add the flour, baking soda and salt. Blend in the starch liquid and the milk. </div>
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In a large skillet, heat the oil on medium high. Add the potatoes mixture one tablespoon at a time. Don't crowd the pan. Cook in batches if necessary. </div>
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Flatten slightly with a spatula. Fry until slightly raised and browned. About 3 to 4 minutes a side. </div>
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Serve hot. Enjoy. </div>
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Brian & Marie @ Rathcroghan Cafe</div>
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<img closure_lm_681277="null" height="63" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDa2znEIhTE/Ut0AE3-fx7I/AAAAAAAABSc/qyFkBZzl_dY/s1600/boxty.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 75px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 71px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-BDa2znEIhTE%2FUt0AE3-fx7I%2FAAAAAAAABSc%2FqyFkBZzl_dY%2Fs1600%2Fboxty.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BDa2znEIhTE/Ut0AE3-fx7I/AAAAAAAABSc/qyFkBZzl_dY/s1600/boxty.jpg" -->Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-30086297218797376662014-01-13T13:51:00.003+00:002014-01-13T13:51:51.498+00:00Rathcroghan Brown Bread<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Rathcroghan Brown Bread</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Brown flour
700g<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Porridge oats
200g<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Pinhead oats
200g<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">White flour 350g <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Eggs x 5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Buttermilk <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Bread soda
x 5 tsp<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Pinch of
salt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Method <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sift all
flours into a large bowl <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Add oats
and bread soda<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Mix eggs
and buttermilk and add to bowl add enough buttermilk to moisten mixture <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Place in
greased bread tins in oven at 180 c <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">After 10
mins reduce oven temp to 160 c and cook for 30 mins <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Check if
bread is done by inserting skewer <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Remove from
tins and allow to cool on wire rack </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-36962633183659839262014-01-11T14:20:00.000+00:002014-01-13T15:59:10.847+00:00Legal Tulsk<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Legal Tulsk<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tulsk may seem a village today but it has, or had, all the prerequisites to be a town during the last four centuries. some of these are; A religious settlement (the Priory), a cross roads, a river and a bridge, a big house (now demolished), a jail or barracks, a forge, a fair green and a courthouse. The long low building next to the
current petrol station was the Courthouse for most of the 19</span><sup style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
century. Records do exist and newspapers started to print reports of
trails and convictions and some have survived in archives and local session
books.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pa9KUzX-08/UtE_Wd0Ku_I/AAAAAAAABQY/SNzyVWHYig8/s1600/petty-sessions-court-18532-300x222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pa9KUzX-08/UtE_Wd0Ku_I/AAAAAAAABQY/SNzyVWHYig8/s1600/petty-sessions-court-18532-300x222.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the agrarian disturbances of
the 19<sup>th</sup> century, Roscommon topped the table in the number of violent
acts in the cause against paying rents and tax. There were hundreds of meetings both open
and clandestine, and thousands of arrests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were even murders; for instance
James Brennan was shot to death by the Moonlighters because his brother had
gone against the rent strike and paid his rent. Many were arrested for this
crime but because no evidence could be found against them there was no
prosecution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">An arrest at Roscommon Station in 1866.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meetings were often dealt with by force by
the RIC and after the reading of the Riot Act people had only a few minutes to
disappear; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This is part of a report on a meeting that took place at Ballybeg, Tulsk.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Cattle-driving—Speech by Mr. J. Keaveney at </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Tulsk.<span style="font-size: 22pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"> 04 May 1908 vol 187 From Hansard (the English Parliamentary Record)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3788586715774742465" name="S4V0187P0_19080504_HOC_56"></a><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">CAPTAIN CRAIG;</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">"To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the speech delivered on Sunday, 19th April last, at a public meeting in Tulsk, County Roscommon, by a Mr. J. Keaveney, in the course of which he recommended the people to keep up the</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">fight wherever there was a grazier or rancher, let them make the place a small little hell for him, let the young men show fight and they would make it hot for England; whether Keaveney is a Justice of the Peace; and, if so, has the attention of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland been called to this incitement to cattle-driving; and what action, if any, the Law Officers have taken".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">(</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">Answered by Mr. Birrell.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">) "My attention has been called to a newspaper report of a speech said to have been delivered by Mr. Keaveney to the effect stated in the Question. Mr. Keaveney is a. Justice of the Peace</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;"> ex officio. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">The matter has been brought to the notice of the Lord Chancellor and is under his consideration. No other action has been taken in the case".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX2wJpGhaiQ/UtFDkXGwuOI/AAAAAAAABRA/fhyr5iaN51w/s1600/freemand+j+meeting+land+league.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX2wJpGhaiQ/UtFDkXGwuOI/AAAAAAAABRA/fhyr5iaN51w/s1600/freemand+j+meeting+land+league.png" /></a></div>
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This is a meeting dated June 8th 1914.</div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Licensing laws have always been a huge
part of Petty Sessions, the granting, the renewal, the revoking of….Here is a tale of people power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqsr0Qqmlf4/UtFDT1arP0I/AAAAAAAABQw/27LuxUSCD-Q/s1600/opening+hours.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqsr0Qqmlf4/UtFDT1arP0I/AAAAAAAABQw/27LuxUSCD-Q/s1600/opening+hours.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This report from the petty court, from the Freeman’s
Journal of January 14, 1914, shows how
easily butter became a contentious issue. The quality of the butter would
determine the price and the water content was one way for a ‘country customer’
to make the butter go further. Butter was made in almost every home in rural
areas. The churn would stand on the kitchen table and a morning set aside. The </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">standardizing</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> of the contents had been brought in over the last half of the 19</span></span><sup style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Palatino Linotype, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
century and, as it says in the piece, even though it was </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">recognized</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> no attempt
was made by the shopkeeper to defraud, he was still fined a substantial amount.
