It's been a while!

I am embarrassed to see that it has been a few years since I contributed to my blog site.  No excuses I know but since finishing up with the History Links Project and the participants I kinda forgot about it.  I often think about people who I have worked with during the years and wonder do they use the skills they developed during their classes?

Blogging should be used to document all the interesting things we do and the interesting places we visit.  For example this year I visited Morocco, Hemel Hemstead and Berlin.  I should document each holiday or trip and as time passes it is nice to revisit memories.

I spent Sunday July 6th walking through Berlin and walking to the Brandenburg Gate and on to Tier Park for a beer with Miguel from Spain.  It was such a relaxing day after a hectic week of workshops and theatre of the oppressed!  Found memories of all those I met from Scotland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain and Poland.  I sincerely hope our paths cross again.

Hemel Hemstead was very interesting and I think it is a tad harsh that it has been voted the most ugly city in the UK.  I was surprised to learn how the recession has impacted the city and the amount of closed down businesses.  Again I met some wonderful people including Mark, Musaret and Ali.  It would be lovely to work with you again sometime!  One of the craziest things about Hemel has to be their roundabout, known locally as the magic roundabout!


The most exciting trip this year so far, however was a trip to Marrakesh with Shane.  The colours, the heat, the smells and the people all added up to a truly memorable 3 days.  And even though Shane and I got very lazy and didn't take our own photos because we knew when we got back home and Googled we would get more than enough images to capture our memories!  We had an amazing time and would recommend a break to anyone in Marrakesh.

The Gap of Dunloe

A day spent in the Gap of Dunloe was one of the highlights of our family holiday in County Kerry last year.  I'm sure when you read the heading you automatically thought of Dunloe in County Donegal!  The people in the picture are my husband Shane, children - Jack, Kate and George.  I'm taking the picture : - )

I'm cooler than you!

This is an example of how some people may document their holidays - they can then invite friends and family to follow them!

Novice



Flowers in Glenveigh

This is such an exciting way for the communication of all the interesting things we encounter in everyday life! Which simply means its a great way to tell a story !! As a complete novice in the art of blogging it is best to keep your stories short and simple. After a few posts you'll be right up there with the rest of the blogging world. Remember Blog is the combination of the words web and log - Blog :-)

The art of Blogging

For me this simply means writing on something that interests you - summarise it - make it interesting and hopefully others will be stimulated, motivated and or inspired. However it is advised that you spend a bit of time on what you want to say so time may be a consideration and as such you may not blog too regularly no matter what your intention when joining a Blogging team!

Introduction

To type up a blog - you log into the Blog account. Sign In and then you simply click on new post and hey presto you are presented with the post window. Typing skills developed using word and email will now prove invaluable! You can spell check and format text using the tool bar.

Images and videos can be imported using the appropriate tools also. This picture was imported from the pictures folder, aligned and sized to my specifications - how clever is that!

I wonder can you see our chickens??  Please post a comment saying how many chickens you can see :-)

Getting Started

You will be brought to the Dashboard area of the Blog site.  You have the option of adding in information about your-self.  Click on Edit Profile to add information.  You can add your Photo later if you wish.  To get started with posting click on NEW POST.

You should type in a Title (heading) for your Blog and then type up your Blog.  The tools available are similar to the tools in Word.  Just move the mouse to each hover for a moment and it will tell you what it does.  Spell check is at the end of the tool bar!

Type your Blog, Preview and then Publish - it really is as easy as that!

Wassail ! by Hugh Doherty

After a lovely Xmas Day at West Kirby on the Wirral, the Dohertys wrapped up well and headed for the annual Boxing Day revels at Willaston, Cheshire. The 'Mersey Morris Men' were performing at the village green from 11.00am.

Much to our surprise and delight they began with the "Mummers Play" which used to be performed by school children at Oughterlin, Rathmullan in the 1950s. This brought back many happy memories of times gone past.

"Beelzebub" dances a jig in the Mummers!

The Morris Men ended a hectic routine by dancing the "Molly".

