A rich day

I’m running a day late after a full and interesting day.


First coffee in the Heron Gallery with J and B, Instagram friends on honeymoon on the Sheep’s Head. He’s a print maker and hurley decorator - hurleys are a sort of hockey stick thing used in the national game of hurling. If you haven't seen any matches you should - it's brutal and there appear to be no rules! He’s also big into sile na gigs and did some wonderful prints of them including one especially for me. 


Then on to the Air India Memorial for it is the 36th anniversary. The photos are up, the wreaths laid and it never fails to shock.


Then on to a holy well. You may or may not know that it’s St John’s Eve today - an ancient midsummer festival nicked by the Christians and turned into the feast of St John the Baptist. Also known as Bonfire Night and yes, many are still lit on St John’s Eve. Traditionally, they were called bonefires as bones from oxen, sheep or pigs were used as fuel. According to the mediaeval manual Festyvall, published in 1515 : in the worship of St John the people made three manner of fires; one was of clean bones and no wood, and that is called a bone fire; another of clean wood and no bones and that is called a woodfire; and the third is made of wood and bones, and is called St John’s Fire.
By the way, should you be considering future marriage or romance tonight is the night to consider it. This is what you do:
On St John’s Eve, too, young maidens could discover the state of their lover’s affections by observing the behaviour of a sprig of orpine, known colloquially as Midsummer Man – the plant was clamped vertically in clay, and the future of their romance depended on whether the plant leaned to the right or to the left.
Orpine is a sort of sedum cum stonecrop and I haven't been able to find any. 


Anyway, it’s also a day to visit holy wells and there are at least 16 dedicated to St John in County Cork. There’s a very neglected one near me and I went to investigate it the other day and was stunned to find it had been cleared and renovated. I went back with Himself this morning to see if there was any activity. I was just taking photos when a van stopped and the chat commenced. How hilarious - it was the man responsible for the renovations! What are the chances of that. Even more hilarious when names were swapped he cried: ooooooh, Amanda Clarke! Yikes! He knew of the well work of course and then said that the local men's group, for it is they who have been doing the work, were having a meeting at the well tonight and I was invited!  Actually I invited myself. We turned up at 8pm and had a brilliant time. The well was admired, the water drunk and stories swopped. The water holds a cure for warts and was exceptionally fresh and delicious. We then processed up to the old church where rounds would have been paid and visited the grave of Father Barnane. He was a former parish priest who was renowned for his miraculous healing abilities with humans and animals. Traditionally a pinch of earth from his grave was taken either to mix with the well water and apply to an injured part, or to keep about your person for good luck. In a niche in the old church is a bullaun full of offerings and, it is said, a small part of the priest's skull. Other graves were examined, more stories swopped and much craic enjoyed. And there were a couple of bonfires on the go as we travelled home.


Going for my bath, it was still light at 10.45 a large fat golden moon just rising. Too much text but a rich day.