It was around 1914 that the dairy co-operatives began and the individual sale
of butter to shops started to decline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of these stories came from our fellow blogger, the </span><a href="http://tulsktatler.wordpress.com/">http://tulsktatler.wordpress.com</a> </div>
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Compiled by B. D'Alton</div>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-8523883887721360402014-01-06T11:46:00.000+00:002014-01-06T11:46:01.878+00:00Irish Stew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4uq3TyyVnU/UsqXXfAgzEI/AAAAAAAABPs/b7C51u1iXws/s1600/Irish_stew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T4uq3TyyVnU/UsqXXfAgzEI/AAAAAAAABPs/b7C51u1iXws/s1600/Irish_stew.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Serves 4-6 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1-1½
kg neck or shoulder of lamb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bouquet
of parsley, thyme and bay leaf (tied together with twine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3
large onions, finely chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Salt
and freshly ground black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
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carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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leek, chopped into bite-sized pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1
small turnip, chopped into bite-sized pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some
small new potatoes, peeled and quartered, or large potatoes, peeled and chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">75-100g
cabbage, shredded<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finely
chopped parsley and dash of Worcester Sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remove the
meat from the bone, trim off all the fat and cut into cubes. Keep the bones,
place the meat in a pot, cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil, drain
and rinse the lamb. In a fresh pot put the meat, bones, bouquet of herbs,
onions, seasoning, carrots, leeks and turnip and cover with water. Simmer
gently for one hour. Skim off the foam as it rises. (this is very important for
the final flavour and appearance of the stew.) Add the potatoes and continue
cooking for 25 minutes. For the last 5 minutes add in the cabbage. When the
meat and vegetables are cooked remove the bones and bouquet of herbs. Stir in
the chopped parsley and a dash of Worcester sauce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Serve in deep bowls with homemade
brown bread.</span></div>
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Which we will have recipe for next week</div>
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Brian & Marie @ Rathcroghan Café</div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-11801196205176443212014-01-06T11:41:00.004+00:002016-02-24T15:11:40.353+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 4 - Caran Fort: An example of medieval interaction with Bronze Age burials<div style="text-align: justify;">
Caran Fort, is recorded as <i>Rath Carrain </i>by John O'Donovan in 1848. The name, translated using comparable placename evidence countrywide, appears to refer to the curved nature of the eastern bank of the enclosure, if not the burial mound situated nearby. Interestingly, O'Donovan records in his 1837 Ordnance Survey Letters that 'Caran Fort... contained a cave'. </div>
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Caran Fort is a D-shaped enclosure with maximum external dimensions of 50m NNE/SSW and 48m WNW/ESE, with corresponding internal dimensions of 42m and 41m respectively. It is of clear ditch-and-bank construction. The banks average between 1.3m in height on the eastern side, with a width of 4m to the remaining ditch which is quite shallow containing a width of about 2m. There is no remaining evidence of the recorded cave, or souterrain, this, however, does not rule out its earlier presence.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Rh5teRHVzQ/UsqNX_DHf3I/AAAAAAAABPQ/fGZB29RqmWY/s1600/caran+fort+satellite+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Rh5teRHVzQ/UsqNX_DHf3I/AAAAAAAABPQ/fGZB29RqmWY/s1600/caran+fort+satellite+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Satellite image of Caran Fort, with associated burial mound </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">to the north. (Courtesy of Google Maps)</span></div>
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The monument, if studied in isolation, does not seem to be of great importance. However, if this sie is considered with regard to the features that exists adjacent to it, namely the Bronze Age burial mound and bullaun stone, then a theory as to the possible function of the site becomes visible. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As with many of the site in the complex, Caran Fort seems to have provided some sort of ritual or ceremonial function. If the monument was at some point associated with a souterrain then it provides us with a certain amount of knowledge regarding its period of use, namely the first millenium AD. The bullaun stone, in this case a specimen of coarse-grained sandstone with a single carved hollow, has folkloric significance surrounding the use of any collected water in such stones for the purpose of healing. The origins of this tradition seem to disappear into prehistory eventhough their use continues well into the Christian period. It has also been suggested that the Bronze Age burial mound to the north of Caran Fort, in its location, mirrors the position of Dáithí's Mound on the south slope of Rathcroghan Mound. If this sort of dualism was deliberate, it provides an interesting note as to the way in which later interactions with the complex may have been organised. It, therefore, could be plausible that structures were constructed with specific thought given to the complex as a whole and each monument's place within. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Daniel Curley</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVYPTbdid0w/UsqS22VM09I/AAAAAAAABPg/CKU0VpttsvM/s1600/rathcroghan+map+caranfort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVYPTbdid0w/UsqS22VM09I/AAAAAAAABPg/CKU0VpttsvM/s1600/rathcroghan+map+caranfort.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">On this edited map, Caran Fort is marked with the black dot in the extreme north of the complex</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Waddell, J., Fenwick, J., & Barton, K., <i>Rathcroghan: Archaeological and geophysical survey in a ritual landscape</i>, (Wordwell, 2009)</li>
<li>Hind, J. et al, 'The Rathcroghan Archaeological Complex Conservation Study' for Dept. of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, July 2007</li>
</ul>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-6484152267002580402014-01-02T11:14:00.001+00:002014-01-02T11:14:55.065+00:00Game Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahGf_tPc2X0/UsVKByn_W9I/AAAAAAAABPA/-EepHeP2GMg/s1600/gamepie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahGf_tPc2X0/UsVKByn_W9I/AAAAAAAABPA/-EepHeP2GMg/s400/gamepie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 19.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; tab-stops: 107.25pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 19.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; tab-stops: 107.25pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Want to eat
like a medieval lord? With the hunting season in full swing, here is a great
recipe for traditional game pie which can also be topped with mash potatoes for
a real hearty warm winter meal.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">675g mixed </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/game"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">game</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> meat such as
pheasant, woodcock, snipe, rabbit, partridge<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">2 tbsp </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/sunflower_oil"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sunflower
oil</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">2 </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/red_onion"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">red
onions</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, peeled and sliced<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">120g smoked streaky </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/bacon"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bacon</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, derinded and chopped<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">120g </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/chestnut_mushroom"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chestnut
mushrooms</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, cleaned and sliced<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">1 clove </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/garlic"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">garlic</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, peeled and crushed<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">30g </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/plain_flour"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">plain
flour</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">1 </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/bay_leaf"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bay
leaf</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">1 </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/orange"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">orange</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, zest and juice<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">1 tbsp </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/redcurrant_jelly"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">redcurrant
jelly</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">300ml/½ pint </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/chicken_stock"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chicken
stock</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">300ml/½ pint </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/red_wine"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">red
wine</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">340g </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/puff_pastry"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">puff
pastry</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Salt and </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/pepper"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">pepper</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">beaten </span></b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/egg"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">egg</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, for glazing<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Preparation
method<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Heat a tablespoon of
the oil and brown the game in batches until well browned. Keep on one
side.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Heat the rest of the
oil and cook the onions for five minutes until starting to soften. Add the
garlic, bacon and mushrooms and cook for another 2-3 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Stir in the flour and
cook for two minutes. Season well and stir in the bay leaf, orange zest
and juice, redcurrant jelly, stock and wine. <o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Bring to the boil, add
the meat and simmer gently for 40-50 minutes until the meat is tender.
Cool.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Heat the oven to
200C/400F/Gas 6.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Put the meat mixture
in a pie dish. Roll out the pastry to make a lid and attach to the dish.
Decorate with the pastry trimmings and cut a steam hole in the centre.
