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~~“Seabhach Abu’ Bulletin”~~ |
Dear Clanspeople ~ November-Samhain 12, 2001
November, is the Month of Samhain, and the 1st marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year 2002. It also brings our Clan related Activities to a near close for 2001, and begins our Traditional Winter Holiday Season. Lady Gracy and Myself, Chief Eile O'Carroll, on Behalf of our many Dedicated, Clan Cian Chieftains and Officers, wish each and every one ~~2001-2002~~Happy Holidays. 2001, gave us new, Clan Cian Members, joining with other Clan Members making, Clan Cian a Clan of Great People, these past nineteen years. 2002 will mark the 20th year Clan Cian began Fielding at Scottish, Irish and Celtic Gatherings. Eanair (January) will begin continued Clan Gatherings. Clanspeople and others that share an interest in Celtic Gatherings are urged to check our Website: www.clancian-carroll.com for Game Activities for 2002 and the News Flash for ongoing Clan Happenings. For additional inquires and information contact a Clan Cian Officer closest to you from the Officer List. ~~Check also~~ Website: members.tripod.com/clancian for additional Clan Cian News. Feabhra (February) 2, 2002, starts with our Clan Cian 2002 (AGM) Annual General Meeting. Our appreciation to the McCarthy Family, of whom has given a dedicated 17-year, involvement, as Clan Cian Charter Members, Chieftains, and to our Regional Newsletters. “Seabhach Abu” ~Hawk Victory~~The Hawk Forever~ Gracy and Chief Eile ~ Tanist Frederick O'Carroll and family.
Clan Cian News
Dear Clans-people,
2001's grand entry has come and gone and at the writing of this Bulletin, dated October 7th the Bush Administration began America's response for the September 11th, terrorist suicide bombings of the New York City Trade Center, US Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania plane high-jacking/crash with a retaliatory attack on the terrorist camps in Afghanistan.
Clan Cian has Members throughout the United States and other Countries around the world. So I petitioned the Chief Herald many years ago for the International Date Line symbol, (the Golden Dragons) which was added to my Service Jacket at the start of the Vietnam War, as our Symbol for International Clan Cian, Membership, where we have Family Septs on either side of the International Date Line. Since, that time, I have altered the Petitioned Request to be changed to our Water-hound Symbol. (Symbol of St. Abhan, Patron Saint of Eile O’Carroll-Clan Cian for all our Families abroad. In the future, I will also introduce, the Cross of St. Cronin, of Eile as our Clan Cross, in addition to use, with the Celtic and Holy Cross.
I have asked one of our Chaplains to help create a page or pages on our Website, that I wish to set aside for their ministry so they can convey services targeted to benefit the Membership through the Web.
One of our female clans-people informed me about Peter Carroll, who was one of the missing New York Firefighters at the Trade Center & further that her family is directly involved in that one of the two women held hostage by the Afghan Taliban, is a niece of hers. As of yesterday the Taliban, indicated they were going to use both women as a bargaining tool, in relation to today's bombings in Afghanistan.
I feel sure there are many more of our Clans-people that are being personally affected one way or another from the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. I and my Wife Gracy, wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to all who were involved and specifically to our Clans-people that have and might still have to personally bare the results of this national tragedy.
Let us not forget to pay homage to all those that came to assist and were injured or killed while assisting the victims. Also over and above those already lost. Consider our Armed Force Personnel now being sent into “Harms way” to try and eliminate future tragedies throughout the world. Remember the other Countries that are also vulnerable to the Terrorist still on the loose.
Remain “Alert” & May the Eternal One Bless and Care for each and every one of you no matter what your faith or belief.
Chief Eile and Lady Gracy
St. Abhan and the Water hound
Written by: Greg O'Brien
Come sit awhile and hear
one of old Erin's tales
Of monsters, monks, soldiers and kings
a pleasure, sure not to fail
St. Padraig foretold of a man
St. Abhan was his name
He would save the pagan celts
from their heathen ways
Over the sweet, green hills of Erin
St. Abhan made his way
Through lush green valles and forest stands
Erin's beauty caused his heart to stay...
Her red deer, both swift and strong
Her shaggy hounds, lean and long
Her wild Celts, both fierce and free
Her noble beings longed to .....BE!
