Halloween Lecture – Relics & Reliquaries – Thursday evening, October 31st Next at 7:00pm.
Librarian Ms Maura Barrett will continue her tradition of presenting a Halloween Lecture in Cashel Library.
This year Ms Barrett will looks at relics and their reliquaries in the Irish context, and discusses the enduring belief in their miraculous powers.
You canlocate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX)
Please do remember: Booking is essential by return email or to Tel: 062 63825. In booking, also keep in mind that the Library closes at 5:00pm this evening (Friday October 25th), and will not reopen again until Tuesdaymorning, October 29th at 9:30pm sharp.
“Oíche Shamhna faoi mhaise”. (Irish – Happy Halloween).
Readers will remember we spoke, some weeks ago, of the remarkable restoration work being undertaken in the old section of Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, by the T.M.B. Old Cemetery Committee. Their work last year led to the identification of the burial place of the parents of a former Bishop of Limerick, Right Reverend John Ryan D.D. (1828-1864), enabling a memorial plaque to be unveiled at the grave site, on Tuesday October 1st, 2024 last. [View HERE].
Visitors visiting this memorial plaque within the old cemetery may have their attention drawn to a most unusual upright and indeed rare, head-slab located a short distance away also within the old Two-Mile-Borris cemetery section, south of the burial ground’s main central crucifix. The head-slab can be immediately and easily identified because of its pointed top.
Mr Gerry Bowe (Chairperson of the Two-Mile-Borris Old Cemetery Committee), pictured here explaining the little known folklore, behind the long forgotten, pointed top, head-slab, latter located within Two-Mile-Borris Cemetery, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
While the back of the west facing side of this limestone, flagstone (headstone) remains blank and undecorated; a most elegant, ornate Floriated Cross* cross and human head can be found; both hand-hewn in relief, on the front east facing side.
*A Floriated Cross is a cross with arms terminating in representations of flower petals.Same represent faith, wisdom and chivalry when used in heraldry, and the Trinity when used as a Christian symbol.
This tombstone follows in the classic head-slab style of such existing grave slabs, erected during the period between the thirteenth and fourteenth century. The number of medieval slabs which feature a pointed top is very limited here in Ireland, with only 3 identified as having survived. A second example can be located at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny, while we learn that a third instance exists in the Cathedral at Newtown, Trim, Co. Meath. In the United Kingdom, yet another example can be located on the site of St. Peter’s churchyard in Lewes, East Sussex, UK.
The pointed top of the Two-Mile-Borris slab is a unique feature amongst the body of Irish head-slabs, however, it does occur on other medieval sepulchral (stone room) monuments, though again not extensively.
While little information is known about the history of this head-slab’s initial raising in this thirteenth and fourteenth century period; local folklore related by Mr Bowe, suggests that this pointed top, thirteenth/fourteenth century slab, identifies the last resting place of an unknown Bishop, who it is said died, having fallen from a frightened horse, upon entering Two-Mile-Borris village, as he travelled westward towards Thurles Town, in Co. Tipperary.
One fact, however, which may contradict this folklore is that the face of this slab looks eastward. The practise of burying the dead so that their faces would reflect the rising sun, originally began with the Greeks and ancient Egyptians, latter who worshipped a sun god. Their dead would therefore face the sun each morning, permitting them to greet each new day.
The practice of east-facing tombstones within Christian communities is of course traced back to the Bible. New Testament scripture which records the second coming of Christ, states; “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (St Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 24 : V. 27). However, a notable and usual exception to this east facing rule, is that Church clergy, are buried facing west, (as indeed are often also senior army officers); based on the belief that, in the case of clergy at least, they too will rise, to face their congregation, and thus are positioned ready to lead same, yet again.
On the other hand, as Mr Bowe points out, local folklore may indeed be correct, as from antiquity Floriated Crosses has been identified as a symbol of purity by the Church. The design at the ends of the arms of Fleury Crosses often represent lily bloom; lilies representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and/or the Resurrection.
‘Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem’, from all over counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick’s Mid-West Region will gather, before descending on Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this October Bank Holiday Weekend (October 26th-28th), as the County Clare visitor attraction becomes transformed into a haunted Halloween village.
The traditions and superstitions of ‘Samhain’ will be on display during the October Bank Holiday weekend with Halloween games, ghostly characters, witchcraft, a Bed of Nails, tarot reading, street entertainment, and Haunted Train rides past ghosts, grim reapers, and zombies that will appear from the shadows throughout the 26-acre folk park.
Ms Marie Brennan, (Events Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park), commented, “Our Halloween event is hugely popular with people from across the Mid-West Region and beyond. We are very excited about welcoming everyone back to Bunratty, where history meets the haunted.” “It is an eerie time of year, and we have pulled out all the stops to create an unforgettable experience full of fun, frights and festivity for the whole family,” added Ms. Brennan.
Age-old Halloween traditions will be re-enacted at the Golden Vale Farmhouse where the Bean an Tí will speak about the types of food that typically would have been eaten in Samhain and recall the peculiar superstitions of the time. The Farmhouse also will host Halloween-themed fun with traditional games such as Bobbing for Apples, Blind-Man’s-Buff and Snap Apple.