Glaze with beaten egg.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Bake for 20 minutes
and then reduce the heat to 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 30 minutes until the
pastry is golden and risen and the filling is piping hot.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Enjoy with nice glass
of red wine!!!!<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Brian and Marie at the Rathcroghan Café<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-88380156544153161542013-12-24T04:12:00.000+00:002014-01-15T17:24:34.535+00:00Christmas Eve<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Christmas
Eve<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Noigh na
Nollaig<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">24<sup>th</sup> December<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">1.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 6pt;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">You should try
to finish work by midday and get home before night-fall. Try to return to the
homeplace on Christmas Eve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">2.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Gaeilge 1"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">D</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">uring
medieval times, the decorated log was ceremoniously carried into the home on
Christmas Eve in a remembrance of the pine logs used in the sacred fires, and
placed in the fireplace. Traditionally this was lit with the saved stump of
last year's log, and then it was burnt over the twelve days of the winter
celebration, and its ashes were kept until the following year to sprinkle on
the new log, so that the fortune would be passed on from year to year.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">3.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus;">Some observe
Christmas Eve as a fast day. (</span><i><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus;">Three Lents were kept – from Ash Wednesday to Easter, after Easter for
60 days up to Pentecost or Whitsun, and from Martinmas in November to Christmas,
in remembrance of the fasts of Christ, Moses, and Elijah.)<b> </b> </span></i><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus;">If</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus;"> you do eat, perhaps it should be fish with
white sauce and potatoes. End your fast after candles are lit at 6 o’clock and
the Angelus Bell is rung, although </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the holiday has
usually began with the appearance of the first star of Christmas Eve.</span><i><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">4.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Start
last preparations for the most elaborate dinner of the year, Christmas Dinner.
Traditionally stuffed Goose was the most common dish. Oysters were also very
popular. Boiled Ox head was the favourite dish in Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan and
other places in the north. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">5.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">In Leinster and
Munster the wealthy prepared many dishes, chicken or goose, also bacon and
mutton, cakes, puddings, and pies in preparation</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">6.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Some puddings
were made on Christmas Eve for final cooking on Christmas Day.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">In County Wexford they made Cutlin pudding – a
porridge of wheaten meal, sugar, dried fruits and spices, made into a ball as
big as a football and wrapped up in muslin for boiling. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">7.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">In Donegal they
make a Christmas pie in the shape of a manger decorated with strips of pastry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">8.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Place large
candles into sconces made from a turnip or ‘piggin’ filled with bran or flour.
One for each of the adults in the house. Little coloured candles should be set
up for the children of the house. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">9.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Holly, ivy and
mistletoe are an important part of decorating the Irish house at Christmas.
Holly wreaths and bunches of mistletoe hanging from the doorway are ancient
traditions. Mistletoe is such a powerful symbol that two enemies meeting under
a branch must call a truce until the Christmas period. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Decorate
all candles with holly and ivy.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">One big candle, the Coinneal Mór na Nollaig,
is prominently displayed, usually in a window.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">10.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Light
all Christmas candles with a prayer. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
candle in the window also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass
as, during Penal Times, this was illegal and the penalties severe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">11.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 10pt;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Light three
candles or a three branched candle in honour of the Holy Family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KKlrVhKb7PM/UrkIrMgQGGI/AAAAAAAABOI/0VqqE1RQNC4/s1600/a33c46031a8fa4d27b810371ebb8e13a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KKlrVhKb7PM/UrkIrMgQGGI/AAAAAAAABOI/0VqqE1RQNC4/s200/a33c46031a8fa4d27b810371ebb8e13a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">12.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Have the youngest person light the principal </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">candle</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> because an old Irish
tradition is ‘they will live the longest and send the custom furthest’.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Have a candle in every window.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Leave
a candle for each of the family who has died since
last Christmas to welcome them in. Candles are lighted to show the way to
Joseph and Mary. Take the children to a high place to show them all the candles
in the surrounding houses</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;">.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">13.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">If the principal candle goes out for some reason it is a bad omen,
possibly of the death of the head of the household during the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">14.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">In some parts of
Connacht a big ceremonial dinner is prepared for this evening. Pork or bacon
from the pig slaughtered at Martinmas or Mutton with potatoes and turnips</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;">.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">15.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">After dinner gather the family around the
fire. Cut the Christmas cake and make tea, brandy punch and other festive
drinks. Give sweets and apples to the children</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">, an apple as part of the evening meal would give protection against bad
health during the coming year.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">16.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Sing
carols.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Saint Francis of Assisi is again credited with bringing in a Christmas
tradition by introducing carols into the formal</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">worship
of the church during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in Greccio, in the
province of Umbria in 1223. The Wexford or Enniscorthy Carol is the oldest in
Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">17.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Leave doors
unlocked on Christmas Eve for travellers </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">returning late
or</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">those lost with no place to go. </span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Leave the table set for three people; the Holy Family.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">18.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Put on a good
fire before going to bed and let candles burn all night, extinguishing them
just before the first mass. This could now be the lights on the tree?</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">19.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Put bread made with caraway seeds and raisins on the table, along with
some milk, in preparation for Christmas visitors. Possibly the origin of
leaving sherry and mince pies out for Santa?</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">20</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Gaeilge 1"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">Cold
weather with frost or snow will indicate a mild spring with absence of illness.
