Cindy Thomson's Blog, page 13
May 19, 2022
Stop Four on the Ancient Brigid Tour: Rock of Cashel
If you’ve been following these posts, please know that these posts are in no particular order and do not reflect the actual schedule of the #ancientbrigidtour2023 , just sites we will be visiting sometime on the trip.
The ancient seat of the Kings of Munster, the Rock of Cashel sits high on a hill overlooking the town.
The Rock of Cashel is one of the most important historical sites we’ll visit on this tour. It’s located in County Tipperary. (Go ahead and sing if you must: It’s a long way to Tipperary…)
While Brigid predates the ancient buildings and monuments on Cashel (most everything dates several centuries after she lived) there is a significant tie to St. Patrick, who of course influenced Brigid and all the Irish Christians in ancient Ireland. It’s said that Patrick converted the King of Munster at this site.
The structures here include a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House. The Hall of the Vicars Choral today houses several items of archaeological interest. The Rock was officially given over to the church in 1101. If you’re American like me you’re probably marveling over that much history! Most of the buildings date back to that time, 12th-13th century.
Be prepared for some walking. The tour guide on Heygo, Dave Kavanagh, said the ground is pretty uneven. You can go in the buildings, so it’s not all outside. But the view from there is incredible,
I am drawn to doors and passageways in Ireland, and going on this virtual tour was no different. Can’t you just see ancient folks in flowing robes carrying lanterns or torches passing back and forth through this door? My imagination is always piqued by things like this!
Windows too. The guide talked about the stained glass windows being knocked out during the Reformation. The ruins have a haunting look you’ll see in similar ruins all over the island.
There is a rock. It’s St. Patrick’s rock. And his high cross too. I’ve only given you a small sample. We’ll see a lot and I’m excited because other than this virtual visit, I haven’t been there yet.
Are you counting the days with me?
May 16, 2022
Happy St. Brendan’s Day!
By Daderot – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...When we were in Ireland my husband and I made a trip to Clonfert, the site where St. Brendan set up his monastery. It’s not so easy to get to, but I’m so glad we figured it out. This site turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip for me.
Clonfert Cathedral, County Galway, Ireland ©CindyThomsonThe church, the Cathedral of Clonfert, is part of the Church of Ireland. The cathedral was not open when were there, but truly the doorway is the most magnificent draw.
From Wikipedia: The earliest part of the church dates back to around 1180. Its doorway is the crowning achievement of Hiberno-Romanesque style. It is in six orders, and has an amazing variety of motifs, animal heads, foliage, human heads etc. Above the doorway is a pointed hood enclosing triangles alternating with bizarre human heads, and below this is an arcade enclosing more human heads.
Bishop carved into the doorway. ©CindyThomson
Mermaid carving in doorway. ©CindyThomsonYou could truly stand here for a long time and still miss something. I brought home a small piece of stone that may have come from this doorway. It was on the ground. I promise.
St. Brendan is supposedly buried here. The cathedral is from a much later date and so is the marker at his grave.
St. Brendan’s grave beside Clonfert Cathedral. ©CindyThomsonIf you’re not familiar with St. Brendan and his famous journey to what was probably North America, you can read about him here.
Such courage and such trust in God, to make that journey centuries before the Vikings.
May 5, 2022
Counting Down to Ireland!
There is still room! Sign up to join us. This is going to be epic!
Tues. May 10 I’ll be going live on Facebook to talk about the places we’re going and take questions.
April 11, 2022
April 5, 2022
What I Did On Spring Break
Remember in school when you had to write an essay on “What I did on summer vacation”? Well, if anyone’s interested I’m going to tell you what I did on Spring Break 2022. At the beginning of the pandemic lockdown I started a journal because as someone interested in history, I thought it might be interesting to future generations. The first line, March 2020: “Today we were supposed to be leaving for Florida.”
It finally happened this year! My mother-in-law winters in Florida. She’s had a lot of company this year! My son’s family likes to go over spring break because my daughter-in-law is a teacher. She lives on the Gulf side. We had wonderful weather!
Walking Eleyett in my mil’s neighborhood. He was too busy snacking to notice the birds so I got a shot with them in the background.
Maelee and Emcee. Nothing like playing at the beach no matter how old you are. At Siesta Key.
We went to the Mote Aquarium. Kids loved it.
At the Blue Dolphin Cafe and Captain Eddies. Lots of great food! (That’s my son Kyle who happened to turn when I was getting a photo of the sign.)At the Blue Dolphin Cafe and Captain Eddies. Lots of great food! (That’s my son Kyle who happened to turn when I was getting a photo of the sign.)
