Turn of the 20th Century, Galway, Ireland
The Brothers Grimm appear to have helped motivate a large number of nineteenth century writers and scholars -- in several countries -- to record and save wonder tales, folktales, and local mythology -- to save the culture of the past. Aside from overcoming lethargy. religious beliefs, and political hubris, there were issues of language and tumultuous events to overcome. In Ireland, the issues also involved the Gaelic language and became very political.
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"A Land Without a Language Is a Land Without a Soul"
". . . Gaelic scholars and writers had never quite faded out. To a few of these, looking at the question from the standpoint of patriot as well as scholar, it was apparent that in allowing the national language to perish, the country was severing the strongest tie that bound her to the past; that with the language would go the traditions and ideals that had kept alive the spirit of patriotism through the centuries of suffering; that an English speaking Ireland would cease to realize herself as an individual among nations and sink hopelessly to the condition of a characterless British province."
Moira Ray, The Sewanee Review, 1906
The photo of the Irish countryside is by Darren McLoughlin.
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Fairies Were Real
Few people believe in fairies, now, but they featured powerfully in the belief systems of the past, and not always benignly. Like witches, fairies have inspired fears that led to terrible acts, and not only in the pre-modern societies far away, but ones closer to hand. King James 1 believed in demons.
Marina Warner, Once upon a Time
The illustration is by Arthur Rackham.
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A Living Form Of Literature
"Irish and Scotch Gaelic folk-stories are, as a living form of literature, by this time (1890) pretty nearly a thing of the past. . . Until quite recently there existed in our midst millions of men and women who, when their day’s work was over, sought and found mental recreation in a domain to which few indeed of us who read books are permitted to enter. Man, all the world over, when he is tired of the actualities of life, seeks to unbend his mind with the creations of fancy. We who can read betake ourselves to our favorite novelist. . .His book is the product of his individual brain, and some of us or of our contemporaries have been present at its genesis.
But no one can tell us with certainty of the genesis of the folk-tale, no one has been consciously present at its inception, and no one has marked its growth. It is in many ways a mystery, part of the flotsam and jetsam of the ages, still beating feebly against the shore of the nineteenth century, swallowed up at last in England by the waves of materialism and civilization combined; but still surviving unengulfed on the western coasts of Ireland, where I gathered together some bundles of it, of which the present volume is one."
The above is from the Preface to Douglas Hyde's Beside The Fire, A Collection 0f Irish Gaelic Folk Stories (1890)
The illustration of Fairies Dancing in the Full Moon is Aby rthur Rackham.
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Honoring the Heritage
Douglas Hyde was quite extraordinary. In a chaotic century wherein Ireland experienced political upheavals, horrible famine, millions dying, and millions of refugees emigrating, Hyde emerged as a scholar and a leader in the gathering wave of Irish nationalism and the Gaelic revival.
The tales that Hyde collected were transcribed in the original Gaelic, as told to him by older farmers who had heard them many years before. Hyde, a scholar, would later translate them to English. Like many 19th century Irish authors -- Yates, O'Connaire, Synge, Stephens -- he worked to preserve the old tales, the old culture and the Gaelic language, all among the driving forces of Irish nationalism. Hyde was deeply involved in politics, ultimately becoming first President of Ireland (1938 TO 1945).
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The Person Crushed. . .
The famine was also fuel for the Irish Cultural Renaissance.
“Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who feels what is happening. Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand.” -- Lectures on Philosophy
The illustration, by an artist unknown, is of Bridget O'Donnell and her children shortly after their eviction from their home. Among one million victims of the great Irish famine, Bridget, her unborn child, and one of her two girls, died soon after the eviction.
From the illustrated London News, 1849.
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The Second Coming
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), best known for his poetry, was another driving force in the Irish Literary Revival. He researched and published three major collections of traditional tales from the countryside. And he wrote many poems that reflected the painful world of Ireland. Here is an excerpt from The Second Coming. . .
"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”
The painting is by Brueghal.