There is an old Irish saying, ‘A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">21.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">When it snowed on Christmas Eve, it was thought geese were being plucked
in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">22</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">No prayer will
be unanswered on Christmas Eve and if you die on Christmas Eve you will go
right into heaven.</span><i><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">23.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">At midnight leave the cows and other animals alone to kneel in adoration
of the Christ Child. Animals are given the power of speech at this time but
will not often use it in front of humans; if you do hear them speak it is often
a bad prediction for your future that you hear… Feed the animals a Christmas
treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">24.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">A new moon on Christmas Eve is thought to be
very lucky as was a </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">starry sky, this would bring
a good summer harvest</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">25.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt;">The cock will crow on unusual times -to hear him crow at midnight will be
a good omen.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">2</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">6.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Gaeilge 1"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">There is a belief that</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Gaeilge 1"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Bees
woke from their hibernation at Christmas to hum a psalm 100 to the new born
babe. As with the animals talking, the bees do not like to let humans hear
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">2</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Harrington; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">7.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">There are other superstitions associated with
Christmas Eve, pairs of shoes should not be separated in order to keep the
peace and more seriously, death could be foretold by the shape of a shadow at
the fireside; a headless shadow was a portent of death.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Compiled by B. D'Alton</div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Celtic; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-26729130583242292982013-12-23T11:36:00.002+00:002013-12-23T11:36:33.481+00:00Rathcroghan Christmas Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUme67nM8k8/UrggI0PmOwI/AAAAAAAABNw/4i7bWbW6Z9I/s1600/xmas+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KUme67nM8k8/UrggI0PmOwI/AAAAAAAABNw/4i7bWbW6Z9I/s320/xmas+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ingredients:<br />
175g butter chopped<br />
200g Dark muscovado sugar<br />
750g luxury mixed fruit<br />
1 orange finely grated and juiced<br />
1 lemon finely grated<br />
Cherry brandy 125 ml plus extra for topping up<br />
3 large eggs<br />
200g plain flour<br />
½ tsp. baking powder<br />
1 tsp. ground spice, cinnamon, all spice<br />
<br />
Method:<br />
1 – Put butter, sugar, fruit, zests, juice, and 125 ml brandy in large pan and bring slowly to boil, stirring until all the butter has melted. Reduce heat and allow to bubble for 10 mins stirring occasionally.<br />
2 – Remove pan from heat and leave to cool for 30 mins.<br />
3 – Preheat the oven to 150 c and double line your cake tin.<br />
4 – Stir the eggs into the fruit mixture and mix well, sift in flour and baking powder + spices into pan, stir gently until there are no traces of flour left.<br />
5 – Spoon the mixture into tin and smooth down evenly ( tip : use metal spoon dipped in boiling water )<br />
6 – Bake for 45 mins, then turn down heat to 140 c and cook for 1.5 – 2 hrs . Until cake is dark golden in appearance and firm to touch. Check with skewer if comes out clean cake is done.<br />
7 – Make some holes with skewer and add extra brandy to cake, leave to cool in tin 8 – When cold wrap in foil for storage Cake will keep for 3 months or 6 when frozen<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas from all At Rathcroghan Café Brian & MarieCruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-79300941989035777052013-12-19T16:26:00.001+00:002014-01-15T17:25:03.206+00:00Winter Solstice<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winter Solstice</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Grianstad an Gheimhridh</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>The Winter Solstice</b></span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is the
time of year when we experience our shortest day and longest night - the sun is
at its lowest point in the sky at noon and midnight is the darkest point of the
year. It is known as </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Yule in many parts of Europe, this derives from the
Norse word <i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">jól</span></i>, referring to the Winter Solstice
festival. Ancient people celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and the days becoming
longer and lighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Ireland</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the ancient traditions of the land at the Winter
Solstice had been celebrated here since Neolithic times. Ancient farmers had to
have knowledge of the changing seasons and the turning of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bru na Boinne</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in Co. Meath is the
sacred mid-winter site. The sun rises on the five mid-winter days and shines,
in turn, into each of the mounds at different times during the day; starting
with the main mound at Newgrange where the first light strikes the stone with
five spirals at the end of the passage, and ends at Dowth, ‘Darkness’, as the
last rays fade at sunset. It is a very ancient and powerful ritual of Sun
worship</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span><img height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E5EV9XWs6eg/T2Zl9fpa29I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/8XJqEiOUL2o/s200/1+Newgrange-inside.jpg" width="168" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> In</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the ancient tradition </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">the
Goddess</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> Tailltiu, </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">as Mother, gave birth to Lugh, the Sun God, at the Winter Solstice.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> At this time our ancestors celebrated the expulsion of evil winter
spirits. It was considered a mysterious and powerful time, for it is at this
point the sun begins to make the return journey across our skies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> the longest night of the year the
sun is seen as growing stronger and the return of the warmer season is
anticipated, the concept of rebirth became strongly associated with the Winter
Solstice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">five days around the Solstice our ancestors celebrated the return
of light and the sun growing in strength. The well-known figure of Father
Christmas may have derived from this Sun God worship including Lugh, the
ancient Irish Sun God, who travels across the sky at this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Solstice was celebrated with
bonfires to stimulate the ascent of the sun, and lamps or candles illuminating
houses decorated with evergreens to simulate summer. It is a time to look on
the past year's achievements. The days will now grow longer up to the </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">summer
solstice.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and promise of a spring and
summer by the returning sun. A Yule or Juul Log was brought into the house and
burned on the hearth in honour of the Scandinavian God Thor. In Scandinavia a
piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the
following year’s log. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Traditionally</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> in England, Germany, France and other European
countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes
were then collected and either used on the fields as fertilizer, being
scattered every night until Twelfth Night, or kept as a charm and or to use in
medicine. In France, people believed that if the ashes were kept under the bed,
they would protect the house against thunder and lightning. The Yule Log came to Ireland with the Vikings and has been taken up as the </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Bogdeal, the "bloc na Greihbain”.</span><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pine tree is related to this Solstice
as it is with mid-summer. Its bright
light and invigorating scent when burned were thought to have a purifying
effect and protect against evil spirits when used on ceremonial bonfires. It is
connected to birth and brightness, perhaps because of its evergreen properties
and resinous burning abilities. Its
thinner branches can be used a torches and give a bright clear light. <span style="color: #c00000;"> </span>Bog pine is
especially prized for the Bloc Nollaig or Yule log. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/128782/thumbs/s-YULE-LOG-large.jpg" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">D</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">uring</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
medieval times, the decorated log was ceremoniously carried into the home on
Christmas Eve in a remembrance of the pine logs used in the sacred fires, and
placed in the fireplace. Traditionally this was lit with the saved stump of
last year's log, and then it was burnt over the twelve days of the winter
celebration, and its ashes and stump were kept until the following year to
sprinkle on the new log, so that the fortune would be passed on from year to
year.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b><span style="color: #c00000;">In</span></b>
France and Germany ashes from the Yule log were mixed with the cattle feed to
ensure their health and in other regions the ash was sprinkled around fruit
trees to increase their yield of fruit.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Another</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Solstice tradition among the druids was the
cutting of the mistletoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Druids considered the mistletoe‘s poisonous pearly
white berries to be drops of the Oak God's semen, much as the red holly berries
were drops of the life-giving lunar blood of the Goddess Hel (Holle). Thus the
mistletoe acquired fertility significance. Druids 'castrated' the old oak god by
cutting the mistletoe with a golden sickle, and catching it in a white cloth
before it could touch the ground, thus letting the new young king take the throne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">An Cailleach Bheur</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">, The Winter Hag, is also a symbol of this
season. The Cailleach displays several traits befitting the personification of
Winter: she herds deer, she fights off Spring, and her staff freezes the
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Together with the
goddess Brìgid, the Cailleach is seen as a deity ruling the winter months between
Samhainn (1 November or first day of winter) and Bealltainn (1 May or first day
of summer), while Brìgid rules the summer months between Bealltainn and
Samhainn. Some have the Cailleach and Brìgid as two faces of the same goddess,
while others describe the Cailleach as turning to stone on Bealltainn and
reverting to her own form on Samhainn in time to rule over the winter months.