If you’re ever near Nokomis Beach on a Sunday or Wednesday go see the sunset and listen to the drummers. So fun. The kids had a ball. Maelee (on my lap here) said it was her favorite part of the trip!
What a shame I did not get a photo with my cousin Scott when we dropped by his place in Winter Garden. He is not only my brother who technically is my first cousin once removed, but he is also my co-author of the book Three Finger.Leaving Winter Garden and heading to Savannah we drove through a pounding rainstorm. On the way out of it we looked out the back window to see this!
Tom and I took one day on our way home to explore Savannah. We walked everywhere. It was great. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Just a few sample shots.
It was a great trip! I think everyone’s ready to get back out there now. In June we’re going to Nova Scotia. Do you have any trips planned?
Reminder: In 2023 we’re going to Ireland!!!!
March 17, 2022
St. Patrick’s Day in 2022
With the pandemic winding down, events have started again, which means there are parades, live music, festivals! I watched a live stream of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland, and listened to some sessions in a real Irish pub in the west of Ireland. Here are few photos.
See that large sweater (called a jumper in Ireland)? There are nine family members in a band and the mother knitted that. My, the Irish are creative! And loads of fun!
All I did was make this shirt.
But seriously, it’s great to get back to things we’ve been missing the last couple of years, don’t you think?
If you want to know more about St. Patrick, I’ve written some posts. Another one. And another.
Remember, if you’d like a TRUE Irish experience you should go to Ireland, and I have a trip for you! You only need a deposit to reserve your spot. I hope you’ll come with us!
Learn More!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
March 1, 2022
Stop 3 on the Ancient Brigid Tour: St. Brigid’s Kildare
photo by Christy Jackson NicholasThe only explanation I can think of of why I didn’t go to Kildare before this is that I was saving it to experience with you in 2023! My first trip to Ireland was four years after the publication of Brigid of Ireland and I suppose I was focused on other things, but I’m so excited to correct that error in April of 2023!
We’ll start at the cathedral. If you’re Protestant like me, you may not understand the meaning of cathedral. You may, like me, have thought it referred only to a grand, beautiful church. But actually it refers to the fact that this church is the seat of the bishop of the diocese. Some, like St. Brendan’s Cathedral in Clonfert, County Galway, are quite small.
St. Brigid’s in Kildare is perched on one of the most significant ecclesiastical sites in Ireland and is, of course, associated with St. Brigid. It’s not her church. Hers, made of wood in the 5th century, does not survive. This building was built in the 19th century on the ruins of a church from preNorman times that was destroyed in the 17th century. Some of the ancient structures have been incorporated. But it’s the site that is significant here, much like the church at Saul near Downpatrick that was built in the 20th century but on a site where St. Patrick built a barn, where he worshipped and so had pagans before him. On that site I sensed the Spirit moving and I expect this will be similar.
Fish eye lens view of the cathedral and surrounding village from the top of the round tower in Kildare. Photo by Frederick Clarkson. Photographer’s favorite charity is linked.Inside rests Bishop Wellesley who died in 1539. Wellesley was prior of the Augustinian Abbey of Great Connell, Bishop of Kildare in 1529. The ornamentation of his tomb is something we’ll want to see for ourselves. I’m always in awe of the ancient history and well it’s preserved in Ireland.
Kildare means church of the oak (kil is church and dare is oak). It’s believed that St. Brigid built her church under a massive oak tree. The oak tree was sacred to the druids. Oak is featured in this cathedral. You’ll find solid oak pews. We’ll search for more evidence of the mighty oak represented there as well.
You’ll find a stained glass window featuring the three patron saints of Ireland: Patrick, Brigid, and Columcille (Columba in Latin).
The second highest round tower in Ireland is located nearby as is a high cross and the temple where St. Brigid’s flame burned. Do you know the story of St. Brigid’s perpetual fire? If not, you’ll want to look it up, or better yet, read Brigid of Ireland. In 1993 the flame was relit by the Brigidine sisters. Since then, the Brigidine Sisters in Kildare have tended the flame in their Centre, Solas Bhride.
Solas Bhride is a three minute drive from the market square and the cathedral. It’s a type of retreat center offering a hermitage, a place of quiet reflection for all faiths and those with no faith, and special programs. A visit to their web site told me this center opened in 2015. The mission page revealed a familiar Bible verse:
Photo by Christy Jackson NicholasStand at the crossroad and look
Learn from the ancient paths
Which was the good way?
Take it!
Jer. 6: 16
From the site: We in Solas Bhride provide a place of welcome, tranquillity and peace where we seek to unfold the legacy of St Brigid and its relevance for our world today.
I’m looking forward to a few hours in Kildare. I hope there’s a spot to purchase a St. Brigid’s cross. The visitor’s center in the square has a gift shop. For those interested in other kinds of shopping, I hear Kildare has outlet shopping. Save room in your suitcases!
February 1, 2022
5 Best Irish Immigrant Historical Novels
Photo by 𝓴𝓘𝓡𝓚 𝕝𝔸𝕀 on UnsplashI made a list! These are great books. There are more, but at this moment in time they are the best I’ve read. Have you read them?
My book shows up in the preview, but I did not pick my own book, just in case you were wondering. I could only pick five, so… https://shepherd.com/best-books/irish-immigrant-historical-fiction
Click on the link to find out which five I picked!
January 30, 2022
On the Eve of The Feast of St. Brigid
On the eve of St. Brigid’s Day, in many areas of Ireland, children weave St. Brigid’s crosses. A new one each year.
Spring comes sooner to Ireland than it does where I live. There are snowdrops popping up out of the ground. Lately many areas of Ireland are seeing snow, but the calendar clicks over Feb. 1, the traditional start of spring, lambing season, fishing season.
There are so many legends surrounding St. Brigid, but the one about the cross is that she wove it from rushes that were scattered on the floor while telling a dying pagan the story of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
©CindyThomson
This mosaic in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh depicts St. Brigid’s consecration. ©CindyThomsonHow to Weave the CrossIf you’re already on the computer (and obviously you are!) probably the best way to learn is to watch someone. There are many videos you can find. I teach workshops. (This is done with pipe cleaners.) Here is a picture with one of my students.
[image error]©CindyThomsonAnd if you like directions…Use 16 reeds.Begin with one straight reed.Fold another reed around it.Work your way counter clockwise, each time folding a reed over the previous one.When you are finished, tie off the ends and trim with scissors if needed.
[image error]There are many different ways to illustrate how to do this, and this may be one of the best. It’s not exactly how I do it, but it’s probably easier to follow.
If you decide to make crosses, please share in the comments!January 25, 2022
St. Brigid’s Day: National Holiday in Ireland
©CindyThomsonBeginning in 2023, February 1, the feast day of St. Brigid, will become a state holiday in Ireland. Now, I ask you, is it a coincidence that we are going to Ireland in 2023 to visit sites connected with her on the #ancientbrigidtour2023 ? (see the photo in the sidebar)
This is pretty exciting! We’ll be there in April, but close enough for there to be some excitement built up still.
You might be asking, as many have, why am I so interested in this Irish saint? All I can tell you is that once I learned about her, and all the miracles attributed to her, and how much she is revered in Ireland, and that Brigid is both saint and goddess…well, I couldn’t stop my imagination! Actually, I can tell you more, and I have. Check here.
Where I live in Ohio there is very little, if any, observance of the day. There are some schools named for her and they may be planning some crafts (St. Brigid crosses, probably) but that’s it. Except…
Ground Hog’s DayFebruary 2 is Ground Hog Day and there are some similarities. St. Brigid’s Day is the unofficial beginning of spring. It’s the time when the fishing season starts and new lambs start showing up in pastures. And in Ireland if you’re wondering if spring weather is coming soon, you might count the number of hedgehogs you see out and about. Sure, a hedgehog is not a ground hog. They are completely a different species, and hedgehogs are cuter, I think.
[image error]Image by LiveLaughLove from Pixabay
Image by Alexas_Fotos from PixabayGround hog on the left and hedgehog on the right.But they both hibernate in winter so both can be viewed as harbingers of spring.
So when you observe Ground Hog’s Day in America, think of St. Brigid in Ireland and the coming of the the festival of Imbolc, which is St. Brigid’s Day, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, or to put it another way, a celebration of ushering out winter and coaxing back spring. The winter solstice began the light half of the year and we begin seeing more daylight. Spring can not be far behind.
I’ll be posting more about St. Brigid’s Day on the eve, Jan. 31, so come back then!
Ebook Sale!The sequel to Brigid of Ireland, Pages of Ireland, will be on sale on Amazon Kindle beginning this weekend to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day!
Affiliate link used. If you purchase by clicking on the photo, I’ll get a small kickback but it won’t cost you more.