Into the lands of the Ui Chearbhaill
our patron saint did go
Unto the kingdom of Ely
this mighty saint did sow
The seeds of love and kindness
the seeds of our Christian faith
To redeem these wild Celts
to repent their evil ways
And so, to the Manor House
Raith-Becain was it's name
On the Munster river Brosna,
St. Abhan came
To meet Prince Eile
A mighty Gaelic chieftain was he
To shed light in the darkness
that the ancient Celts might see
But Prince Eile was not impressed
with this humble monk before him
Prince Eile was a wise Chief
schooled in the Tests of arms and the Politcial forum
What magics did St. Abhan possess?
Why should his people see...
That the Holy Cross, was the ONLY way
for his people, in darkness, to truly see?
St. Abhan crossed himself
a short prayer to say
And in the quiet stillness ,he heard
"A miracle thou will see Today"
Prince Eile's head druid
took St. Abhan's prayer ,as a weakness
And asked to test this monk
as to his mental and spirtual fitness
Come with me, holy monk
show me, if you can "truly" see
I know of a large boulder
buried beneath an ancient tree...
Tell me, holy monk
Which part is greater?
The portion of this stone we see
or the portion we will see later?
For when we dig up this boulder
We shall surely see
If your God gives you the power
to see what can not be seen...
To this replied St. Abhan
with confidence and grace
Amid the scornful looks
upon the druids face
This stone's two halfs are equal
on both sides , where they are married
That which is seen
and that which is buried
Prince Eile told his servants
Go out and unearth this boulder
And we shall see who is greater
this monk's God or our god Dispater!!
But alas, when the stone was uncovered
both Prince Eile and his people did see
That St. Abhan's Lord could foretell
what the head Druid's bones could not see!!
For this boulder was split perfectly in half!!
for the world to see...
But Prince Eile was not impressed
and he still did not believe!!
Lucky guesses do not impress me!
Flowery speeches will not make me see...
I need a man of action
I need an example to see...
I have this terrible monster
it lives in our rivers, lochs and Seas...
From head to tail it is on Fire
with long sharp nails and immense teeth...
This huge firey salamander
the "Waterhound" is it's name
Sends my soldiers home bloodied
and their hounds lame...
It is, as big as a yearling calf!!
and it lays our flocks to waste!
It's skin is like stone...
our weapons will not phase!!
This beast spits bellows of fire!
It's venom a soul can waste!
It moves like a great cat...
with the harmony of grace and haste!!
If ....You...could rid Me of this BEAST
Your... LORD ....I would follow
I speak the truth, this day
my words will not ring hollow!
So..St. Abhan set forth
to lay this "Waterhound" to waste!
Saying a prayer of Thanksgiving
our patron saint set off with haste...
First to the blacksmith
to purchase the stoutest of chains...
And then to the Loch itself
this wild beast to Tame!
Out of the water , the beast came
this huge salamander...
As big as a yearling calf...
this beast was a firey wonder!!
On fire, from head to tail...
the beast was a living flame!
With huge shiney teeth
and long nails like scians!!!
The water boiled around the beast
and sizzled into steam!!
This beast moved frightfully fast!!
The Bringer of Death was He!!!!!
St. Abhan breathed a short prayer
and the Lord showed him the way...
In seconds flat, the beast was Bound!!
A miracle was wrought that Day!!
Soon after...Prince Eile
gave up his Heathen ways ....
And taught his people a new way
St. Abhan lead the way!!
So that is the tale...
How, St. Abhan, became our patron saint
And how St. Abhan ,with the Lord's help
laid the "Waterhound" to waste!!!
From the new Editor
Greetings All:
It is with great pride and pleasure that I will be publishing the Clan Newsletter. I thank Marilyn McCarthy and Erieann McCarthy for all the hard work they have done for the newsletter in the past years. God bless you both! I just hope I can fill your shoes. I welcome all suggestions for format and content. Please, if you have something you would like to share be it poetry, articles, family genealogy, history etc..... Please feel free to contact me at: ciannews@yahoo.com or 831-443-9716. Sincerely, Noreen O'More
"We are starting a Clan Cian book of Poetry. It is open to all the members of the Clan and their families. This book of Poetry will include basically all forms of creative writing, short stories, poems, and prose. We are trying to build a treasury of Clan literary talent, so please don't be shy and send in your poems and writings to the following email address lionofmunster@yahoo.com. Thanks - Greg O'Brien"
If you do not have email, you can send them snail (US) mail to: Noreem O'More 285 Dexter Dr., Salinas, CA 93906
Leap Castle
The most haunted Castle in Ireland? |
Through turbulent centuries, Leap Castle kept watch for the lords of Ely O'Carroll and still stands fortress-like on its perch overlooking a vast stretch of the countryside. It guarded the pass from the Slieve Bloom into Munster. From here the O'Carrolls set out for victory and defeat, here they brought their brides and captives. Within lurks Ireland's most intriguing elemental presence - unique in that it is reputed to give off a hastly ghostly odour. The Gaelic name for the castle is "Leim ui Bhanain" - which means the Leap of the O Bannons. The O Bannon clan were the first owners of Leap. Before the O Carrolls went to live in the Castle the O Bannon family were under chiefs of the O Carrolls. Leap Castle is a keep.
