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“An amazing time to follow paths along the coast...” |
We spent the night in a Double Bee, beds were all nice and breakfast so tasty. It was the most colorful breakfast since we got to Ireland. Lady B&B is, after fifteen years, very handy in her kitchen, her Gentleman so kind, and ready to read from our faces... We had to say “Good bye and good luck” to the BnB House, “but we gotta go!” Next stop is all beauty of the nature of the coast area Giant’s Causeway. It was time to go hiking and climbing, to have a deep breath, to take a walk, to snap lots of pictures, and finally, to warm up in the tea room. Millions of years of geological activity are the main secret of eroded cliffs flanking in the Causeway. It was amazing occasion to follow paths along the coast. Anyway, one of myths about Finn Mac Cool is that he made during his boyhood many chairs from those stone columns, and with another big amount of years it seems like its tales came true. Hmm, it was a tough for our “old” bones, wonderful for our eyes, and so fresh for our lazy brains… so good, so far…
Keep going on our travel, it is already Thursday, and tomorrow is the Day of Return the Car… Where went those days? So long ago we sat at home around the table, traveled with our finger on the map, and these marvelous days were our wish... It seems like our wish is filling up of our adventures…
Irish Myth and Legend
Finn mac Cool was one of
the most celebrated Irish hero. He may originally have been an
aspect of the god Lugh. He is likely at any rate to have once been
regarded as a god, equating to the Welsh Gwyn ap Nudd. The story of
Finn as Irish folks have it, however, depicts a hero who is regarded as
having flourished in the time of Cormac mac Art.
His father, Cumhal, was leader of the Fianna. He was defeated by Clan
Morna under Goll at the Battle of Knock, where he met his death. Finn's
mother entrusted him to the care of two women, Bodhmall the druidess
and Liath Luachra. When Finn grew up the recovered the Treasure Bag of
the Fianna. He placed himself under the tutelage of Finegas on the
banks of the Boyne. There he consumed a Salmon of Knowledge, gaining
wisdom, more of which valuable commodity he obtained from Beag's well
of the moon. He came to the court of the high king and there slew a man
folk of Tara to sleep with sorcerous music and then set the place afire.
Finn became, with Goll's consent, head of the Fianna. His exploits
involved hunting, fighting and sorcery. His hounds, Bran and Sceolan,
were his own nephews, offspring of his bewitched sister. His son Ossian
was the child of a woman transformed into a deer. He is a principal
character in the tale of Dermot and Grania. The Battle of Ventry,
fought against Dairy Donn, high king of the World, was one of the great
military events of his career.
Ronan Coghlan wrote about more accounts of Finn's death:
- In the original story, in which Finn was a god, nothing was known of his demise.
- According to one tale, Finn still survives, sleeping in a cave.
- Folklore sometimes made Finn a giant. He was credited with building the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim.
Recipe of the Day
Let this very old soup recipe help
to warm up all of us, who have been on Giant's Causeway these days...
it was gusty winds day, the day of fast clouds, which swimmed above us,
and so unexpected sunshine which won the struggle and took the Ireland
for a while.
Leek and Oatmeal Broth
1 pint milk
1 pint chicken or vegetable stock
A walnut of butter
3 rounded tablespoons oatmeal
Salt and pepper
4 leeks, trimmed, washed well and cut into 1 inch rings
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
A little single cream for garnish
Mix the milk and stock together and pour into a large saucepan. Add
the butter, bring to the boil and then add the oatmeal, stirring well.
Return to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring from time to
time. Add the leeks and seasonings, return to the boil, then simmer for
a further 15 to 20 minutes, stirring in the parsley a few minutes
before the end of the cooking time. Serve in soup bowls, garnished with
a swirl of cream, if desired. Serves 4 or 6.
previous travel blog entry
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