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Feathered: Being a Fairy Tale

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Feathered: Being a Fairy Tale Also by Tom Weston The Alex and Jackie Adventures: First Night: being a Ghost Story The Elf of Luxembourg: being a Love Story And Fission: based on a true story FEATHERED: BEING A FAIRY TALE. Copyright © 2012 by Tom Weston. All Rights Reserved. Except for brief extracts cited in critical review, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without written permission. For information visit: www.tom-weston.com. This book is a work of fiction. The character and dialogue of historical figures are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Cover designed by Cassandra Mansour. Cover Images: Isolated tree on white, copyright © 2012 by Fred Fokkelman, used under license from Shutterstock.com; Monkshood, poisonous plant, by Pippa100, used under license from Dreamstime.com. Images from The Book of Kells, attributed to the monks of Iona and Kells, circa 800, used under license from Vector-Images.com. Map of Ireland, 1014 courtesy of Wesley Johnston, www.wesleyjohnston.com. Molly Malone attributed to James Yorkston and first published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1883. The Groves of Blarney by Richard Alfred Milliken, 1767-1815. Library of Congress Control Number: 2012918249 ISBN 978-0-9850361-0-2 Printed in the United States of America. To Ricky and Gerald CONTENTS An extract from the Book of Faerie Lament 19 1 3:10 to Thurles 25 2 A bit of Blarney 41 3 The Castle 59 4 Publican, Restaurant, Undertaker 77 5 Tuatha Dé Danann 95 6 Kells 113 7 Breaking News 129 8 Vikings 147 9 The Rock of Cashel 165 10 Somewhere in Between 181 11 Ua Ruairc 195 12 The Queen of Slievenamon 213 13 Jackie has a Plan 231 14 Frigga’s Day 251 15 In Dublin's Fair City 269 16 The Crusader 287 17 Trinity 305 An extract from the Book of Faerie Cheer 321 Feathered: being a fairy tale Author’s Note However, it is the common opinion of antiquaries that why it is Eire is from the name of the queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann who was in the land at the time of the coming of the Clann Míleadh into it: Eire, daughter of Dealbhaoth, was her name, and it is she was wife to Mac Gréine who was called Ceathúr who was king of Ireland when the sons of Míleadh came to it. Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (The History of Ireland), Geoffrey Keating, c. 1634 Tuatha Dé Danann To some, the word, fairy, conjures up children’s stories of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney; and for a more serious, weighty, grown-up, appreciation of mythology, we should use faery instead. I won’t make a case for one versus the other, but it seemed to me that neither did the Irish story tellers who I met. They interchanged these labels and others such as the Fay People, the Good People and the Wee Folk; and within those classifications, you’ll find Pookas, Leprechauns, Banshees, Sheoques, Merrows, Cluricaun, Ganconagh, Leanhaun Shee and others. If my incorrect use of labels hurts anyone’s sensibilities, please forgive me; a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Nevertheless, there are references in this book to the Tuatha Dé Danann (people of the goddess, Danu) and that is a label which I use deliberately, for it is impossible to fully appreciate the role of the fairy in Ireland without first understanding that the country’s history and mythology are as much intertwined as a Celtic knot. Ireland’s ancient history is a blur of invaders and tribal conflict. At some time, one such tribe became mythologized as the magical Tuatha Dé Danann; and the mythology of the Tuatha Dé Danann is so superimposed on 9 Feathered: being a fairy tale the real history of Ireland that attempts to separate fact from fiction would make both considerably less entertaining. Every nation has its history and mythology, but in Ireland they are not mutually exclusive and I believe Ireland is the richer for it. Vikings The first Viking raid on Ireland took place around 795 and they stayed for four centuries. Kells Abbey was often sacked during this period, but somehow the monks managed to protect the national treasure known as the Book of Kells. To survive the long winter months, the Vikings established coastal settlements. The fortress of Dublin Bay was established in 852 and Dublin remained in Viking control until the Norman invasion of 1169. The real Sigtrygg Silkbeard was king of Dublin in 1014, at the time of the real Battle of Clontarf, which also featured the real Brian Boru. In this book, Silkbeard’s son, Prince Oleif and prospective daughter-in-law, Estrid, are fictional characters. Also in real life, the Icelandic poet and historian, Snorri Sturluson, lived from 1179 to 1241. I have a fictional character of the same name. This is a happy coincidence. Fethard In the county of Tipperary, under the shadow of Mount Slievenamon, is the medieval walled town of Fethard, famous for its thoroughbred horses and the celebrated McCarthy’s Hotel. The Temple Castle and Gatehouse Pub in this story are fictitious, but I drew my inspiration from the real pubs and towers of Fethard; most particularly, Court Castle and the Castle Inn on Watergate Street, where I’ve enjoyed an excellent pint of Guinness or two with equally excellent companions. 