Depending on local climate, the transfer of power between the winter goddess
and the summer goddess is celebrated any time between Là Fhèill Brìghde (1February)
at the earliest, Latha na Cailliche (25 March or Lady Day), or Bealltainn (1
May) at the latest, and the local festivals marking the arrival of the first
signs of spring may be named after either the Cailleach or Brìgid.</span><span lang="EN-IE"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Là
Fhèill Brìghde is also the day the Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest
of the winter.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <b>Legend</b> </span>has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good
while longer, she will make sure the weather on 1 February is bright and sunny,
so she can gather plenty of firewood to keep herself warm in the coming months.
As a result, people are generally relieved if Là Fhèill Brìghde is a day of
foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep, will soon run out of
firewood, and therefore winter is almost over. On the Isle of Man, where She is
known as Caillagh ny Groamagh, the Cailleach is said to have been seen on St.
Brigid's Day in the form of a gigantic bird, carrying sticks in her beak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">In Scotland</span></b>, the
Cailleachan (lit. 'old women') are also known as The Storm Hags, and seen as
personifications of the elemental powers of nature, especially in a destructive
aspect. They are said to be particularly active in raising the windstorms of
spring, during the period known as A' Chailleach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meán Geimhridh</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> (Mid-Winter)</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 40px;">or</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 40px;">Winter Solstice </span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #006600; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Customs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> 21<sup>st</sup> December-24<sup>th</sup>
December<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Gaeilge 1"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">1.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Children survey the countryside for holly,
ivy, bay and other evergreens for cutting.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Holly with berries is especially prized. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">2.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winter
Solstice wreaths</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> were traditionally made
of evergreens and holly and ivy. Holly represents the female and ivy the male
and the wreath's circle symbolizes the wheel of the year. Both holly and ivy
were used as protection in the home against bad spirits</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #632423;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632423; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">3.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Obtain a special log of wood for the festive fire - Bogdeal, the
"bloc na Greihbain”.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">4.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Before the festival clean house and farmyard thoroughly.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Clean
outbuildings and yard entrances, passageways and surroundings. White-wash all
buildings inside and out. Sweep, wash and clean the house. Do major laundering-
include everything<b>. </b>Clean tables and chairs. Clean pots and pans. </span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">5.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Make or buy Poítin. Make sure you have at least a quart available.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">6.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Lay in a good supply of fuel for heating.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">7.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Clean the Chimney using a prickly bush pulled up and down, do not use
holly for this, that would be an insult to the Spirits who inhabit it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">8.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Cut
coloured paper scraps into adornments, such as sun, moon and stars, or use
needle and thread to stitch loose pieces of holly onto linen in patterns or
seasonal mottoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">9.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Where
mistletoe is found you can decorate with it, hang it in a place where people
pass, traditionally the girl kissed under it receives a gift from the boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">10.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leave a bowl
of water out to be blessed by those travelling on such a night, this water will be used for cures.</span><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">11.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Decorate byre and stable with evergreens and provide a special lantern
there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">12.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Place a
small wreath of holly, yew or other evergreens on family graves especially on the
grave of one who has died during the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">13.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Children tie
sprigs of holly on cow's horns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">14.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Remind
children that a faerie stands on every spike of holly leaf this night and all
nights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">15.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Make
Ivy garlands. Whiten ivy berries with whiting or starch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #c00000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">16.</span></b><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #2d0000; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> Light
the large candle with prayers and incantations for a peaceful winter and a plentiful summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE"> </span><img height="200" src="http://www.johnstowngardencentre.ie/v4/e6e8b69d-80f2-4fba-807c-6fddc451dc03/images/product_images/holly_hedge-600_600.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> Compiled by B D'Alton</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-58559473234445549402013-12-16T13:41:00.001+00:002020-06-16T14:36:10.494+01:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 6 - Relignaree: The burial place of kings, or a high-status residence?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Relignaree has been described as large univallate circular enclosure with an internal diameter of 100m from bank to bank. The majority of the enclosure is not presently served by an external ditch except for a section which does remain <i>insitu</i> north-west of the monument, measuring 6m wide and 50cm deep. It is accepted that the later use of the land for farming has eroded such features. There are a number of breaks distributed throughout the enclosure banks which may possibly be the result of cattle grazing.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNCbPZlBjHQ/VL1GSxc7fMI/AAAAAAAACLQ/PsUnQXZsa_w/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNCbPZlBjHQ/VL1GSxc7fMI/AAAAAAAACLQ/PsUnQXZsa_w/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_7a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">3D LiDAR model of Relignaree (Image courtesy of OSi & Kevin Barton)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Placename evidence is a value source to be able to inspect when conducting archaeological research, however, it not always a completely reliable source from which to gain information about a monument or area. Unfortunately, Relignaree is an example of this. <i>Reilig na Rí</i>, the graveyard or burial-place of kings, was another of the placenames thought to be have been recorded in the 18th-century which appears to provide a role for the monument that is very different from the evidence. It is interesting to reiterate the description of Cruachan as being one of the three Heathen cemeteries of Ireland and an important place of burial and funerary practices in the Iron Age period. Through reinterpretation, the erroneous placename evidence of Relignaree in a wider context may potentially find its origins in a local folkloric remembrance of some human interactions with the wider complex in times gone by. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk_oFWrrj7M/VOtKHaaseNI/AAAAAAAACOs/p0G6DBPOV_c/s1600/relig_mag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk_oFWrrj7M/VOtKHaaseNI/AAAAAAAACOs/p0G6DBPOV_c/s1600/relig_mag.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
above magnetic gradiometry image highlights the now invisible complexity
of Relignaree, with a number of concentric rings indicating the
