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Children of Lir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Children of Lir (or Children of Lear) is an Irish legend. The original Irish title is Clann Lir, but Lir is the genitive case of Lear. Lir is more often used as the name of the character in English.

Bodb Dearg (=the red) was elected king of the Tuatha Dé Dannan, much to the annoyance of Lear. In order to appease Lear, Bodb gave one of his daughters to marry him, Aeb. She bore him four children, one girl, Fionnuala, and three sons, Aed and twins, Fiachra and Con.

Their mother Aeb died and the children missed their mother terribly and Bodb, wanting to keep Lear happy, sent another of his daughters, Aoife, to marry Lear.

Aoife grew jealous of the children's love for each other and their father so she plotted to get rid of the children. On a journey with the children to Bodb's house, she ordered her servant to kill them but they refused. In anger, she was about to do it herself, but didn't have the courage, instead she used her magic to turn them all into swans. As swans, the children had to spend 300 years on Lough Derravaragh, a lake near their father's castle, 300 years in the Sea of Moyle , 300 years on the Isle of Glora. It has been suggested that the site of Lear's castle is currently occupied by Tullynally castle, home of the Earl of Longford, as the name Tullynally is the anglicised form of tullach an allach or "hill of the swan". When Bodb heard of this, he transformed Aoife into an air demon for eternity. While they were swans, St. Patrick came and converted Ireland to Christianity.

After their long periods in each region, they received sanctuary from MacCaomhog, a monk in Inis Gluaire. They were tied together with silver chains to ensure that they would stay together forever. But the wife of the King of Leinster, daughter of the King of Munster, Deoch wanted the swans for her own, so she ordered her husband, Lairgean to attack the monastery and seize the swans. In this attack, the silver chains were broken and the swans transformed into old, withered people. Before they died they were baptised and they were buried with Fionnuala in the middle, Fiachra and Con either side of her and Aed in front of her.

Claddagh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Claddagh Ring is a traditional Irish ring, given in friendship or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the old walls of the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th Century during the reign of Mary II, though elements of the design are much older. Symbolism

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart , and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the heart facing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship: "their heart is open." When worn on the right hand but with the heart facing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart". A Claddagh worn on the left hand with the heart facing outward is often a sign of being engaged, and the ring on the left hand facing inward toward the body generally indicates that the wearer is married.

The Irish Potato Famine (1845–1849) caused many to emigrate from Ireland, and the Claddagh ring spread along with the emigrants to the United States and elsewhere. Now the design is worn worldwide. These rings are often considered heirlooms, and passed on from mother to daughter as well as between friends and lovers.

The caused many to emigrate from , and the Claddagh ring spread along with the emigrants to the and elsewhere. Now the design is worn worldwide. These rings are often considered , and passed on from mother to daughter as well as between friends and lovers.

A "Fenian" Claddagh, without the crown, was later designed in Dublin for the Irish Republican community, but that is not an indication that the crown in the original design was intended as a symbol of fidelity to the British crown. The Fenian Claddagh, while still being made, has not approached the popularity of the ancient design.

The Claddagh Ring is a variant of older rings call "Fede" rings which date to Roman times.

Kilt pin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The kilt pin is a piece of jewellery that is usually worn on the lower corner of the outer apron of a kilt. Most kilt pins could have family clan symbols of animals and plants, while the Irish have the Irish Harp and the shamrock. The Welsh have a kilt pin also, except theirs is the red dragon of Wales.

Luckenbooth Brooch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luckenbooths were shops in Edinburgh, situated on the Royal Mile from St Giles' Cathedral down towards the Canongate. They were the city's first permanent shops that housed jewellery workers and other trades, dating from the 16th century.

The Luckenbooth Brooch is a traditional Scottish wedding brooch given to the bride by the groom on their wedding day, and subsequently pinned to the shawl of the first baby to protect it from "evil spirits". By the 18th century it had also became a common decorative symbol in Native American costume.

The Luckenbooth has figures very similar to the Claddagh Ring , and a similar purpose of being a love token. The luckenbooth charm also continues the traditional theme of heart and crown. The earliest records of heart shaped brooches in Scotland date back to 1503. In the 18th Century, these brooches were often known as 'Luckenbooth' brooches because they were sold from locked booths in the jewellery quarter of St. Giles, Edinburgh .