The "Molly" was associated with 'Plough Monday' (first Monday after the Epiphany), which was the start of the English ploughing season. According to tradition, ploughboys, out of money after Xmas and awaiting the ploughing season, dressed up and went around landowners offering to dance for money. They disguised themselves with soot on their faces and dressed in black except for Molly who was dressed as a woman in all white. Any landowner who should refuse them would be cursed or even have a 'crooked furrow' ploughed across his land.
The large crowd at Willaston was warmed up with piping hot Mulled wine & Xmas cake (children got sweets) before the Morris Men proposed the toast;
Wassail! Wassail! And the delighted crowd responded; Thrice Wassail!
(pronounced Wa-Sail = Good Health).
The Mersey Morris Men perform at this traditional event every year but their dance routine varies. Luckily, the Mummers Play was on their list for 2011 and we had a most enjoyable day.

You'll never miss the Well until...by Hugh Doherty

Inspired by Joe McCormick's story, The Importance of Water, in "Them Were The Days"(page 61), I reflected on recent holidays spent in two World Heritage Cities.

Dubrovnik in Croatia is situated on the Adriatic sea. Upon entering the old city by the Western gate the visitor may be surprised to see everyone going to the fountain to drink water. They go to "Big Onifrio's Fountain" (pictured above left).
This Fountain was built by Onifrio in 1432 to serve the city with spring water which has flowed continuously ever since. The water comes from 12 km away in a mountain above the city and flows from spouts out of the mouths of the original 16 masks around the fountain. Visitors drink from the water spouts , some even wash their faces and fill bottles of water for later use. After drinking water many people sit around and relax at the base of the fountain- a truly unique and symbolic occasion.

The City of Chester in England was the other location. Its red sandstone Cathedral dates back to St. Anslem (1092). In the Cloisters of the Cathedral there is a powerful sculpture (pictured above right), "The Water of Life", by Stephen Broadbent. The inscription on the monument reads, "Inner Well Always Springing". The Anglican Cathedral welcomes visitors from all persuasions and invites those seeking peacefulness and calm to visit the Water Garden in the Cloisters. Apart from the water feature the garden itself is beautifully designed with lots of interesting flowers and plants. It is well worth a visit and as the French would say; "il est un endroit tranquill"- it is a peaceful place.

I can recommend both cities as really good destinations for an enjoyable holiday break.

The devil's back bone ! by Hugh Doherty

How often have you heard the remark; "As sharp as the devil's back bone"?
Well, you can see how sharp it really is in the picture above.

The "Devil's Back Bone" is the name of the peak to the right of centre in this picture of the Oughterlin hills and its peak is just as sharp as it looks. In wintertime it was always first to have a coating of snow making it look even more menacing. Don't ask me how it got its name because I just don't know even though it was always in my sight as I walked through the fields to Lurganboyce national school every day .

If you would like to go for a walk in the Oughterlin Hills take the road from Kerrykeel towards Rathmullan taking right at a Y junction at the top of a bray after Kerrykeel. Then the road climbs steadily for about 2km and after it flattens out for about 1km, take a road to the right that has been made up to the Windmills. This roadway will take you right up to Cruck-an-Aifreann (Mass Hill) which lies just behind the trees in left of picture. If you are energetic you can climb up to the "Standing man" on Cruck-an-Aifreann which marks an Ordnance survey "triangulation point" and then you can look around and marvel at such a beautiful landscape.

The photo was taken as darkness fell on Saturday evening 15th October 2011.

Limelight on Slieve Snaght (Sneachta) by Hugh Doherty

The mountain in the distance is aptly named Slieve Snaght (Snow Mountain) and is 615 metres in height. It is situated north of Buncrana on the Inishowen Peninsula. At the first hint of Winter there will be a 'pepper dusting' of snow on its peak. When the peak is completely white capped, then shortly after that, the lowland areas can expect a snowfall (no need for any other kind of weather forecasters!).