10 Feathered: being a fairy tale Acknowledgments Many thanks to Tim Robinson of the Fethard Historical Society for your time, hospitality and tour of Court Castle. A big hello to Theresa and Willie of the Cozy B&B, which inspired my fictional Teolaí B&B, and whose breakfast is second to none. Thanks also to the citizens of Fethard and Dublin for your warmth, good humor and great stories. Most of all, thanks to Carmel Trimble and her family for taking care of me during my visits to Fethard, and for sharing tales of childhood adventure at the Castle Inn. This book is for you. 11 Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir Time is a good storyteller An Extract from The Book of Faerie Lament Tuath De Danand na set soim. Cait a fuaradar fogloim? Do rangadar suigecht slan A n-druigecht, a n-diabaldan. The four jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann, from Leabhar Buidhe Lecain (Yellow Book of Lecan), anon, c 1400 19 An extract from the Book of Fairy Lament Author’s Note: The Book of Faerie Lament tells of the last great battle of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Battle of Clontarf, which took place in 1014. It was at that battle that the renowned Irish king, Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig (Brian Boru) met his end; although the Tuatha Dé Danann did not overly concern themselves with the human aspect of the battle, for their quarrel lay with the Norse gods. This extract is from the English language edition produced by Professor K. S. Penbrooke of Boston in 1855. Professor Penbrooke worked from the Latin transcript of the book, created by the Benedictine monks of the Altmünster Abbey in Luxembourg in 1423, and who possessed the only known copy of the original medieval Irish manuscript. How the book arrived at Altmünster is not documented. The book survived the destruction of the Abbey in 1542, and was transferred to the replacement Neumünster Abbey, but alas, was ultimately lost in the fire of 1684. With the original work now destroyed, and as no other manuscript has been found to contain this story, the accuracy of the translation cannot be verified. 20 An extract from the Book of Fairy Lament And with the coming of the Norsemen, these Sidhe or Tuatha Dé Danann assembled for counsel at that secret place called Brug Maic ind Oc, the Castle of the Son of the Young, also called the Enchanted Palace of the Three Trees, whereupon they were greeted by Queen Eeviin of the Grey Rock, beautiful beyond beauty, pure beyond pure. “Welcome! – Welcome, the children of Danu – Welcome the children of Nuada Airgetlám, bane of the Fir Bholg – Welcome to the children of Lugh Lámhfhada, woe of the Fomóraig – Welcome North and South, East and West – All welcome from the shapeless mountain – All welcome from the shipless sea.” So greeted Queen Eeviin in song, as was the custom and language of the Sidhe at that time, for rough, hewn words as spoke by men were as ashes in their mouths, unbearable and unbecoming to their noble birthright. “Welcome to the three Gods of subtle art, Creidhne son of Tuirill Biccreo, Goibniu son of Tuirbe Trágma, and Luchta of Brighid born. “Welcome to the poet masters of the four cities, fair and strong – bring forth the jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann – From golden Murias, under the sea of tears, bring forth the sacred Cauldron of Dagda, so that we may be restored. “And from snow covered Failias, where artful Morfessa did sing more joyful verse, bring forth the Lia Fail, herald of kings, yet silent these many days.” Failias, Findias, Gorias and Murias; these were the names of the cities where the ancient Sidhe learned their dark wonder and guile. The cities of wizards they were also named. Morfessa, Esrus, Semias and Uiscias were the wizards called. And the eternal Cauldron was brought before the Tuatha Dé Danann, from which all drank until their bellies were full and their 21 An extract from the Book of Fairy Lament wounds healed. Then the Lia Fail, the sacred stone, was next placed before Queen Eeviin, in silence still, but doomed to sing of the new king of low born men.
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