possibility of a long and protracted interaction with the monument
(Image courtesy of Brian Shanahan & The Discovery Programme)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A later field system runs across the entire site, physically dividing the enclosure into four unequal quarters. This feature has been theorised to represent the four provinces of the island but this is a more sensational claim given the timeline and known use of the site. Within the enclosure there are traces of a smaller concentric enclosure, with a bank that reaches between 50 and 100cm in places. It is also possible to trace three rectangular houses and a souterrain on the site, further evidence of the monument's use for settlement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22rJaXkxx0o/Uq8Atrmn8GI/AAAAAAAABNM/nGOwXmUW1Dw/s400/relignaree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22rJaXkxx0o/Uq8Atrmn8GI/AAAAAAAABNM/nGOwXmUW1Dw/s400/relignaree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Aerial photograph of Relignaree, showing the later field boundaries, concentric circular enclosure, and habitation evidence </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">The information stated above is clearly contradictory in regards to the site name which suggests funerary and burial purposes. This is further challenged by the excavations at Relignaree in 1911 which provided no physical evidence of human interment. However, this does not diminish the importance of the monument within the complex. The size of the site and associated souterrain implies its main period of use, namely in the 1st millenium AD, but informs us of Relignaree's high-status as a ringfort site. In total the site includes the remains of five house-type structures situated in and around the monument and the presence of a smaller ringfort with associated souterrain 100m to the south-west of Relignaree. The size and complexity of Relignaree may act as further evidence to suggest this site as one of importance and substantial settlement in the early Historical period. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Daniel Curley.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Relignaree can be seen in the south of this map, relatively centrally.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Waddell, J., "Rathcroghan - A Royal Site in Connacht", in <i>The Journal of Irish Archaeology 1, 1983</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Herity, M., <i>Rathcroghan and Carnfree: Celtic Royal Sites in Roscommon</i>, (Na Clocha Breaca, Dublin: 1988)</span></li>
</ul>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-22rJaXkxx0o%2FUq8Atrmn8GI%2FAAAAAAAABNM%2FnGOwXmUW1Dw%2Fs400%2Frelignaree.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22rJaXkxx0o/Uq8Atrmn8GI/AAAAAAAABNM/nGOwXmUW1Dw/s400/relignaree.jpg" -->Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-57198469668437776562013-12-09T14:46:00.003+00:002016-02-24T15:00:27.199+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 2 - Cashelmanannan: a monument with a complex story to tell<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.90625px;">For the second post in our Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight series, I will focus on the enigmatic site of Cashelmanannan. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.90625px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.90625px;">The stone ringfort site at Cashelmanannan - <i>Caiseal Mhanannán</i> (literally "Manannán's Fort") is a feature of our complex that has a very complicated story. Its name was first recorded by John O'Donovan in 1837. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.90625px;">To focus firstly on the place name, Manannán refers to Manannán mac Lir, a deity in Irish mythology that is associated with the sea. That in itself would provide us with a problem. However, the stories mentioning Manannán also give him a role as guide to the Otherworld, which, given the location of the monument in relation to our entrance to the Otherworld at Oweynagat (880 metres apart), goes some way to explaining its choice. Before theorising on the site's use, however, we will describe it's archaeology.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.90625px;">As it exists presently, Cashelmanannan is a trivallate stone fort, with only the foundations of the stone walls still visible, existing to a maximum height of approximately 50cm. The average width of these concentric walls, however, is 1.5m, implying that it would have been a very well-defended site during its period of use. The diameter of the inner enclosure is 40m, with the overall dimensions of the main enclosure being 57m north/south by 63m east/west. Attached to the main enclosure are two 'annexes', located to the north and east. Both are defined by a single bank. These have been variously described as small fields or agricultural enclosures in the literature, although their precise function can only be ascertained with excavation.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4o47H7pxc0/UqHcDfgCcoI/AAAAAAAABMc/P6nkipAf0m0/s1600/Cashelmanannan+from+the+west.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4o47H7pxc0/UqHcDfgCcoI/AAAAAAAABMc/P6nkipAf0m0/s400/Cashelmanannan+from+the+west.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aerial
photograph of Cashelmanannan from the west (After Waddell et al. 2009,
fig 6.7). Note the two 'annexes' attached to the main enclosure.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So to the theories as to the function of Cashelmanannan. The traditional view associates the site with the conversion of two daughters of King Laoghaire of Tara, Eithne and Fidelma by St. Patrick. It is said that the two princesses were being educated at a druidic school, believed to be Cashelmanannan, and that Patrick baptised them at the nearby Ogulla Well, after which they died. The association of the site with the deity Manannán, evident in the place name, could help strengthen the case for this site being affiliated with druids. Its placement in relation to both the Mucklaghs and Oweynagat would further strengthen these links, if we interpret the feature in the middle being used as a ceremonial path- or procession way between both monuments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An alternate view of the role and function of Cashelmanannan, however, can be seen in its construction. The fact that it is was a stone-built feature, with three concentric walls 1.5m wide, implies a very defensive role for the site. It is also the only stone-built monument on the complex. If we believe the evidence from medieval literature describing the 'royal residence' of Rathcroghan as a stone structure, there is a possibility that Cashelmanannan could have been less of a druid's school, and more of a residence for high-status individuals in the first millenium AD. A geophysical survey conducted on the site in 2010 uncovered anomalies usually associated with domestic and industrial activities,(Waddell et al, 2012) something which would make sense in a settlement context.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But what of the Mucklaghs? A reinterpretation of Cashelmanannan wouldn't necessarily disregard the importance of the linear earthworks known as the Mucklaghs. With Oweynagat being associated with warrior initiation ceremonies, the placement of the royal residence at the beginning of this ceremony would allow the Mucklaghs to retain its vital function linking the two monuments. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Food for thought, perhaps...</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Daniel Curley</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD8kpu3-nEw/UqXWitruaZI/AAAAAAAABMs/YMl4NeU5FD0/s1600/rathcroghan+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD8kpu3-nEw/UqXWitruaZI/AAAAAAAABMs/YMl4NeU5FD0/s320/rathcroghan+map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Cashelmanannan is located in the south-west corner of the map</i></span></td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Waddell, J., Schot, R., Fenwick, J., "The Connacht Project: Geophysical Survey at Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon, 2012", (October, 2012)</span></li>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-84177681105790336692013-12-03T16:33:00.000+00:002016-02-24T15:08:11.104+00:00Rathcroghan Monuments Spotlight No. 3 - Rathbeg: An exemplar of the Bronze Age ring-barrow<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rathbeg or <i>An Ráth Beag</i>, the Small Fort, provide a confused notion as to the function of this monument. The name was first recorded in the late 19th-century by the Irish language scholar John O'Donovan as part of the O<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">rdna</span>nce Survey of Ireland.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XpqgHJs4L4/Up3vMznAcLI/AAAAAAAABME/0rQOR6CCk1g/s1600/rathbeg+-+roadside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XpqgHJs4L4/Up3vMznAcLI/AAAAAAAABME/0rQOR6CCk1g/s400/rathbeg+-+roadside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rathbeg from the roadside (Image courtesy of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre)</i></td></tr>