The keep it self was built in the fourteenth or fifteenth century Around 1604 or 1605 some of the territory of Ely O Carroll was attached to Kings County which is now known as Offaly. There is a rumour that an O Carroll daughter helped a Darby to escape from the castle and then married him afterwards. Following the failure of the Revolt of the Earls, in 1619 the plantation of Ely O Carroll took place. The English rulers settled the area with loyal Protestant Scots and Englishmen and deprived the local Gaelic population of their land. Leep Castle passed into the hands of the Darby family A Darby son of an English knight married one of the O'Carrolls daughters and he came from Godsby hall, Lincolnshire. Admiral Sir Henry Darby, K.C.B. commanded a ship at the battle of the Nile, which was called the Bellerophon. It also brought Napolean into exile. He died in 1823. General Christopher Darby died in 1832.
John Nelson Darby devoted most of his life to writing and travelling around the world. He wrote thirtytwo volumes in all. Mrs. Jonathan Darby wrote about the poor whereas most of the English would look down on the poor. She wrote about the Famine in a book called "The Hunger". She also wrote "Anthropoid Apes", "The Green Contry", "Paddy Risky" and an "April Fool". Her husband told her not to write any more books after she wrote "The Hunger". Jonathan Darby had 4,376 acres in 1871.
On Sunday 30 July 1922 to Monday 1 August 1922, the Leap Castle was destroyed. Jonathan Darby claimed 30,000 compensation. The castle began restoration some years after.
Recent updated reports from the last 10 years, tell of inexplicable lights in one of the windows that goes on by itself; a mysterious, hideous 'ELEMENTAL' known as "IT"; a tall female clothed in red from head to toe, a ghostly, shaven Monk; an elderly lady and an old man.
Simon Marsden, one of the most internationally acclaimed photographers of ancient structures and castles, has said of Leap Castle "Without a shadow of a doubt the most sinister and frightening building I have ever photographed"
Leap Castle
Roscrea Co. Tipperary
Tel. 0509 31115/087 2311034
Open all year round. Entry: Adults
£3, Children £1, Group rates.
(no accommodations)
THE KING
OF
ALL THE BIRDS |
It is claimed that the wren has special status amongst the birds of Ireland and, on Saint Stephen's Day-the 26th of December~there is still a tradition in some parts of Ireland to honour the tiny bird.
Once, all the birds of the land met together and planned to decide which one of them could fly the highest and so be awarded the title, King of all Birds. The clever wren knew he had little chance of flying higher than the blackbird or even the thrush, so he stealthily climbed into the feathers of the eagle who flew up and up until it reached a point higher than any other bird. At that moment the wren flew out from its hiding place and appeared in the sky above the eagle. And so it happened that the winner was chosen and the wren became known as the King of all Birds from that day on. In some counties such as Clare and Kerry people walk from house to house on Saint Stephen's Day. They carry an effigy of a wren and recite traditional rhymes in honour of the King of all Birds;
"The wren the wren, the king of all birds
Saint Stephen's Day was caught in the furze;
Although he is little, his family is great
So rise up, landlady and give us a treat;
Bottles of whiskey and bottles of beer
And I wish you all a happy New Year." |
Ireland and the Irish have made significant contributions to English language usage. Most of these terminologies find their roots in Irish historical events. There are few links to mythologies. Behind some of them lie stories that are at once outlandish and exceptional. Few people who use these expressions in their everyday language have any idea that they originate in Ireland and have their roots in actual occurrences. |
BOYCOTT
A word dear to the heart of consumer advocates is Boycott. It is a strange word with an interesting history. In the nineteenth century the Irish peasantry rented their land from English landlords who where almost never in Ireland and were generally referred to as “absentee landlords.”
