ALL IRISH THINGS CONSIDERED

OISIN AND NIAMH by Bojani Dimotrovski

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I've shared in this blog before that I did not know about my Irish heritage until about four years ago, when I learned who my natural father was. Although I have always felt, subliminally, that I was Irish, after I found out the truth I consciously resisted it, for two reasons. One was that I was bitter that I had not known my father and consequently was ignorant of the Irish part of my ancestry. The second reason is that I really don't care for the image of the tipsy maudlin Irishman smoking a pipe, sobbing into his poteen, and consorting with leprechauns, or the one of modern Irishmen drinking green beer, wearing silly green hats and saying "Sure and Begorrah".

BRIAN BORU by Jim Fitzpatrick

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Then, a funny thing happened to me this winter while I've been underground in Persephone's cave. I have been spending a lot of time studying the Ancient Celts of Britain. I've been learning about their way of life - their homes, their medicines, their clothing, their jewelry, their beliefs. Part of it is for pure enjoyment, and part of it is research for a writing project I'm involved in. To my surprise I found my thoughts drifting across the Western Sea to Eiru, ancient Ireland.

CUCHULAINN

(Artist unknown to me)

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I have begun to read some of the famous myths and legends of Ireland. Of Brian Boru, an actual person and the last of the Great Kings of Ireland. Of Cuchulainn - or Hound of Culann - a legendarily fierce warrior who, at the age of 17, defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of Queen Medb (or Maeve).

Edain
(Artist unknown to me)

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Then there are the so-often-sad stories of legend, including that of Edain, Deirdre of the Sorrows and Niamh and her lover Oisin. I have run across these names in my reading for years, but never learned the stories. I didn't even know how to pronounce Cuchulainn (coo-COOL-in) until recently.

After reading- and very much enjoying - these stories, I feel more connected to the land of my ancestors, Ancient Eiru. It seems as if I had to go back to the very roots of Ireland to feel that connection, that tug with the land. Now I feel proud to identify myself as Irish.

DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS

(Artist unknown to me)

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Of course, there is so more to Ireland than the ancient myths and legends. There is no space here to even begin to tell the history Ireland, to describe its "terrible beauty", to quote William Butler Yeats: The potato famine and emptying of Ireland through out migration. The Easter 1916 uprising. "The Troubles". The partition of the island into Northern Ireland and The Irish Free State (later the Republic of Ireland), the tragedy of Northern Ireland. I did know some of this history, mainly through reading historical fiction, but I plan to include in my studies this more modern history of Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

I did find a poem which very effectively condenses Ireland's history, and actually offers some hope at the end.

IRELAND, BORN AGAIN

Ireland, land of sorrowful lament

Green isle in a dark stormy sea

Ancient mystical Eire of Celtic culture

Poet, priest and passion abide here

Civilization among heathen cultures

in the green lush pastures,

Celtic crosses and tall round towers

Religion, ritual and revelry

Christianity, catholicism, tradition

Land of nurture and new birth

Rebels, writers, musicians

Famine, pestilence, poverty

Starvation and emigration

A legacy of a cruel crusade

A million dead, a nation vanquished

Suffering soulfulness among

the sour peat bogs

Untold misery and despair

Uprisen again, now a

new sense, born of untold suffering

Land of music, ballad

and dance, Celtic revival

Reborn in youthful creativity

Across the world, its suffering
spread, Celtic phoenix
New cultures, new traditions

But all the while

the ancient culture, in new

forms, revived

Risen from the fires of pestilence

and famine

Ireland, born again.


March 7, 1998

Michael David Coffey

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I plan to dedicate the month of March with posts about all things Irish and Celtic. I have plenty of material to share, so if you're not interested, see you in April!

But if you do like such things, here are links to the legends I mention:

Deidre of the Sorrows: http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/myths_legends/deidre.html

Cuchulainn: http://www.shee-eire.com/magic&mythology/Warriors&Heroes/Warriors/Males/Cuchulainn/Page1.htm

Brian Boru: http://www.ireland-information.com/articles/brianboru.htm

Oisin and Niamh: http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/niamh-oisin.html

Edain: http://www.libraryireland.com/AncientLegendsSuperstitions/Edain-Queen.php

NOTE:

I have deleted the sentence about Boudicca. I knew she was a British Celt, not Irish. I guess I was just having a senior moment. Thanks, Rowan, for setting me straight.