Crave

Left alone with my thoughts

I’m torn apart

I am the creature of intent

In my mind ye

are already dead

Switch flicks in my head

I cut you down

The silence and darkness

I crave is all that remains

Celtic Calendar

James Connolly

 

James Connolly 1868-1916 James Connolly was a revolutionary socialist, a trade union leader and a political theorist. His execution by firing squad after the Easter Rising, supported by a chair because of his wounds, significantly contributed to the mood of bitterness in Ireland.

On Easter Monday, 24th April, he led the Headquarters Battalion from Liberty Hall to the General Post Office and commanded military operations there throughout the week – supervising the construction of defences, determining and adjusting strategy, summoning reinforcements and deciding on the disposition of his forces. That only nine volunteers in the post office garrison died during the fighting is testimony to his talents. He himself took constant risks with his own safety but even after being severely wounded on 27th April, he remained, as Patrick Pearse said, "still the guiding brain of our resistance".

At noon on Saturday 29th April, Connolly supported the majority view of the leaders that they should surrender as he ‘could not bear to see his brave boys burnt to death’. His expectation was that the Rising`s organisers would be shot and the rest set free. Under military escort, Connolly was carried to the Red Cross hospital at Dublin Castle where hours later he signed Pearse`s surrender order on behalf of the Irish Citizen Army. He was court-martialled there, propped up in his bed, on 9th May. At his trial he read a brief hand-written statement which stated that: ‘The cause of Irish freedom is safe … as long as … Irishmen are ready to die endeavouring to win [it]’. His execution took place at Kilmainham Gaol after dawn on 12th May – he was the last of the rebel leaders to face the firing squad.

My Fear

I fear nothing

But my other side

The darkness

I keep inside

In the back of my mind

What would it do?

If ever I said fine

Lets see what you can do

It's perfectly normal to experience fear and anxiety, especially when it comes to our own inner thoughts and emotions. However, it's important to remember that we have the power to control our own minds and emotions, and that we can learn to confront and overcome our fears.

Facing the darkness within ourselves can be a daunting task, but it's also a crucial part of personal growth and self-discovery. Instead of suppressing these feelings, it's often helpful to acknowledge them and explore their root causes. This can involve seeking the help of a therapist or counselor, or engaging in practices like meditation or journaling to help process and understand our emotions.

Remember, you are not alone in your struggles. There are many resources available to help you confront and overcome your fears, and with time and effort, you can learn to live a more fulfilling and empowered life.

Bobby Sands

 Bobby Gerard Sands March 9th 1954 - May 5th 1981 Relief Carving

Your Dying

 

You’re dying

So your soul can live

Dying

And you never lived

You spent your life

On your knees

Blindly following your deities

Your gods and prophets

Are the reason that our worlds in pain

Wars are wage

Murder and butcher in their names

All for nothing

For your deities never were

Your been fooled

And never will you come again

(Author: Patrick Conlan)

Anamchara

                                                                                 Shop

Anamchara Soulmate In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anamchara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and chara is the word for friend. So anamchara in the Celtic world was the “soul friend.” With the anamchara you could share your inner-most self, your mind and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an anamchara, your friendship cut across all convention, morality, and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the “friend of your soul.” The Celtic understanding did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. There is no cage for the soul. The soul is a divine light that flows into you and into your Other.

 

Fionn and Sadhbh

While out hunting Finn was about to slay a deer when he was stopped by his hounds Bran and Sceólang, who were born of a human enchanted into the form of a hound. The faithful animals recognised her as human and Fionn took her home, where she turned into Sadhbh the moment she set foot on his land. The druid Fear Doirich had turned her into a deer for refusing to marry him. They married, and she was soon pregnant, but while Finn was out hunting the druid returned and turned her back into a deer. Fionn spent years searching for her, and his faithful hounds found their son, Oisín, in the form of a fawn. Once returned, he transformed back into a child and became one of the greatest of the Fianna and a poet.

Ouija Board

 

The exact origin of the Ouija board is unknown. Objects similar to the Ouija board date as far back as 551 Bce to Ancient China where spirit boards were commonplace items used to communicate with the dead. It is claimed that Pythagoras used talking boards to enhance his studies and unearth revelations from the unseen world. Talking boards also have connections to Ancient Rome where two people used the Ouija board to predict the successor to the king. They were tried for treason and eventually hung and the claimed successor was immediately executed.

In February, 1891, the first advertisements started appearing in newspapers.

The Children of Lir

  Oidheadh Chlainne Lír.The Children of Lir . 

Bodb Dearg was elected king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, In order to appease Lir, Bodb gave one of his daughters to marry him, Aoibh. She bore him four children, one girl, Fionnuala, and three sons, Aodh and twins, Fiachra and Conn.

Aoibh died and the children missed their mother terribly and Bodb wanting to keep Lir happy, sent another of his daughters, Aoife , to marry Lir.

Aoife grew jealous of the children's love for each other and their father so she plotted to get rid of the children. On a journey with the children to Bodb's castle, she ordered her servant to kill them but the servant refused. In anger, she tried to do it herself, but didn't have the courage. Instead, she used her magic to turn the children into swans. When Bodb heard of this, he transformed Aoife into an air demon for eternity.

As swans, the children had to spend 300 years on Lough Derravaragh 300 years in the Sea of Moyle, and 300 years on the waters of Irrus Domnann. To end the spell, they would have to be blessed by a monk. While the children were swans, After the children, as swans, spent their long periods in each region, they received sanctuary from MacCaomhog , a monk in Inis Gluaire.

Each child was tied to the other with silver chains to ensure that they would stay together forever. However the wife of the King of Leinster, daughter of the King of Munster, Deoch wanted the swans for her own, so she ordered her husband, Lairgean to attack the monastery and seize the swans. In this attack, the silver chains were broken and the swans transformed into old, withered old people.