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Despite the name denoting a place of residence, <i>Rath </i>translating to Fort, the site has been identified as a ring-barrow. It is located approximately 540 metres North West of Rathcroghan Mound. The monument is situated on a high knoll on the South West end of a small ridge. The monument composes a small central cairn which is surrounded by a pair of concentric banks with inner ditches cut on the perimeter of the knoll. The placement of the ditches inside the banks suggests the possibility of this monument not having an overly defensive function. The inversion of this system on monuments is sometimes suggested to indicate ritual or ceremonial activity. The overall diameter of the feature is approximately 36 metres.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PfbblRb9eIU/VL5nLxK7HxI/AAAAAAAACLs/5vLCs9P-mJQ/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PfbblRb9eIU/VL5nLxK7HxI/AAAAAAAACLs/5vLCs9P-mJQ/s1600/Barton_Curley_Hanlon_Image_3a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3D LiDAR model of Rathbeg (Image courtesy of OSi & Kevin Barton)</span></td></tr>
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A barrow, or tumulus, is almost exclusively associated with single or multiple burials. There are a wide range of different types of barrows whose names usually derive from their individual shape. Such monuments tend to originate in the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Ireland. There is plenty of evidence for later interactions and reinterpretations by successive generations which has, in turn, preserved their ritual importance but oftentimes changing the original role. This can be seen through the reuse of such monuments at the sites of Tara, Navan Fort and our own Rathcroghan.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5nN-7aMkxQ/VNjY3atHXFI/AAAAAAAACNU/C253qY3JyIo/s1600/Rathbeg_3D_Topo_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5nN-7aMkxQ/VNjY3atHXFI/AAAAAAAACNU/C253qY3JyIo/s1600/Rathbeg_3D_Topo_06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rathbeg: combination model of annotated shaded relief model draped over a 3D LiDAR model in the previous image</span></td></tr>
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The literature concerned with Cruachan presents a context for a number of the archaeological features on the complex. Burial mounds and tumuli, such as Rathbeg, legitimise recorded references to Cruachan. This pertains to the description of the site as one of the three Heathen Cemeteries of Ireland by Christian scribes in the 12th-century manuscript <i>Lebor na hUidre </i>or The Book of the Dun Cow.</div>
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There appears to be a certain correlation between the positions of the mounds of Rathbeg and Rathcroghan. Observations at the summit of either will grant clear, unobstructed views to the other. Therefore, Rathbeg's location lends itself to many theories regarding its ritual purpose and status of the presumed corpses deposited at the mound. Although these questions can only be answered through excavation, there is a tantalising possibility that a member or members of the Iron Age <i>Aos Dána</i> or high-status warrior caste could be interred <i>in situ</i>. Its central proximity in relation to both Rathmore and Rathnadarve may also suggest the feasibility of interaction between these features in some ritual or ceremonial capacity. Daniel Curley<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5x-_EwSxAFQ/VNjOX9rxXtI/AAAAAAAACM0/Rux8fFatXgM/s1600/rathcroghan%2Bmap%2Bedit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rathbeg can be seen to the south of the N5</span></td></tr>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-62197540042926051152013-12-02T16:46:00.000+00:002013-12-02T16:46:10.910+00:00Queen Medb of Rathcroghan<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Article contributed by Catriona Kelly, TY Student</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MaPdw12mmI/Upy3koif7tI/AAAAAAAABLk/15_G24QRAWM/s1600/medb-of-connacht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MaPdw12mmI/Upy3koif7tI/AAAAAAAABLk/15_G24QRAWM/s400/medb-of-connacht.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Medb of Rathcroghan</td></tr>
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Queen Medb (Maeve), Celtic warrior and daughter of the high king of Ireland, Eochaid Feidlech. Famous as the leading heroine in the story of the Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), and one of Ireland's most popular attributes in mythological tales. Having received the province of Connacht as a gift from her father, no king could rule there unless they married the Queen Maeve. Maeve had many husbands, each marriage with a tale of its own. A woman of great power and desire. Queen Maeve lived an interesting and fascinating life.</div>
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Maeve’s father first married her to Conchobar Mac Nessa, king of Ulster because he had supposedly killed Conchobar's father in battle. She had one son, Glaisne however the marriage did not last and she left him. Instead Maeve’s sister, Eithne married Conchobar. In rage, Maeve murdered her own sister. Her sister had been pregnant at the time and miraculously the baby, named Furbaide, survived. </div>
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Maeve’s husband in the Ulster cycles, Aillil Mac Máta whom she had, had an affair with prior to their marriage became king of Connacht and they had seven sons and one daughter together. All of the sons called Maine. They originally all had different names however when Maeve approached a druid and asked which of her sons would in the future kill her earlier husband, Conchobar whom she wanted dead. The druid replied, "Maine". Maeve became concerned as none of her sons were called Maine. Therefore she renamed all of her seven sons. The prophecy was fulfilled, when her son Maine Andoe went on to kill Conchobar. </div>
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One night, Maeve and Aillil were engaging in pillow talk, discussing each other’s wealth. What started out as a discussion soon ended in an argument. Disputing which of the two had the most wealth. They compared every piece of land, all of their animals, jewels and most prized possessions. They were equal in every aspect, except Aillil had one magnificent white horned bull, Finnbennach, that Maeve could not match. </div>
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Maeve was enraged and decided that there was only one bull on the island that could compete with Finnbennach. And that bull was the brown bull Donn Cúailgne, owned by a chieftain, Dáire Mac Fiachna. Maeve sent messangers to Dáire offering wealth, land and other valuables in return for the loan of this incomparable bull. Dáire agreed to the offer. They feasted over the agreement. Only when some of Meave's messengers were having a drunken conversation did they let slip in the company of one of Dáires servants that even if Dáire denied them Donn Cúailgne they would have forcefully taken him anyways. When this news reached Dáire he was angered and cancelled the arrangement. Maeve did not stand down and went to battle with him. This marked the battle between the provinces of Connaught and Ulster.</div>
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An Ulster warrior called Cúchulainn defended Ulster single handed, because the remaining Ulster warriors were afflicted by the curse of Macha. The curse was that the men of ulster shall fall weak and helpless in the hour of need. Cúchulainn was ruled out from this curse because he was not a man at the time the curse was forced upon ulster. During the battle, Maeve’s army lost confidence. Maeve offered her daughter's hand to her army if they succeeded in defeating Cúchulainn. </div>
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It was soon the turn of the great warrior Ferdia to face Cúchulainn. Ferdia and Cúchulainn were foster brothers and neither of them wanted to fight - however neither of them wanted to be dishonoured by refusing to fight. After three days of fighting it was Cúchualainn who succeeded in defeating his brother. Despite Maeve’s army being devastated, she somehow secured the brown bull of Cooley. The Donn Cúailgne was brought back to Cruachan to fight Aillil's white bull. The white bull was defeated and impaired on Donn Cúailgne's horns. Donn Cúailnge travelled back home to Cooley and later died from his wounds. The Táin Bó Cúailgne is one of the most remarkable mythological tales in the Irish language.</div>
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In Queen Maeve’s later years, she often went to bathe in the pool on Inchcleraun, and island on lough Ree. Furbaide, the surviving son of Maeve’s sister Eithne, sought revenge for his mother and killed Maeve while she bathed. Queen Maeve is said to be buried in her home of Rathcroghan, County Roscommon.</div>