One of this number employed an agent called Captain Boycott, a particularly cruel man who evicted many people. In those times to take action against a land agent was an invitation to transportation for life, so the afflicted tenants had to scheme some means of attacking the evil agents that was totally within the law. They decided that Boycott and his entire family should be ostracized by the whole community, and treated as if they did not exist. Their campaign, the first time this method of counterattack had been employed in Ireland, was a success. Boycott was forced to leave his lands in county Mayo but years later he returned to Ireland, acknowledged his wrongdoing and was accepted back into the community. By the time he died in his bed in Ireland, the term “Boycott” had come into general use.
LYNCHING
One of the most popular of Irish names is Lynch. One of the best known bearers of the name is Jack Lynch, champion sportsman and a former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, now happily retired. There is a belief that the name is derived from the family De Lench who came to Ireland with the Normans 800 years ago. There is a suggestion that they came from the city of Linz in Austria and that they descended from Charlemagne. The Lynx on their family crest-the most sharp-sighted of animals-signifies the vigilance of an ancestor, a governor of Linz, who put up a strong defense when that city was under siege. In the fifteenth century these Norman Lynchs emerged as one of the most powerful of the fourteen tribes of Galway, when Galway was a city as well as an important seaport. By judicious intermarriage these merchant princes ensured the security of their community as they carried on extensive trade by sea with Europe, particularly Spain. Today the Spanish Arch in Galway City, near which the grandees of Spain would promenade on the harbout quays, bears testimony to the very close links that existed between Galway and Spain. From 1484 until the 1650's there were eighty-four Lynch mayors of Galway. One of these distinguished Galwegians was James Lynch Fitzstephen who had a son named Walter. This young Walter, according to whichever source you accept, had set his heart on a fair damsel who, however, was receiving undue attention from a swarthy visting Spaniard and this filled him with intense jealousy. It appears that one night he waylaid the Spaniard and in an ensuing struggle the Spaniard was mortally wounded. Young Lynch was tried for murder and condemned to death. But thats not the end of the matter, for when no one could be found to carry out the sentence, it fell to the first citizen of Galway, Mayor Lynch, to act as public executioner. Mayor Lynch hanged his own son little knowing that he was lending his name to “Lynch Law.” If you vist Galway, walk down by St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church (built by a Lynch in 1320) and there you will see the famous Lynch window about first floor level, and tradition has it that it was hereabouts that the execution took place. |
Chieftains, Officers and Members of Clan Cian
We are re-evaluating the newsletter program and need those Members, having address, phone or email changes, to email: Noreen O'More at: ciannews@yahoo.com or mail to return address on the back page of this newsletter.
PLEASE NOTE: The location of the AGM (Annual General Meeting) will be changed from last year, location to be announced. Please watch for updates on the website or in your mail. |
From John Navin, Chieftain- Clan Cian ~ Website address: http://members.tripod.com/clancian As we come into the middle of November and Veterans day is approaching as a ex- Army SFC, I would like to thank my fellow clan veterans for serving their country in the time of war and peace.
This Veteran's Day, we urge all Americans to remember those in uniform today, as well as the veterans of generations past. Their sacrifice to preserve freedom and opportunity for us all deserves our heartfelt thanks.
Last month in October, the local Washington State tribe that covers British Columbia, Canada down to middle Washington State, had a clan meeting and awards lunch at Fado's in downtown Seattle, thanks to those great folks who helped make the lunch a great success, over 25 clan members were present.
Awards given out went to
Best Clansmen Dave Patterson
Best Clanswomen (tie) Paula Navin and Bethany Cladwell
Best Clan Couple Bonnie and Russ Sweeney
Most Enthusiastic New Members Deborah & Timothy Kirby
Clan Cian Ambassador Byran Caldwell
Clan Cian Ambassador Justin Atwood
Clan Cian Celtic Athletic Director Lisa Powers
Clan Cian Multi Cultural Ambassador Lisa Powers
Clan Cian Celtic Athletic Darkfeather Ancheta ( Powers )
Darkfeather broke many records this year.
Clan Cian Angel watcher Rebecca Caldwell
Congrauations to all.
GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
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PHRASE: An bhfuil Gaelige/Bearla agat?
PRONOUNCED: On will gale-geh/bear-lah ah-gut?
MEANING: Do you speak Irish/English?
PHRASE: An dtuigeann tú?
PRONOUNCED: On digg/inn two
MEANING: Do you understand?
PHRASE: Tuigim/Ni thuigim
PRONOUNCED: tigg-im/knee higg-im
MEANING: I understand/I don't understand
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in Music