Adult visitors will be invited to step back in time at a Victorian-era parlour séance, where the secrets of the past will be unveiled as the spirits of the departed are summoned. The Wicked Wake will be hosted in The Shannon Farmhouse where the resident MacNamara family will mourn the loss of their beloved Mickey, whose ghostly presence suggests he has unfinished business in the land of the living.
Visitors can experience a re-enactment of a Witch Trial each day at 11.00am, 12.00 noon, 2.15pm, and 3.30pm, by following an angry mob from the village street to Ardcroney Church. Meanwhile, a bewitching duo will take up residence in the kitchen of the Loop Head Farmhouse, where mysterious concoctions will be brewing.
At Corry’s Pub on the Village Street, Bunratty’s resident seanchaí Mickey Joe will recount fables of Samhain and hair-raising tall tales passed down through the generations. Other performances include Halloween puppetry with Konor Halpin each day at 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm, and 4.00pm in the Village Street Alleyway; Escapologist Monsieur Gusto will showcase his juggling, escapology, and acrobatic skills on October 28th, and fun and frightening frolics with Dracula King of Vampires, The Minister of Death, Escaped Convicts, and Mad Musicians.
The Red Devil and the King of the Vampires will lurk in the shadows ready to pounce at a moment’s notice, The Talking Head guarantees to entertain and frighten guests at the Mountain Farmhouse, Dr. Jekyll’s surgery will open its doors for anyone who is brave enough to enter, a shrinking illusion will be on display in the Castle’s basement, and the Bed of Nails returns this year in the Castle’s Torture Chamber.
Visitors to Bunratty Castle also will get to see the deadly dungeon and monstrous murder hole and meet Maleficent’s Wicked Sister.
‘Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem’ takes place from 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pmeach day from Saturday October 26th to Monday October 28th.
Having had only limited experience myself, I base the above headline on the advice handed out by Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer poet and Anglican cleric, the late Dean Jonathan Swift(1667-1745), who once wrote:-.
“There is in every cook’s opinion, No savoury dish without an onion; But less you’re kissing should be spoiled, The onion must be thoroughly boiled.”
A recipe for boiled onions gathered from the era of Dean Jonathan Swift. These onions should be cooked ‘country style’, as they were when large ovens where kept on the go all day and night. Same are very good when eaten with chops or steaks or with potato oaten cakes; known in the Irish countryside as ‘pratie oaten’.
Method.
One large onion per person with a little water. Place the onions in a baking tin, unpeeled, with about 1 inch of water, no more. Bake in a slow to moderate oven to 250° f. – 275° f. Electric; gas regulo 1 – 2 for 1 and 1⁄2 to 2 hours or until they are soft when squeezed.
To eat, the brown skin is then pulled back and cut off as the root and the onion is eaten with pepper, salt and a pat of butter. Latter cooking method is one of the most delicious ways of serving onions.
Pratie Oaten.
2 cups warm mashed potatoes. 1 cup fine oatmeal. ½ cup melted butter. Salt.
Work enough fine oatmeal, butter and a little salt into the mashed potato to form a dough until fairly soft. Scatter plenty of oatmeal on a board and roll out the dough substance. Cut into small shapes and either cook on both sides on a hot greased griddle in the oven, or fry in a little bacon fat, on top of the stove. Serve hot.
These are very good for breakfast, with bacon, eggs and sausages. The above completed shapes should serve approximately 12 persons.
Kissing.
As for this kissing lark, passionate kisses have known health benefits; releasing calming brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that reduce stress levels and soothe the mind. Exposure to germs that inhabit your partner’s mouth helps strengthens your immune system, so just get on with it.
Many of the traffic bollards or road posts on view here on the streets of Thurles, Co. Tipperary; same recently fashioned to represent unserviceable cannon guns, first used as early as the 17th century, (“Iron Gunns Broken sett into ye ground”).
A lot of these redundant old iron cannon guns were sold for scrap by the Royal Navy or by civilian ships such as whalers and merchantmen, before being recycled to use as bollards by Civil authorities. While for the most part these scrapped canon guns were used in England and France, examples can also be found here in Ireland e.g. Cork City. Businesses also bought them, when they needed road posts, as scrap cannons were cheaper than purpose-made stone bollards. These road stops were created by burying one end or other into the ground; the muzzle end uppermost closed by a cannon ball to keep out water, while the breech end of these redundant iron cannon was used pointing uppermost, to tie-up/moor ships alongside quays and river banks.
Modern replica bollards in the shape of old cannon guns, located on Slievenamon Road (N62) and on Bohernanave (Off the R660), in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The last few nights, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, brought the first of this Autumn’s expected and forecasted ground frost; which brings me to supposedly explain the commonly used phrase, “It is cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey”. Supposedly, on the decks of early sail going war-ships, in the 16th to 18th centuries, it was the practice to put iron cannon balls on a dimpled brass plate called a ‘monkey’. Here they could be piled into a 5 row high pyramid shape, ready for use. However, due to very cold temperatures this dimpled brass plate would contract sufficiently to cause the iron cannon balls to roll out of this brass holder. While this is the commonly used explanation for this phrase, physics does not stand up to accurate scrutiny. Such cannon shot was never left exposed to the elements, where it could rust. Rust could lead to the ball not flying true to target or to become jammed in the muzzle or trunnion area, thus causing the gun to explode. Also, because of rough boat rocking seas, it would have been highly unlikely, that such cannonball storage practises would ever have been entertained in real life, on board any sea going warship.
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