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The Tree of Life

 Tree of Life represents the fruitfulness of the earth, evoking spiritual growth, abundance, and rebirth. Rooted in the heart of the earth, it drinks the sacred waters of life and stretches its branches into the heavens, providing a bridge between celestial and earthly powers. Each Celt tribe had a sacred tree as its focal point, a symbol of sovereignty, sacred wisdom, and spiritual energy.

The ancient Celts believed that trees were there ancestors and the door to the spiritual world. Oak is the most highly regarded tree, said to be the most sacred of all the tree species.

Frequently depicted with the branches reaching up and the roots pointing down, the Tree of Life represent the connection between heaven and earth.

The Ghost Room / Devils Room Maynooth

 nui maynooth

In the mid 19th century in Room Two / devils room of Rhetoric House, Maynooth College , two young seminarists took their own lives, nineteen years apart, and the room has been the source of many tales ever since.
Rhetoric House in the South Campus, built in 1834, was formerly a residential house for trainee priests.

On 1 March 1841, a young student from Limerick by the name of Sean O’Grady jumped out of room and fell to his death.  It is not known as to who or what possessed O’Grady to do such a thing but the common legend suggests that a demon had something to do with it.
Years later student Thomas McGinn from Kilmore, Co. Wexford he stayed in Room No. 2. When term began, he was moved to a different room and was subsequently told that he had spent a week in a room where a previous student had killed himself. It preyed on his mind night and day. After mass one morning, McGinn went into Room No. 2 cut himself with a razor and then threw himself out of the window.

Dr. McCarthy visited him in the infirmary before he succumbed to his injuries. He gave them an account of the demonic occurrences that happened in the room that led to his actions.
A priest spent the night in the room and was so terrified by whatever he saw – he refused to speak about it – that his hair turned bright white.
There are dark stains on the floor confirmed by the college’s chemistry department are human blood and that they can’t be removed no matter what cleaning products are used.

Grave yard NUI Maynooth

Entrance to the grave yard in NUI Maynooth.

Inner Demons

The battle is raging

Inside my mind

The scars of battle

On my eyes can be seen

As I fall further

You just look away

I’m left with my demons

To battle alone

(Author: Patrick Conlan)

Many people can relate to the experience of feeling trapped in a battle with themselves, unsure of how to overcome the challenges they face. It can be difficult to open up to others about these struggles, especially if those around us seem to be turning a blind eye. However, it's important to remember that you are not alone in your struggles. There are many resources available to help you, It's okay to seek help and to ask for support when you need it. Remember, the scars we carry from our battles can be a testament to our strength and resilience.

The Sluagh

 

Like ravens

The Sluagh come

There not welcome by anyone

Even in the otherworld there shun

They are the spirits of evil ones

Not just for the dying they come

They want the souls of everyone

The innocent and righteous one

To torment like they had done

When they walked in the sun

Now there the unforgiving dead

So keep a candle bright at night

Westerly windows keep tight

In the darkness they wait

For the chance of a soul to take

 

                                The Sluagh, also known as the "Host of the Unforgiven Dead," are malevolent spirits from Irish mythology. They are often described as resembling a flock of ravens and are feared by both the living and the dead. The Sluagh are known for their insatiable desire for human souls and will stop at nothing to obtain them. They are said to target not only the dying, but also the innocent and righteous.

In Irish folklore, it is believed that the Sluagh were once human beings who committed heinous crimes during their lifetime. As punishment, they were cursed to spend eternity as unforgiven dead, forever seeking to take the souls of others. They are said to wait in the darkness, searching for any opportunity to seize a soul and drag it into the otherworld.

To protect oneself from the Sluagh, it is recommended to keep a candle burning brightly at night and to keep westerly windows tightly shut. It is believed that this will deter the spirits from entering one's home and snatching their soul. The Sluagh are a haunting reminder of the consequences of leading a wicked life and serve as a warning to those who would do harm to others.                                

 

                                                     

Life

 

Life is a journey

The journey not wanting to end

Through all our pain

A last breath battled for

Hanging on

Never wanting to let go

(Author: Patrick Conlan) 

 

Life is a journey that we all embark on from the moment we are born until the very end. It is a journey that is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. Despite the challenges that we may face along the way, the journey is one that we never want to end.

Through all the pain and struggles that we face, we continue to push forward, fighting to take our last breath. We hold on tightly to the memories we have created, the people we have met, and the experiences that have shaped us into who we are today. Even when we feel like giving up, we find the strength to keep going, to keep living, and to keep loving.

The journey of life is a precious one, and we should cherish each and every moment that we have. We should embrace the challenges and the triumphs, the joys and the sorrows, for they are all a part of what makes life so beautiful. We should never be afraid to take risks, to try new things, and to live life to the fullest. For in the end, what truly matters is not how long we lived, but how we lived and the impact that we had on the world around us.

                                                                         (Author: Patrick Conlan) 

The Vanishing Triangle

 The time of fear

Is growing near

The darkness comes

For his chosen one

Watching and waiting

He’s predator your prey

Lost in the triangle

You are no more

You are forgotten

You were never here

He just moves on

To chose another one

It did go away

Was known by name

But let him go

Now he needs his release

Find more prey

It will never end

Back in the triangle

Hold you’re dearest tight

You never know when

Evils is near

                                                                        (Author: Patrick Conlan) 

The poem describe a predator who selects his prey and waits for the perfect moment to strike. The predator's power comes from the fear he instils in his victims, as they are caught in the triangle and feel helpless to escape. The predator is relentless and will continue to seek out new victims, never-ending the cycle of fear.