UCSC Extension Multimedia and Web Design Certificate - Final Project

Project Plan: Erin Dreams

Elsa DieLöwin

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s-Kildare-65-21.html

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Kildare and Howth

Cruach Kildare
{text as below}

Journal text

August 8, 1998

 We headed back toward Dublin from Slane on the N2, the took M50 around to the N7, which was also under construction. We got to Kildare at about 2:45. The place we wanted to go to lunch was closed, so we went up to the Cathedral. I had heard the Brigidine nuns had rekindled Brigid's flame in 1993 and I wanted to see it. The nice lady at the cathedral had not heard of it and so had no suggestion. We went out into the churchyard where there's a tall round tower that one may climb after paying IR£1, but we declined. There was a foundation of "St. Brigid's Fire Temple" but it was of a rectangular structure, which seemed unlikely to be old enough for Brigid to have established it to us. We passed the TIC and the statue of Brigid on the corner of the block, crossed the street, and went the half mile or so down the hill to Tobar Bride, Brigid's Well.

 The area is surrounded by a low stone wall, and there is stonework along the stream from the road up to the head of the well. On the right as you go in, about 10 feet in, there's a stone niche containing a store mannequin in nun's habit by way of a statue of Brigid. The niche is covered across the front with plexiglass to protect it from weather and depredation.

 A tree to the left of the well head is covered with offerings of ribbons. I fished someone's cigarette butt out of the well since it seemed sacrilegious as well as distasteful to just leave it there. The area by the tree and well head felt very peaceful and pleasant. The nearer I got to the road, the less peaceful the place seemed. I left hoping that those who come to the well for healing get what they need.

 We left Kildare and went east again past Dublin to Howth. We strolled along the path and stopped in the park to look at the pillar stone with depictions of some of the traditional Irish legends. There was the Bull of Cooley on one side with Maeve, and on another side Nuada and his silver arm. Even the trash bin has art on it. We looked out across the Irish sea at the island called the Eye of Ireland, which is supposed to watch for invaders and give warning. The tide was very low, so the pier stuck out mostly into a mudflat. An enormous boat was sitting to one side, and it wasn't clear to me whether it was going to be repaired or if it was abandoned. It was nearly as big as my house.

 There was a string of shops and restaurants against the hill across the street from the north shore. We chose to have Tandoori food at a restaurant called Asian-ese. The food was good, but the waitress had never heard of Lassi as a beverage. I stuck with water.

 Finally we gave in to the inevitable and drove to our hotel at the Dublin airport. After returning the car, repacking the bags for the flight home, and dreading a 4 a.m. wake-up call for our 7 a.m. flight to London to head home, we tumbled into bed on our last night in Ireland.

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Tober Brigid
from Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions,
by James Bonwick (written 1894)
Dorset Press , 1986, page 241

 Pilgrimages to wells are frequent to this day. The times are fixed for them; as the first of February, in honour of Tober Brigid, or St. Brigid's Well… The bushes are draped with offerings, and the procession must move around as the sun moves, like the heathen did at the same spot so long ago.

End Here
from Finnigan's Wake,
by James Joyce
via Poetry Club (link)

End here. Us then. Finn, again! Take. Bussoftlhee,
mememormee! Till thousandsthee. Lps. The keys to.
Given! A way a lone a last a loved a long the riverrun,
past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of
bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation
back to Howth Castle and Environs.