Beautiful Christmas door at Kerry Writers’ Museum

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Honoured to have my Book Presented

Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, Uachtarán Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann from Co Offaly was thrilled to receive a copy of Moments of Reflection on her recent visit to Dúchas Comhaltas Centre MTU Tralee. Karen Trench made the presentation.,

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Feale Flood 2024

Bridge Road on Saturday morning, Nov. 23 2024

Emergency service personnel were stopping people from going down Bridge Road.

Local people could only look on in horror.

We knew we were witnessing a once in a lifetime event.

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Christmas Windows

Fairytale of New York is this year’s theme. This is Vision Ireland’s shop window.

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Old Prayers

Eddie Murphy of Asdee, aged 14 in 1937 recorded a long list of prayers and prayerful ejaculations in the Schools Folklore collection.

“The light of heaven to all the poor souls in Purgatory and our own souls at the last day” is said when the candles are lighted on Christmas Eve.

“That we may be all alive to see them lighted again” is said also when the candles are lit Christmas Eve.

“God save the hearers” is said when the thing happens but very seldom.

“O Divine Jesus lonely to night in so many tabernacles I offer thee my lonely heart may its every beating be a prayer of love to thee thou art always present. –

The sacramental veils in thy love thou never sleepest thou art never weary of thy vigil for poor sinners. O Loving Jesus, O lonely Jesus may my heart be a lamp of light of which shall burn and beam for thee alone. Watch Sacramental sentinel. Watch for the weary world for thy erring soul for thy poor and lonely child”. is said to wish good night to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

“God love you” is said to a young person who does something for an old person.

“Snuachan maith chugat” is also said to a young person who does something for an old person.

“Hail and blessed be thy hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight in the piercing cold in the stable of Bethlehem. At that same moment and hour vouchsafe my God to hear my prayer and grant my request through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. This prayer is said fifteen times every night from the 30th. of November to Christmas Eve.

“I wish you a happy Christmas” is said to a person on Christmas morning.

“God grant you all happiness in the New Year” is said to a person on New Year’s morning.

“A long life to you” is said to a person who gives something to the poor.

“Bad luck from you” is said to a person who does some good act for another person.

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A Poem

Poet unknown

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Placenames

Geraldine O’Sullivan has done Trojan work in translating yesterdays place names.

Dear Mary,
I used Google Translate to help me with the English translation of the Placenames on the schools folklore collection as I was very interested in your article with regard to their origin .
Coillbuidhe – The forest in which the black trees grew Dubh-Áth – A small Áth that was on the other side of the Féile river was named Cluain Tiobraid – The town in which the well was named Cluain Meacain – The place in which the thing called yellow root grows Cluain Mhagh Con – The field in which the dog was. Cnoc an Iubhair – The Iubhair tree was named after. There is a tree like that growing on the top of the hill there to this day. Fionn Uaigh – The grave that is fawn. Fionn Abha – A fawn tree (This was found by a child in the Class – Máire Uí Conaill). Mhagh Mheán – The flat plain Bun-a-Ghearra – A cut was made there for an underground road or something like that and because of the beginning of the cut there it was called “Bun a’ Ghearra”. Derry – Wood. Drom Beag – The small ridge. Gort na Sceiche – Hedges growing there. Béal – There is a bay, at the mouth of the Shannon. Cúl Árd – This is on top of a hill, it is a kind of corner. Coill a’ Ghuirtín – The wood in which the small field is. Drom Iarainn – The ridge where there is perhaps iron. Caisleán Easa Duibhe – Asdee, in English. I do not know how it got its name. Áth-an-Turais (Bedford) – Some ford that people would cross on their journey to some holy well. Ladhar a’ Crompáin Innis Mhór – Ennismore Leaca – Lacca Mín – Meen Toirbhéart – Tarbeit. Some connection with the women rulers of Toirbhearc or something like that. Cill Eachdruim – Killocrim. Baile ‘n Ghrianáin – Ballygrennane. Baile an Ridire – There was a Knight of Garraidh in residence there. Son of Réamonn Reamhar Mac Muiris. The ruins of the castle are still there. It is likely that the Mac Muiris line that is very numerous in and around Listowel descended from him. Tripail – A collection of Luachra. Biolarach – Billeragh. The name comes from “biolair”. Fuarthán – There is a spring of fresh water in the place. Perhaps that is where the name comes from. Baile an Abhainín – A small river running through it probably gave the name. Cill Mórna – A village there, and it is said that a woman named Mórna was buried there. There is some story that a coffin and other objects were found there. Baile an tSeanbhaile – Tanavalla. Garrdha Árd – Cranyard. Lios Eiltín – Lisselton – It is said that St. Eiltín had a lis or cell there – the patron saint of Kinsale. Coill a’ Mhágh’ Ruaidhe – Killomeroe. Cnoc na Gaiseal Úrlaidhe – Urlee. “Úrlaidhe” means a fight or faction fight. There may have been a fight of some kind there, at some point. Baile an Búinneánaigh } Ballybunion. Baile Bun Abhann } Leac Snamha – A slab that they would probably have to jump off when they went swimming. Ráth Fiadha – Rathea. Tuar na Gaoithe – A field where clothes are put to be washed. Clievrach } Cleveragh. This is said to be a derivation from “cliabh” which means “basket.” Barraig Plough } Or perhaps there was a monastery of Barra where some plough was built. There is a monastery of Barra today anyway. Pollach – Plough Rith Lán } Rhylane. It may be “Réidh”, meaning “Réádh-Lán” } “Réadh” means a moorland or heather plain; level plain; móinteán. Béal Cille – Bealkilla. Beithíneach – Behins. A place where birch trees grow. Brúgh Mhadra – Probably the palace of the dog…
With kind regards and best wishes,
Geraldine

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A Fact

In 2012 divers discovered a 2000 year old Roman shipwreck which was so well preserved that even the food in storage jars was still intact.

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