By the mid 18th century luckenbooth tokens also featured heavily as English trade silver items to the native peoples of the eastern woodlands, particularly the Iroquois of the Six Nations. As a result, luckenbooth brooches also became a common decorative symbol in 18th and early 19th century native clothing.

Sgian Dubh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sgian Dubh (pronounced "skee(a)n doo", IPA /ski:n du:/, or lightly diphthongised /skiən/) is a ceremonial dagger (Gaelic sgian) worn as part of the modern Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt. It is worn tucked into the hose with only the pommel visible.

Etymology

The name comes from the Gaelic meaning "black knife", where "black" may refer to the usual colour of the handle of the knife. It is also suggested that "black" means secret, or hidden, as in the word blackmail. This is based on the stories and theories surrounding the knife's origin and the meaning of "Dubh" in Gaelic.

Origins

The sgian dubh may have evolved from the sgian achlais, a dagger that could be concealed under the armpit. Used by the Scots of the 17th and 18th centuries, this knife was slightly larger than the average modern sgian dubh and was carried in the upper sleeve or lining of the body of the jacket.

Courtesy and etiquette would demand that when entering the home of a friend, any concealed weapons would be revealed. It follows that the sgian achlais would be removed from its hiding-place and displayed in the stocking top held securely by the garters.

The sgian dubh also resembles the small skinning knife that is part of the typical set of hunting knives. These sets contain a butchering knife with a 9-10 inch blade, and a skinner with a blade of about 4 inches. These knives usually had antler handles, as do many early sgian dubhs. The larger knife is likely the ancestor of the modern dirk.

The sgian dubh can be seen in portraits of kilted men of the mid 1800s. A portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn of Colonel Alasdair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry hangs in the National Gallery of Scotland; it shows hanging from his belt on his right hand side a sheath holding nested hunting knives, and visible at the top of his right stocking what appears to be a nested set of two sgian dubhs. A similar sgian dubh is in the collection of The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland.

Construction

The early blades varied in construction, some having a "clipped" or "drop" point, often found on the Bowie knife. The "spear-point" tip has now become universal. Scalloped filework on the back of the blade is common on all Scottish knives. A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches is typical.

Since the modern wearer of the sgian dubh does not intend the blade for cutting food or self-defense, blades are now of a simple (but not unglamorous) construction. These are typically stamped from brass and nickel-plated. The basic handles are plastic fitted with plated castings with synthetic decorative stones. Some are not even knives at all, but a plastic handle and sheath cast as one piece. Some blades however, are luxurious and expensive art pieces, made from solid silver or Damascus steel. Blades can be etched with family crests, Masonic or regimental symbols.

The scabbards are reinforced with wood and fitted with decorative ends, and can also have crests and symbols. While this makes for more popular and expensive knives, the sheath is hidden from view in the stocking while the sgian dubh is worn.

Spelling

As Gaelic words often pose problems for English speakers, many erroneous spellings are found in the literature surrounding the kilt and Highland dress, mostly involving misplacing the h, imitating the pronunciation or confusing sgian with the place-name Skene:

skein dubh

sgian dhub

skene du

skean dhu

skhian dubh

Controversy

In areas with "zero tolerance" weapons polices or heightened security concerns, the wearing of the sgian dubh as part of traditional Scottish dress has sometimes created controversy. The sgian dubh has been banned on a number of occasions in the USA [1] and even in Scotland [2].

As with many other knives and cutting tools, air travellers have to put their sgian dubh in checked baggage.

Shamrock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shamrock

The shamrock, an unofficial symbol of Ireland and Boston, Massachusetts, is a three-leafed young white clover, sometimes (rarely nowadays) Trifolium repens (white clover, known in Irish as seamair bhán) but more usually today Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí). However, other three-leafed plants - such as black medic (Medicago lupulina), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and wood sorrel (genus Oxalis) - are sometimes designated as shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medical properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times.