Apart from being very pleasing to the eye, Slieve Snaght is in the 'Limelight' for a very historic reason. In August 1825, during the course of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland the surveyors were already in place on the top of Divis Mountain Belfast and were attempting to sight a 'survey pole' which had been erected on Slieve Snaght. This was part of their 'Triangulation of Mountains'; Knocklayd in County Antrim, Divis Mountain and Slieve Snaght. They succeeded in making the 40 miles connection with Knocklayd but typically they were confronted with 'haze and fogginess' and were unable to locate Slieve Snaght.

Lieutenant Thomas Drummand, a Scottish inventor and mathematician, was dispatched to Inishowen. He was aware that the burning of Calcium Oxide could be observed over long distances. He had camped for almost three months at over 2000 feet on Slieve Snaght and the mountain was by now covered in snow. On the night of 9th November 1825 he put his theory into practise and his 'Limelight' successfully made the 66 miles connection with the surveyors on Divis Mountain much to the relief of Lt Col Thomas Colby the Survey director. This enabled the Surveyors to proceed with triangulation of the rest of Ireland. They moved on to Slieve Donard in the Mournes, from where they could see the Wicklow hills and to Slieve League(Liag), in South West Donegal which they described as the wildest headland in the British Isles.

Limelight (also known as 'Drummond's light') went on to be used in the lighting of stages for Plays and thus the word 'Limelight' entered the English language and remains in use to this day. Someone in the public eye is still said to be "in the Limelight".
So, when you next find yourself basking in 'the limelight' just spare a thought for the determination and resolve of Thomas Drummand and his colleagues on that night in November 1825.

The Ordnance Surveyors endured great hardship on the mountains of Ireland but their perseverance has left us with a wealth of documented information, much of which would, otherwise, have been lost.

When I took this picture in mid September 2011, an ominous looking cloud was heading for Slieve Snaght and it resulted in a 'twister' in the Clonmany area.

The Beauty of our Sky - Teresa Duffy

Have you ever taken time to look up at the sky and see the many wonderful clouds some like cotton wool and the colours of blue and think how wonderful it is.
While growing up, my mother would look out our front window and check what the sky was like, if it was clear and no clouds she would hang out the washing. As the day went on mum would shout "the rain is coming bring in the washing", I asked her how she knew and she said that by looking at the sky, as the clouds would have got darker and sure enough the rain would fall. I have taken this with me to my own home, I look out my window and check if there are any clouds in the sky and if not I will hang out my washing, then when I see the dark clouds I run out and bring the washing in again.
We did not see too many blue skies during this summer as the weather was so bad, however today 28th September it is an absolutely beautiful day, the sky is a clear blue and the sun is shining, it gives people a real boost.
The other evening I happened to look up at the sky, it was an amazing colour of red and to me it looked like an angel, I asked my girls what they thought it looked like, their answer was an animal of some kind, I won't write down what my husband thought it looked like! I will let you decide what you think it looked like.

150th Anniversary of Derryveagh evictions by Hugh Doherty

Susie & Rosie Kerr from Melbourne, Australia, standing at the Hearthstone of their Great Grandmother's (Catherine Ward) ancestral wall steads from which she was evicted in 1861 as well as 46 other families. The clergy of the three main denominations in the area all pleaded with the Landlord not to proceed with the evictions but he went ahead regardless and the operation took three days.

In one house a young girl had beautiful long hair and the Bailiff swirled her hair around his arm and led her outside by the hair of her head.

My wife, Mary's Great Grandmother, Biddy McSwyne (Sweeney) was also evicted. She was 11 years old at that time. She was put out of the house with the rest of the family but ran back in only to be caught and thrown out again. The crowbar then was put to the lintel above the door and the house tumbled. Other tenants, were not permitted to give shelter to the evicted under the threat of eviction themselves if they did so. Consequently, those evicted were "left on the waves of the world" and while some were helped by relatives on other estates many had to make the three months sea journey to New South Wales, Australia to start a new life.

On Saturday 27th August 2011, two hundred and fifty people, mostly descendants or relatives, walked from Derryveagh to Churchill in recognition of the courage and dignity of those made homeless and their determination to rear their children.

Informative talks were given by May McClintock, Tom Sweeney and Niall McGinley. It was an emotional day for all concerned but at the end of the walk there was an enjoyable BBQ, music and dance at Wilkins Bar, Churchill.

