John Anthony Brennan's Blog Posts Tagged 'History of Ireland' (46)

The Bonfires of Beltaine (May Eve)

On the Hill of Uisneach, in a portion of land taken from the province of Connaught, a fortress was erected by High King Tuathal Teachthmar. Uisneach, believed to be the geographical center of Ireland, was,…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on April 30, 2022 at 4:00pm — 4 Comments

The Poet

On Easter Monday, April 24 1916 one of the most important events in the long, tortuous history of Ireland took place. The event, so shocking and bold, is still debated and analyzed until this very day.…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on April 17, 2022 at 7:52pm — 15 Comments

The Navigator

One of the myriad of exceptional qualities that we Irish are blessed with is our ability to drop everything and sail out into the unknown completely unafraid. We have the uncanny ability to travel to the furthest reaches and, as they say, ‘become more native than the natives themselves.’ This ability has…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on April 3, 2022 at 7:00pm — 2 Comments

The Equinox: Sunrise in the Bru Na Boinne

An equinox is an astronomical event in which the Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun. When this happens, day and night are of equal length around the world. These were extremely important dates for the ancients who inhabited a region of…
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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 18, 2022 at 2:30pm — 2 Comments

The Minstrel

In the ages past, the musician was and still is, a prominent figure in Irish society; whether he be a harpist, a fiddler or a multi-instrumentalist musician like Paddy Moloney, they all took their places in society, including the royal households of the Irish nobility. Centuries ago they called…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 14, 2022 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

The Magic of the Rowan Tree

One of the many trees growing near to where we lived on the Creamery Road was an old rowan. It was perfect for climbing and in the summer when in full leaf, I could see for miles from my vantage point in the topmost branches, it was my favorite of all the trees in the area with a big oak next.…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 5, 2022 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

The Pagan and The Saint

Back in the mists of time, long before the Milesians arrived from Egypt, and even longer before the Celtic tribes came and settled, another ancient tribe inhabited the island of Ireland. The ‘Tuatha De Dannan,’ translated as ‘people of the Goddess Danu,’ were a supernatural race who came to Ireland with the intention of…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 31, 2022 at 2:00pm — 4 Comments

The Scribes

In A.D. 406 during a particularly harsh winter, the river Rhine froze over. Across this temporary land bridge poured hordes of Germanic tribes led by the charismatic Aleric, King of the…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 24, 2022 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments

The Headcutter's Stone

In an old peat bog at Ummericam, sits the cruel headcutter's stone,

stained with the blood and fused with the ghosts, of men who are now long gone.

In the gorse and the furze their cries could be heard, when Johnston was out on the roam

their fates soon sealed with the headhunters wield, and where red still…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 13, 2022 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Hunting the Druid's Bird.

“The wran, the wran, the king of all birds,

on Stephen's day was caught in the furze.

His body is little but his family is sweet

so rise up landlady and give us a treat.

And if your treat be of the best

your soul in heaven can then find its rest.

And if your treat be…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on December 25, 2021 at 7:26pm — 2 Comments

The Winter Solstice in Ireland

This year’s shortest day of the year is on Tuesday, December 21, which will also mark the longest night of the year. Every year, the winter solstice marks the turn of the calendar as autumn ends and the winter begins. From an astronomical standpoint, the winter solstice means that the two opposite points in the sky…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on December 20, 2021 at 12:25pm — No Comments

The Battle of Cúl Dreimhne (Battle of the Book)

St. Colmcille, also known as St. Columba, was born on this day Dec. 7 in 521 AD in Gartan, modern day County Donegal, Ireland.…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on December 7, 2021 at 1:26pm — 2 Comments

Oliver Cromwell: Lord "Protector"

Oliver Cromwell, one of the most reviled characters in Irish history, was an English military and political leader and the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was born in April 1599 and his father was Robert Cromwell. For the first forty years he led a…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on December 2, 2021 at 3:30pm — No Comments

An Gorta Mor Remembered in Dublin

On this day May 17, 2020 a National Commemoration took place in St Stephen's Green in Dublin city centre in remembrance of the events that took place in Ireland 174…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on September 9, 2021 at 1:00pm — No Comments

The Norman Invasion of Ireland

On this day 23 August 1170, the Vikings returned to Ireland. They didn't arrive…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on August 23, 2021 at 11:28am — 7 Comments

Freedom From Fear

A…
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Added by John Anthony Brennan on July 8, 2021 at 5:30pm — 6 Comments

Clontarf

Every April 23 we remember with great pride another in the long line of Irishmen who despite all the odds stacked against them, nevertheless decided to take a stand against an oppressive enemy. So set aside a little time today and read his fascinating full story at the link at the end of this…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on April 23, 2021 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

Annie Russell: A Flower from Sweet Strabane

In school, if you ever looked at images of the surface of the Sun you would have seen what appeared to be dark areas dotted across the surface. These anomalies are known as sunspots and appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface. Occasionally you would also have seen…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 31, 2021 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

The Green Valley

I've been down in the green valley, the holy place.

The one where the pagan and saint walk the
blessed earth yet still, in silent mystic. The one…
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Added by John Anthony Brennan on March 20, 2021 at 8:00pm — 9 Comments

Annaghmare: The Big Marsh

In the land of Mac Nessa where epitaphs are written in blood, and nocturnal shadows flit freely in the cold moonlight, when the white hoar frost of winter’s breath blankets the big marsh, envelops the bracken and heather, coats the blackthorns in a slick sheen, clings to intricate webs as bejeweled wonders and the bleak, frozen bogs shiver and sleep,…

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Added by John Anthony Brennan on January 8, 2021 at 2:30pm — No Comments

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