Owen McDowell

#Mythology | #Folklore | #Ireland | #Scifi | #Artist

Theology | Philo grad @StPatsMaynooth ⚜️🗝️

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

22 Feb, 1797 - The French Republic invaded #Wales in support of the United Irishmen at the Battle of Fishguard. The invasion force was led by William Tate, an Irish-American, in what is known as 'the last foreign invasion of Britain'.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

A pair of girls collect turf for the fire - June, 1963, #Ireland.

A way of life that existed for hundreds of years but has now vanished.

[Timeless Colours @timelesscolours]

c1944, Champions of the Ring 🥊

Waterford Boxing Club's award-winning army boxing team poses at the Infantry Barracks. A fine display of silverware! Must have been a cold day in Feb as they brace, yet their expressions radiate warmth & pride.

📷 NLI
#Waterford #History

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

#OTD 75 years ago, most of the island of #Ireland 🇮🇪broke all ties with the UK & Dominions and became an independent nation for the first time in 700 years.

Lá na Poblacht inniu. Ceiliúradh é ar Shráid Uí Chonaill ar an 18ú Aibreán 1949.

O’Connell Street, Dublin - 18 April 1949

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Adyton [Lat], Ádyton [Greek] - 'inner sanctuary, shrine' (lit. 'not to be entered') was a restricted area within the cella of a Greek or #Roman temple. A space reserved for oracles or priests. Located at the farthest end from the entrance, it housed a cult image of the deity.

[Archaeology & Art @archaeologyart]

Pair burial of the Scythian Husband and Wife found near Ternopil, Ukraine (c. 1000 BC). Excavated around 1998.

[Irish Deer Commission @DeerCommission]

The Grand Master of County Kerry. A magnificent 21 Red stag and believed to be the largest Red stag ever seen in Killarney National Park photographed in a remote area this morning by #PeterOToole

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Born #otd 1861, Fridtjof Nansen the Norwegian polymath, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, explorer & humanist. He completed the first crossing of Greenland & the first expedition across the Polar basin. Documented & exposed the horrors of the Russian Famine & the Armenian genocide.

[Valentia Slate @ValSlate]

An intact sweat house, one of only 3 recorded so far in Kerry. A fire was built inside and raked out. Then it operated as a theraputic sauna with space for 1 or 2 people. This one from Com Úra in central Iveragh. Hand visible just inside for scale.

[The Irish at War @irelandbattles]

#OnThisDay 1922 Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the National Army was shot dead when ambushed by the IRA at Béal na mBláth, Cork. When advised against making the tour of army positions in Cork, Collins responded;
"They won't shoot me in my own county,".
#Ireland #History

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Gleaning was so important to past societies that it was considered a sacred activity. It was common practice that the poor be given access to the grain fields after harvest, increasing yields & social bonds. In the #Bible, David's lineage is related to gleaning / just rule.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

22 August is Gleaning Sunday, or Domhnach Deascán in Irish. #Otd straw & other debris were cleared from the fields in preparation for the final #harvest. It was followed by picnics in the hills, dancing, & the weaving harvest dolls from the 'gleaned' straw.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Workers harvesting the flax to make linen in Co Down, Ireland in 1948.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

The Irish for #August is #Lúnasa, formerly 'Lugnasad', which is a compound word comprising the name of pagan god 'Lug' & 'násad', a gathering to commemorate something. We see this word today in "Nás na Ríogh" ('Place of Assembly of the Kings'); that is #Naas in #Kildare.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

1 August: Celtic holiday of #Lughnasa begins; a harvest festival & Aonach (tribal assembly) in honor of god Lugh. The assembly served three primary functions: The honouring of the dead, proclamation of #law by kings, along with funeral games / festivities.

[Maude Frome @frome_maude]

A ‘poc’ is an Irish he-goat, & at Puck Fair in Co. Kerry, in early Aug, a goat is crowned king by a young queen, & then worshipped over 3 days of festivities. Perhaps linked to #Lughnasa, it is hoped the goat as a symbol of fertility will bring a good harvest. #FolkloreThursday

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Old Gaelic blessing upon hearing #thunder:

"The voice of the great God,
And none is great but He.

O Lord, be between us and harm,
And protect us from the harm of the world."

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

'Prayer to the Sun' (Gaelic, 19th c. Scotland) on #SummerSolstice:

The eye of the great God
The eye of the God of glory

Pouring upon us
At each time and season,
Pouring upon us
Gently and generously.

Glory to thee, thou sun,
Face of the God of life.

[Owen McDowell @FolkloreIreland]

Prayer to the New Moon (1860, #Hebrides)

When I see the new moon
It becomes me to say my rune;
It becomes me to praise the Being of life
For His kindness and His goodness.

Glory to thee for ever
Thou bright moon, this night,
Thyself art ever
The glorious lamp of the poor.

[AN SIONNACH FIONN @AnSionnachFionn]

The Summer Solstice Was Not A Celtic Irish Festival https://t.co/SEXLMeW2TT