"The Crap Machine"

After spending nine days in glorious Algorfa, forty minutes from Alicante, temperatures as high as 39o, it was so difficult coming home to the cold, wind and wet of Donegal. I did miss the green grass, the noise on the street, however I enjoyed the chance to get some vitamin D and top up on it for the rest of this year and probably next year.

We arrived at the airport and went to our car hire area, there was quite a lot of people waiting for their cars, I got behind a couple of people who I thought was in a queue to be told that there is no queue...! No they do not queue in Spain..well I never! it is just a case of first come first served. Eventually we got our car, drove out of the airport and put on the good old Sat Nav to be taken through every small village and town before getting to our villa - one and a half hours later, a journey that normally takes forty minutes, you could have cut the tension in the car with a knife!

The girls did not speak, the temperature was reading 34o in the car I would say it was nearly in its 50's by the time we stopped the car. I was in such a rage at the sat nat that I called it "The Crap Machine", so it has stuck, however having said that "The Crap Machine" did take us out of a few predicaments during the rest of our stay.

This is Anfield & Wild Flowers of Inver, by Hugh Doherty

Had a brilliant day out to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Flower Show at Tatton Park, near the lovely town of Knutsford, Cheshire. This is a four day show and it is just not possible to take it all in, in one day. The attendance was also large which meant that getting around was slow but it was well worthwhile and most enjoyable. It was nice to sit down outside at lunchtime with a sandwich and a pint of 'real' ale to enjoy a live jazz band playing 'Midnight in Moscow'.

Getting back to my reason for being at the show, to look at the show gardens; I was really impressed with, 'This is Anfield', representing the Liverpool Football stadium. The designer, Ann Picot, was inspired by the geometry of the passing moves in a game. In the zig-zag movement she used Daisies (Bellis perennis) to represent the passage of the ball to the goal. Her use of daisies was interesting because in football parlance the term 'Daisy cutter' is used to describe a powerful low shot that just skims above the surface of the pitch and usually ends up in the goal.

Behind 'the goal' is the Kop, the stand, where most ardent and vocal Liverpool supporters are usually to be found. Here she used red flowers to represent supporters' colours and grasses to give the impression of a swaying movement by the crowd. The 'boxwood balls' along the side represent the spare balls used when the match ball goes out into the stand and is slow to return (at least that was my interpretation). It was almost like being at a match.

The lower photo is of an Irish garden, "Wild flowers of Inver", designed by Stephen Dennis. This "Inver" is actually on the Atlantic coast at lovely Broadhaven Bay near Belmullet in County Mayo and not Donegal as I initially thought. As you can see in the picture a 'Bronze harp' was used as a water feature in the centre of the lake and the "strings of the harp" were actually thin jets of water. This was an amazing feature which attracted a lot of attention. The beautiful wild flowers, both native and alien, growing side by side around the lake, represents the influence of the Atlantic ocean which brought 'strangers' to our shores.

The RHS marquee housed leading nurserymen displaying and offering their plants and seeds for sale. Anyone intending to buy that special plant should do so early in the day and leave for collection later as by mid afternoon they may be sold out, as I discovered. Their prices were all "reasonable", from £2.00 upwards and I did buy some seeds which were easily carried.

There 's a one eyed yellow idol to the north of Katmandoo

In early May while driving between Burt & Bridgend I noticed this unusual feature on the side of Scalp mountain overlooking the village of Burnfoot. In a moment of sheer inspiration I thought that it resembled an eye keeping a lookout over the village and surrounding countryside. The J. Milton Hayes poem from my school days came to mind I but could not get past the first line! So I stopped the car and took a picture.

No doubt some one will be saying; "It would fit you better to have been looking where you were going instead of watching at the hills"! But it is unusual to have a camera when you see something interesting to take. How many times have you heard people say; "if I only had a camera"?

Whins, gorse, furze or whatever you may call it grows in dry ground and as far as I know it is in bloom every month of the year except for July. It has the reputation of being extremely hardy but a lot of it was killed in Donegal by the frosts in the winter just past and gorse fires caused more damage. However, the resilient whin will not give up that easy and next spring it will again light up the country side, contrasting well with the "fertiliser green" of the fields.