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Find out more - Go to <a href="http://www.queenmaeve.org/">www.QueenMaeve.org</a> </div>
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Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3788586715774742465.post-85797902128727480892013-11-11T14:54:00.000+00:002013-11-12T23:13:51.421+00:00School Tours in Roscommon<h2>
Planning your School Tour in County Roscommon</h2>
When planning a school tour, there is a checklist that one must inevitably go through:<br />
<ul>
<li>Cost</li>
<li>Journey duration and traffic issues</li>
<li>Will the students have a good time, and will they come away with something new learned</li>
<li>Can our destination handle a large group of students</li>
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When each of these issues is considered, the usual avenues present themselves as viable options for the tour, oftentimes centring on the many, admittedly, excellent attractions located in our capital city. However, as the day unfolds, the likelihood of Dublin's traffic slightly dampening the enjoyment of the day out rears its ugly head.</div>
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As a result, this piece wishes to provide a more relaxed, but equally as enjoyable and informative, alternative for the traditional, often Dublin-centric, school tour.</div>
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So, starting in the south of this beautiful and culturally abundant county, let me outline some of the fantastic options available for your next school tour.</div>
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<b><u>Athlone Castle</u></b></h3>
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Located on the western bank of the 'Broad Majestic Shannon', Athlone Castle and its associated Interpretative Centre is an visually stunning exhibition which brings the turbulent history of Athlone to life before your eyes. An excellent option for all sizes of tour, its central location allows for easily accessible food and shopping options also. See <a href="http://www.athloneartandheritage.ie/athlone-castle/" target="_blank">http://www.athloneartandheritage.ie/athlone-castle/</a> for more information.</div>
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<img alt="File:Castelo de Athlone Irlanda.jpg" height="240" src="http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared//thumb/0/06/Castelo_de_Athlone_Irlanda.jpg/800px-Castelo_de_Athlone_Irlanda.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<b><u>Roscommon Castle, Abbey and Rindoon</u></b></h3>
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Want to provide the students a unique view of Ireland and Roscommon's medieval past but stuck on a budget? Then Roscommon Town has just the answer. Both the castle and abbey are free to access and explore, something which belies their extraordinary histories. Rindoon, south of Roscommon town in the village of Lecarrow, a 13th century castle built by King Henry III of England, was populated by up to 1,000 people at its height. It really is a cultural gem, just waiting to be explored! For more information on all three, see <a href="http://visitroscommon.com/CultureandHeritage/HeritageGems.aspx">http://visitroscommon.com/CultureandHeritage/HeritageGems.aspx</a> and <a href="http://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/page/rindoon">http://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/page/rindoon</a></div>
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<b><u>Rathcroghan Visitor Centre @ Cruachan Aí</u></b></h3>
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The seat of Royalty in the West of Ireland for the last 2,000 years, Rathcroghan holds the keys to a plethora of ceremonial and ritual monuments stretching from the Neolithic period up until the 17th century. Whether you want to explore the Celtic Iron Age, Medieval period, or want to be tested by the Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of Battle, in her 'fit abode', Rathcroghan is the place to be. To find out more, visit <a href="http://www.rathcroghan.ie/">http://www.rathcroghan.ie/</a> and for school tour options see <a href="http://rathcroghanedu.weebly.com/">http://rathcroghanedu.weebly.com/</a></div>
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<img height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Rathcroghan_Mound_face-on.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<b><u>Strokestown House and Irish Famine Museum</u></b></h3>
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Situated in a Georgian Palladian Mansion surrounded by 6 acres of walled pleasure gardens, Strokestown House and its associated grounds is a perfect example of how the two worlds of Ireland existed side-by-side. Housed within its beautiful and opulent architecture is Ireland's National Famine Museum. Follow at first hand the story of the years that would change Ireland's history forever, and give your students a unique insight into 'an Gorta Mór'. To find out more visit <a href="http://www.strokestownpark.ie/">http://www.strokestownpark.ie/</a></div>
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<img height="240" src="http://www.goalforpeace.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Strokestown-House.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<b><u>Boyle Abbey</u></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The 12th century Cistercian Monastery at Boyle <span style="line-height: 17.15625px;">retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian foundations in Ireland, despite its reuse as a military garrison in the 17th and 18th centuries. A restored gatehouse of 16th/17th century houses a fascinating exhibition that will excite the imagination of what life would have been like in a medieval monastery. For more information on Boyle Abbey, visit</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.15625px;"> </span></span><a href="http://visitroscommon.com/CultureandHeritage/HeritageGems/BoyleAbbey.aspx">http://visitroscommon.com/CultureandHeritage/HeritageGems/BoyleAbbey.aspx</a></div>
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<b>Especially good options for Transition Year students are...</b></h4>
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<b><u>Bay Sports</u></b></h3>
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Based on the shores of Lough Ree at Hodson Bay, Athlone, Bay Sports is has a wealth of facilities and activities to cater for ages 6 and up. Now catering for Transition Year and Gaisce Groups, if its water-based and its fun, Bay Sports do it. See <a href="http://www.baysports.ie/">http://www.baysports.ie/</a> for more information.</div>
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<b><u>Shannon River Adventure</u></b></h3>
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In keeping with the water-based fun, Shannon River Adventure in Rooskey provides a breathtaking range of activities from camping to archery, to supplement their already excellent facilities. Based on the shores of Lough Bofin, the scope for the exploration of this picturesque riverscape is abundant. Visit <a href="http://www.shannonriveradventure.com/">http://www.shannonriveradventure.com/</a> to see what else is on offer.</div>
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<b><u>Lough Key Experience</u></b></h3>
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Situated on the banks of Lough Key, the Forest and Activity Park is the perfect location to interact and experience all that this beautiful county has to offer in one place. With everything from a Tree Canopy Walk to an Adventure Play Kingdom, the Park really is a unique facility for all groups, including TY students. Check out <a href="http://www.loughkey.ie/">http://www.loughkey.ie/</a> to find out more.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJJuAxLEqGQ/UoI7hSM8hvI/AAAAAAAABLA/pW6UsxR_6Do/s1600/9938_175970182586671_814463252_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJJuAxLEqGQ/UoI7hSM8hvI/AAAAAAAABLA/pW6UsxR_6Do/s400/9938_175970182586671_814463252_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cave of the Cats - Oweynagat - in the Rathcroghan Complex</td></tr>
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<u>Oweynagat Cave Tour</u></h3>
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Bring your boots and wet gear for this one, and don't forget the headlamps and torches for the climb down into the Cave of the Cats, Uaimh na gCait, or Oweynagat in the Rathcroghan Complex. Book your visit through the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Tulsk on 071 9639268, or email on <a href="mailto:CruachanAi@gmail.com" target="_blank">CruachanAi@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, if you are looking for something different to offer your students on a school tour, look no further than Roscommon.</span></div>
Cruachan Aí Heritage Centrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732043683709212531noreply@blogger.com0