Irish language, legends, mythology, and folklore.
Today for class we discussed Irish language further in the fact that their alphabet has less letters and because they don’t have certain letters certain combinations of letters create the sound of a letter they don’t have or can cause a letter to be silent. We also learned a few greetings.
The focus of today’s class was about legends, mythology, and folklore of Ireland. There were times during lecture that I could see parallels to other legends and myths from other cultures. Always keep in mind that a story has some truth to it, because it had to come from somewhere!
Some of the myths and folklore we learned about was The Salmon of Knowledge (two different versions of this story), The Turaiocht Diarmaid and Grainne, Cuchuallin and Maebdh. Also discussed was that it is bad luck to use the term fairy instead of The Good People or The Little People (there are a few other terms that can be used as well) and where the folklore originated from.
We then set off to Belleek which is a pottery store and is world renowned for what they do. They have been in business for 166 years! This company has won multiple awards for their work. Each piece is handmade can be shipped anywhere in the world. You can see their signature basket weave porcelain design that recognizable around the world. If any piece is not made to the standard of perfection it is destroyed, so it does not dishonor the craftsmanship and standard of quality that Belleek has built over the last 166 years.
Next, we headed over to the Queen Maeve Trail and Cairn. A long and hard climb was what was called for, but worth every hard step. At the summit we discussed queen Maeve further and her story, during which a breathtaking view was admired. One student had a very touching and emotional connection and moment as she got to the summit. This experience and journey is different for each and every student.
The journey is part of the experience. To walk with path and reflect on the legend of Queen Maeve and the significance she has played in the generations of Irish is humbling.
The site will never be excavated because it does not matter if the Queen was a real figure in history because her legend looms large over the region and the country.
We then finished off our day with a nice stop at Mammie Johnston’s Ice Cream Shop and Café where we all were able to sit outside and admire the Atlantic Ocean while eating our goodies.
At the end of the day, we need to remember that this trip holds different meaning and value for each and every person. None of us should walk away the same. We should take this opportunity as change something in us that will cause us to grow and appreciate more. This journey is one step at a time, for some this is a life changing experience. Keep folklore alive and stories, don’t allow them to die out, because if we do, we will lose part of ourselves and our culture.