A Day of Winning - Teresa Duffy

At the European Open this week another Ulster man namely Darren Clarke started well and today Darren lifted the Clariot Jug at Royal St George's golf club, it was a great day for the man from Dungannon.
Another great victory also for Donegal against Derry in Clones, first Ulster win for Donegal since 1992. There will be some celebrations in the county for the rest of the week. Good luck to Donegal in the rest of the campaign.

where are have all the bloggers gone

Hi Everyone where have you all gone miss the blogs

so get cracking and write some otherwise we will get out

of practise

Loneliness CP

He limps along home nearly time for his tea

Pauses to massage his painful left knee

He's well on in years now, but still gets around

Though not quite so quick now at covering the ground

His spirit is willing ,but this body says 'Hey,

You can't react now as you did yesterday

He shrugs his shoulders ,and grins to himself

Face it old mate -you're on Father Time's shelf

Slowly he paces the path to his door

One turn of the the key ,and it opens once more

No need to call out hello love it's me

There's nobody to pour him a nice cut of tea

He thinks back to the time of a far different life

When his called would be answered by his loving wife

Oh!Why was she taken? his only true love

Nobody knows but the good Lord above

Life wasn't exciting- just a husband and wife

Who tried to be caring .and lead a good life

He smiles at her picture, and his heart filled with sorrow

Maybe, my love, I'll be with you tomorrow

He sits there alone ,and thinks back down the years

Finding it hard to fight back the tears

He's been told he needs tonics and medicine and pills

Doesn't anyone know that loneliness kills

A Day Trip to Belfast - Teresa Duffy

Wednesday 22nd June was the History Links day trip to The Ulster Museum, Open Top Bus and Belfast City Hall.

We the Raphoe gang gathered in the Diamond at 9.15 in anticipation of our journey to Belfast, we were like school children all talking and excited about "Our Day Away". The yellow bus arrived just after 9.15, we then had to wait on one of our friends to arrive, Kathleen the coordinator gave us our name tags and asked Paddy Joe Coyle if he had pins in the shop, so up Paddy Joe got out of his seat and headed over to the shop, he eventually came back with the pins. We attached our name tag, pins and all to our cardigans, jumpers or whatever was handiest! Kathleen by the way had her cardigan on inside out, so she had to change it and was quite embarrassed NOT!

The journey there seemed to fly by, the weather when we got to Belfast was lovely, we arrived at the Ulster Museum and had tea/coffee and a jumbo scone with butter and jam.

We looked around the museum, then went to the Wellington Park Hotel for soup and sandwiches. After the food we were asked to fill in a survey, pencils were handed out with the surveys, and after some chatting and exchanging views the surveys were handed back to Stephen, Ronan and Kathleen.

The open top bus arrived, but it was a closed double Decker bus, thank goodness as the rain started but was not heavy. The bus tour guide was great craic and very interesting indeed. We went up the Shankill Road and down it again and also the Falls Road very interesting to see the different cultures and colours.

We finished the open top bus tour at Belfast City Hall where a few went in around it and others went shopping, mind you one hour did not give enough time to see everything.

We boarded our own bus and headed down the M2 next stop was the Oak-leaf Restaurant, food was served and the craic was mighty. There was not a dull moment with Kathleen she was the life and soul at our table.

Back in Raphoe at 22.30 hours a great day was had by all... Thanks to Stephen, Ronan and Kathleen.


Photos: The History Links Group outside The Ulster Museum. The three men busy filling out the surveys in the Wellington Park Hotel. lf-rg Harry Wallace, John Patterson and Hugh Doherty.

History links

Our last day at the History links here in Strabane

WE had a lovely lunch with Ronan Mary and Stephen

then we went to see Ann and Bob Kavanaghs beautiful

Garden they made us all so welcome and we all really

enjoyed it so a big thank you to Ronan Mary and Stephen

for all the hard work will keep in touch with emails and facebook

and not forgetting the blogs to everyone in the history links have

a lovely summer and take care and keep well

Carmel