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Fantasy
"In fantasy stories we learn to understand the differences of others, we learn compassion for those things we cannot fathom, we learn the importance of keeping our sense of wonder. The strange worlds that exist in the pages of fantastic literature teach us a tolerance of other people and places and engender an openness toward new experience. Fantasy puts the world into perspective in a way that 'realistic' literature rarely does. It is not so much an escape from the here-and-now as an expansion of each reader's horizons." Jane Yolen quoted by Terri Windling in Myth and Moor
The illustrations for Traditional Irish Fairy Tales are by Arthur Rackman.
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The Wooing of Becfola
I have found that Irish tales go far beyond fairies dancing in the moonlight. Here, for example, is a story of mysterious events, passion, identity, alternate reality, and great lust. Becfola was a beautiful woman of mystery, who was named by Dermot, king of all Ireland, after he saw her driving her chariot at great speed through forest and river. Dermot immediately fell in love with her.
Incredible events mark this story from beginning to end. Here are excerpts from a retelling by James Stephens, a talented and versatile writer and dedicated Irish Republican:
"We do not know where Becfola came from. Nor do we know for certain where she went to. We do not even know her real name, for the name Becfola, “Dowerless” or “Small-dowered,” was given to her as a nickname (by Dermont, the King of all Ireland). This only is certain, that she disappeared from the world we know of, and that she went to a realm where even conjecture may not follow her. . .
The woman in the chariot had drawn nigh to the ford by which they were standing, and, without pause, she swung her steeds into the shallows and came across the river in a tumult of foam and spray. . .'She is in truth a wonder of the world and an endless delight to the eye.'
She was all that and more, and, as she took the horses through the river and lifted them up the bank, her flying hair and parted lips and all the young strength and grace of her body went into the king’s eye and could not easily come out again.
Nevertheless, it was upon his ward that the lady’s gaze rested, and if the king could scarcely look away from her, she could, but only with an equal effort, look away from Crimthann (the King's ward, a striking young man). . ."
The illustrations of Becfola are by Arthur Rackham. Being trapped in a tree by wolves was among Becfola's adventures in her quest for fulfillment.
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Pastures of Plenty -- in Ireland
Excerpt from the Lyrics
"It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free."
This classic Woody Guthrie song by the wonderful Irish musical group Solas. Link: Solas
Photo by Emmett O'Lunney.
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Exceptional Independent Animation
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Backgrounds-Charles Huettner, Music and sound design- Nic Snyder.
Official video for the wonderful song by 4 year old Fenn Rosenthal.
Her father, Tom, is a singer/composer.
Directed by Hannah Jacobs, Katy Wang and Anna Ginsburg.
Link: Dinosaurs in Love Time:1.06
Here is the Link to Once Upon a Blog to read more: Calm
Here is a link to their website: Reading with Rover
Planet Of The Dogs
The Planet of the Dogs series of children’s books tell the stories of the first time dogs came to planet Earth to teach people about unconditional loyalty and love -- and to help bring peace from invaders. Here is an excerpt:
Two children are missing from Lake Falls Village. They were last seen going
into the Dark Woods. The dogs have gone ahead to find them. A search party, following the sound of excited barking, is rushing through the woods. . .
Running forward and breathing heavily as the ground continued to rise, they came to a clearing where they saw a huge black bear, surrounded by the barking dogs. And standing behind a large rock, their clothes torn, were the children. The dogs were racing toward the bear and then jumping back. The bear was furious. One of his legs had been bitten, and Buddy’s fur was torn open at the shoulder. Omeg and Tibor, both carrying swords, shouted a fierce cry and ran toward the bear. Barka, Tomas and some of the others ran toward the children. The bear, seeing so many attackers, made a deep growl of anger, reared up on his hind legs, and then came crashing down in a place where Lucy was jumping and barking. For a moment, it looked like Lucy was crushed, but as the bear moved with surprising speed into the trees, and Lucy ran out unhurt and barking defiantly.
To read sample chapters of any book in the series, visit PlanetOfTheDogs
The Planet Of The Dogs series, including Castle In The Mist and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, is available from many Internet sources and through independent bookstores of all sizes. Free copies for Therapy Dog owners and organizations, Email me at [email protected].
The illustrations above from The Planet Of The Dogs are by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.
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“Be the person your dog thinks you are.” ― C.J. Frick
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