Badge of Ireland

The shamrock is also used as a badge for sports teams, state organisations, and troops abroad from Ireland: Aer Lingus, IDA Ireland, University College Dublin, University of Notre Dame, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Fáilte Ireland use it as part of their identity. It is registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization as a symbol of Ireland . According to what the Oxford English Dictionary calls "a late tradition" (first recorded in 1726), the plant was used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. It has subsequently become an emblem of Ireland, but has official status in neither Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland; the official emblem of the Republic is the harp. The English word comes from Irish seamróg, meaning young clover.

The shamrock featured on the passport stamp of Montserrat, many of whose citizens are of Irish descent. It is also found on the arms and flag of the city of Montreal, Canada . In addition, the Shamrock is frequently used as a name and symbol for Irish pubs throughout the world, the symbol immediately appealing to those on the look out for an English-speaking establishment and warm welcome.

Tara Brooch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tara Brooch.

The Tara Brooch is considered one of the most important extant artifacts of early Christian-era Irish Celtic art, and is housed and displayed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

Made in about 700 AD, the brooch is composed primarily of white brass and is embellished with intricate abstract decoration (termed "Celtic knotwork") both front and back. The design, the techniques of workmanship (including filigree and inlaying) and the gold, silver, copper, amber and glass are all of high quality, and exemplify the advanced state of goldsmithing in Ireland in the seventh century.

At the end of the 19th century there was a revival of Irish culture following the discovery of treasures such as the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice.

Although the brooch is named after the Hill of Tara, seat of the mythological High Kings of Ireland, the Tara Brooch in fact has no known connection to either the Hill of Tara or the High Kings of Ireland, and was discovered in County Meath in Laytown along the seashore.

Thistle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thistle is the common name of a polyphyletic group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp spines or prickles on the margins, mostly in the plant family Asteraceae. Their prickles often occur all over the plant, including on the stem and flat parts of the leaf. These are an adaptation protecting against herbivorous animals, discouraging them from feeding on the plant. Prickles can be a nuisance when walking barefoot, one motivation for wearing suitable footwear when outdoors.

The thistle, in particular Onopordum acanthium (the cotton thistle or Scotch thistle), is the national flower of Scotland, and is featured in many Scottish symbols and logos. Legend has it that a Viking attacker stepped on one at night and cried out, so alerting the defenders of a Scottish castle.

Quaich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Quaich (IPA: 'kweɪx') (or archaically Quaigh), is a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup or bowl in Scotland. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic cuach meaning a cup.

According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, the quaich was inspired by the low silver bowls with two flat handles frequently used as bleeding vessels in England and Holland in the 17th century.

Traditionally they are made of wood, an artform known as "treen". Quaichs often have different colours and are supported by hoops. They are generally fitted with two, and, more rarely, three short projecting handles. In addition to wood, they are made of stone, brass, pewter, horn, and of silver. The latter were often engraved with lines and bands in imitation of the staves and hoops of the wooden quaichs.

The origin of quaichs in Scotland is traced to the Highlands; it was not until the end of the 17th century that they became popular in such large centres as Edinburgh and Glasgow. The silversmiths of such local gilds as Inverness and Perth frequently mounted them in silver, as may be seen from the hall-marks on the existing examples.

Commemorative quaichs awarded as prizes, or given as gifts, are more commonly made of pewter or silver. These prize cups are rarely used for actual drinking.

The English and Colonial American counterpart of the Scottish quaich is the porringer, made with a single handle. The Sami and Norrland, Sweden, equivalents are the pahkakuppi and the kåsa, which also only have a single handle.

The quaich was used for whisky or brandy, and in the 19th century Sir Walter Scott dispensed drams in silver quaichs, but the quaich he kept for himself was particularly precious to him.

In 1745 the quaich had travelled from Edinburgh to Derby with the Scottish Army in Bonnie Prince Charlie's canteen.

Some quaich's bottoms are made of glass, allegedly so that the drinker could keep watch on his companions. A more romantic quaich had a double glass bottom in which was kept a lock of hair so that the owner could drink from his quaich to his lady love, and, in 1589, King James VI of Scotland gave Anne of Denmark a quaich or "loving cup" as a wedding gift.

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