healingwords: poetry for the soul

Stopping for a picnic on the road from Loughcrew to Galway, mesmerised by the slow drifting of clouds. 

This statue of Saint Brigid stands in the middle of a circular garden to the side of the Holy Well at Liscannor in County Clare, Ireland. It is a beautiful place, at the foot of a peaceful graveyard, looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean. Both the garden and the shrine of the Holy Well are a place of pilgrimage for people looking for the intercession of Saint Brigid, with a collective memory of the pagan Goddess who shared her name.  We were there alone in the afternoon sunshine and felt the ripple of the generations of prayer and hope gathered in the humble offerings and natural beauty. 

Back today to Irish woods, to Cnoc Meadha in County Galway where nature, myth and magic combined. I love this forest walk through ancient trees, jewelled with emerald moss, lit with filtering sunlight,  residence of  Finnbheara, King of the Connacht fairies, burial place of home to  Finnbheara and Queen Maeb.

It is indeed a strange time when bars in Spain and pubs in Ireland are closed. They are the hub of the community, popular with locals and visitors. I miss my evening drink with friends in our local Cooperativa bar, or morning coffee in Siremar. This photograph is from a pub in Galway where we stopped for a Guinness and a rest from a morning's wandering the town. It was welcoming to us as strangers but also had a familiar, local atmosphere with people in for lunch and a lively chat. The food looked as good as the Guinness.  It is a popular venue for arts and music and I hope to go back one day, when Ireland and Spain's bars and pubs are buzzing with life, noise and chatter again.  Here is a link to Tigh Neachtain for if you ever find yourself in Galway.  https://www.tighneachtain.com/ © 2020 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

Today I have been looking through the last year's photographs, images of the countryside around my Spanish village and from my Autumn visit to Ireland, England and Wales. This photograph leapt out at me. It was taken at the Hill of Tara in County Meath in Ireland where the boundaries of the ancient site are guarded by battered hawthorn trees, bent double by the wind. The branches of some of the hawthorn trees were covered with tied rags, rosaries and gifts in prayers to the old Gods and Goddesses. There is a real worry that the increase in such offerings can damage the trees and visitors to sacred sites in Ireland and the UK are asked to respect the trees. This hawthorn had a number of grass stalks tied to the branches, some already fallen to the ground, which seemed a much safer way to respect the tree and the magical air blowing around the Hill of Tara.  I loosely tied a blade of grass with a knot on a low branch and made my own wish, one which now I am thankful and happy to say ...

I am still stuck indoors and today was thinking of Galway and looking at my photographs from my visit in September.  This is a photograph of the Spanish Arch, built in 1584 as an extension to the 12th century Norman city walls to protect the quays and merchant ships from looting. It was once known as Ceann an bhalla (the head of the wall) and was extended by the Eyre family in the 17th century with the addition of the Long Walk, following the left bank of the River Corrib to the sea. It became known as the Spanish Arch in the 19th century, thought to be a reference to the Spanish merchant trade.  My mother told me of the Spanish Arch and her walks along the Corrib. When I walked around Galway I felt her presence in the stories we had shared. From my home in Spain I am fascinated in the historical links of the west coast of Ireland with Spain, of seafarers from the Spanish coasts and their trade across the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic sea to Ireland.

Standing on the Hill of Tara with the wind blowing through me was one of the most memorable days of my visit to Ireland. It is said you can see half the counties of Ireland from the hill and the view was spectacular. I walked along the hawthorn hedgerows where people had left their tied wishes, mostly stems of grass but some rags, rosaries or even written prayers. As we approach a new year and a new decade I hope the winds carry your wishes and we can welcome a kinder, more equal and just time for all peoples and the earth we share.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

White quartz stones and granite pebbles have been found scattered around the Neolithic passage tombs at Knowth and Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland. These stones were traced to areas 60 or so miles north and south of the site so were chosen by Neolithic people to place around their tombs. I saw similar stone in the grass around the passage tomb at Loughcrew and white quartz stones are often found around grave sites int the British Isles up until the 15th century. Whilst we have no idea why ancient people collected and worked these stones and used them at sacred sites, it is easy to imagine they had a ritual significance. It is interesting that even today white stone and granite is used to make gravestones and stone chips are placed around graves.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

This image captures a moment at St Brigid's Well in Liscannor, Country Clare in Ireland. The well is found just off the road, at the foot of a beautiful, wooded cemetery. It is a modest place, a statue of St Brigid looking out towards the Atlantic Coast is enclosed in a glass case, surrounded by flowers in a small circle of stone paving. The grotto leads into the rock, the entrance walls filled with statues of Saints, photographs of loved ones, prayers, rosaries, burning candles and letters of request to Saint Brigid, many for sick or deceased relatives of friends. The fading photos have a deep poignancy and reverence and whatever ones belief it would be hard not to be moved by the faith evidenced here and the simplicity of the worship.  The well itself is a small square of water refreshed from a running spring. It is said to have healing powers and this well is just one of many throughout Ireland dedicated to Saint Brigid. She is one of Ireland's most revered Saints a...

The beautiful Traught Beach, near Kinvara on Galway Bay. Families were still swimming on a hot afternoon in late September. I watched the sun rise and set over this beach where I felt a great sense of peace.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.  

Cnoc Meadha woods in County Galway cover the hill celebrated in legend both as Witches Hill, The Hill of Maeve and the place where Finnbheara, the King of the Connacht Fairies held court. Winding through oak, ash, hazel and beech trees to the stone cairn at the top of the hill where Queen Maeve is said to be buried, there is a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding counties, to the sea.  On a warm Autumn morning, with light filtering through the trees, it seemed a place of magic and mystery, both in its woodland elements and with the numerous fairy doors at the base of trees which rather than seeming twee or commercial appeared as a natural part of the wood. It was certainly a place to stir the imagination.  © 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved