Monday, March 14, 2011

ABC Wednesday
March 16th, 2011

The letter this week is I and stands for a country of great beauty,  romance and oft times great hardship, begorra.......to Irish the world over the wonderfully nostalgic homeland of  Ireland
with its ancient history, its music and its culture, all ties that tug at her children wherever they may roam.




From this Link I offer this very condensed version of the story of the Irish race.

It is said that the genuine Irish (Celtic) people of today are descended from Milesius of Spain, whose sons invaded and possessed themselves of Ireland a thousand years before Christ, and brought a powerful aristocracy to add to the Firbolg and the Tuatha De Danann peoples who populated Ireland at that time..  the Fibbolgs having been forced into partial serfdom by the Tuatha De Dannan,  a capable and cultured, highly civilized people, skilled in arts and crafts to such an extent that the Firblogs and the later Milesius created a mythology around them, and named then necromancers.

In a raging four day battle on the Mayo-Galway border the Tuatha De Dannann overthrew the Firblogs, but so bravely did the Firblogs fight that the De Dannann left that quarter of the Island wherein they fought to the Firblogs, - the province now called Connaught.

The struggle is commemorated by many cairns and pillars strewn on the great battle plain in Sligo.

Scotia was one of the earliest names of Ireland and the people were commonly called Scots.  One of its ancient titles was Hibernia, mostly traced from Eber or Heber, the first Milesian king, just as the much later name, Ireland, is by some traced from Ir, whose family were in the northeaster corner of the island.  Its own inhabitants called it Eire, - hence Eireland - Ireland.

"This Isle is sacred named by all the ancients,
From times remotest in the womb of Chronos,
This Isle which rises over the waves of ocean,
Is covered with a sod of rich luxuriance,
And peopled far and wide by the Hiberni"

by Rufus Avienus, written at the beginning of the fourth century.

And, of course, we all know that it is the land of the "Little People" - the Pots of Gold, the Fairies and those of the general population who have that slightly 'fey' look, as if they had ' just had breakfast with a Leprechaun'.

Charles and I both have Irish ancestry, - his from the Border country of Tipperary and County Clare....
the land of the Shamrock and the forty shades of green


and from whence his O'Callaghan ancestors came to Canada with the Peter Robinson Settlers,
By 1840 James O'Callaghan (C's great great grandfather) had purchased land
in Emily Township, in Upper Canada



and mine from Antrim, where my emigrant Scots ancestors settled in the early 18th century


and where they became part of the MasThamais native Gaelic Sept of County Cavan, and anglicized the name to Thompson, instead of MacCavish


John Thompson's reasons for coming to Canada have not yet become apparent, but his arrival at the time of the American Revolution indicate he may have come to serve in the British Army, and his eventual settlement on granted Clergy land in Stormont  County strengthens this suggestion.

He married an emigrant lass from Kincardinshire whose name, of course, was Arbuthnot.

Here is a charming touristy video about Ireland,  - do listen and you might become enchanted.....




For more takes on the letter I visit here at ABC Wednesday, with thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt
 and her crew of kindly helpers.

30 comments:

Barb said...

I had no idea you and Charles had Irish ancestry, Hildred. Will you be doing the jig on St Paddy's day? One of my good friends is Irish - she has a lovely accent and tells wonderful tales.

Hildred said...

Charles is mainly Irish and English, Barb, but I am a real mongrel - some German/Swiss, some Dutch, some Scots and a great deal of English along with that bit of Irish.

Nanka said...

Love Ireland, the Irish and Irish Coffee!!
Great combination!!

photowannabe said...

A fascinating place with such a rich history. Thank you for sharing and a Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you ...a few days early.

Leslie: said...

I'm hoping to get there one day. I hear it's a stunningly beautiful country! And so GREEN..Imagine that! lol

Leslie
ABCW Team

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for this wonderful post.So you and Charles are both Celts? I have been interested in the Celts for a long time. I was told that there are only about seven places in the world where a Celtic language is spoken. One of them is Cornwall, which I have visited several times and then there are Wales and Scotland, where I also have been. I should like to see Ireland now I have seen your video. Thank you for sharing.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

what a sweet take, it seems like a beautiful country to live in, I heard and read books about it, thanks for sharing.

??? said...

I visited Ireland with a friend as a teenager, for both of us the first time abroad without our parents. It was an amazing trip and I loved every minute of it. I want to go back one day, especially to visit the west coast of Ireland.
Great I idea :)

Carver said...

Wonderful post for the letter I. My daughter studied in Ireland and Irish is one of her languages. We don't have Irish ancestry but my daughter has studied so many languages I've lost track of them all (French, German, Russian, Irish, Maori, Turkish are the ones I can think of). She learns languages so fast it's embarrassing because I'm serious about not being able to keep the names of all of them in my head. I considered using some of her photographs from Ireland for the letter I but didn't this go round, maybe I will next time.

B i r g i t t a said...

Great choise for I!!
Someday I will visit Ireland - that's for sure.
I like the Irish music a lot and the nature looks awesome. But what about the wheather?

The Weaver of Grass said...

I have been to Ireland a couple of times and it is the most wonderful country in spite of the weather.

Richard Lawry said...

I've always wanted to visit Ireland, but probably will never be able to afford to.

An Arkies Musings

Anna said...

Ireland is indeed a most beautiful country and its people so hospitable. Hope that you and Charles are able to visit soon :)

Barbara said...

I have been to Ireland once I would love to visit again, a beautiful country.

Granny Smith said...

What an enchanting post! I enjoyed (and learned from) your history of Ireland and also family history. The illustrations were lovely, and I especially want to thank for the song. "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" was one that my father sang.

Tumblewords: said...

A magical country to which you pay wonderful tribute!

Joy said...

A beautiful country with great people. What a wrench it must have been to leave due to hard times in the past.
In response to the weather comments last time I was there on holiday it was a beautifully sunny two week.

Gigi Ann said...

Ireland is such a beautiful country. I have never been there, but I love watching videos of the country.

VioletSky said...

I just have to hear a soft Irish brogue and I melt....

Roger Owen Green said...

great choice, esp for this week.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

J.Rylie.C said...

Interesting!


Please come and see my ABC Wednesday post, thanks!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful images and interesting information on history of the nation.

Wanda said...

What a delightful and informative bit on the Irish!!

Great pictures too.

Cezar and Léia said...

Wow Ireland, how wonderful!I'm always learning beautiful and interesting things with blogfriends, thanks so much!
The video is fabulous!
Léia - Bonjour Luxembourg

Marvin said...

Great post for "I" and Ireland. Erin go Bragh

Misfit in Paradise said...

Thanks so much for the Irish history!
Donna - ABC Team

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

What a complete tour of Ireland: scenic, cultural, endearing.

Thank you.
Meryl
http://departingthetext.blogspot.com

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I learn so much from visiting bloggers, such as yourself, on ABC Wednesday. Thanks for all the wonderful info about Ireland.

EG CameraGirl said...

How interesting that the Irish were once called Scots. Fascinating. I hope you have a great St. Paddy's Day.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Lovely post Hildred! That was fortuitous if the letter "I" just happened to fall on this week. (I'm not sure how that meme works.)

Anyway, I enjoyed your post immensely. My mother's maiden name was Thompson. Maybe we're related ;>)/ Seriously, both of us have a mongrel heritage..so much that by the time of our kids' it is practically impossible to trace. I choose to believe that it makes us stronger!