Why the first of February is called after Saint Bride

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The 31st  January the extended time of Christmas closes off. During the past six weeks there were a few celebrations  which will come to a closure with the last three festivities we are having this week.

spring aran islands

Spring is on the way.

In the context of Bridget’s day (Lá Fhéil’ Bríde) on the first of February, the girls of the primary school did their round along the houses of Inis Meain with their lovely made Brídóg, a doll originally  made out of straw, which supposed to be Saint Bride. The first and the second of February there will be Mass because of Lá Fhéil’Muire na gCoinneal (Candlemass) and of Lá Naomh Blaise (the day of Saint Blase). For further information about the background of these celebrations, please see my blog of the 4th February 2011.

spring inis meain

Spring is on the way

Inis Meáin is still the only place on the Aran Islands where the tradition of Brídóg is kept lively. That’s why you might like to know  why the first day of February is called after Saint Bride.

spring inis meáin

Another sign of spring is in the air

It was long before Christianity was brought into Ireland that the Druids lived here. They had the gift of looking far ahead in the future. So long before the child Jesus was born in Nazareth in Palestine the Druids had already a foresight, a vision that this magnificent event would take place in the future. And when the moment was there that the Holy Child was born the Druids just knew. At the time Bride, a young woman grew up with the Druids. It was then that it happened that  Muire, mother of the Holy Child needed some rest. At the moment she thought of this Bride was there to replace her. Muire was so pleased with this gesture that she thanked her  by offering her Lá Fheabhra (the first day of February) dedicated to her. Since this day Bride is called the foster mother of the Holy Child.

cat-aran-islands-spring

Another sign of spring is in the air

Slán go fóill,

Elisabeth from Inis Meáin.

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Inspiration-Aran Islands

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It was a lovely and clear morning. It started already before sun dawn. While the sky was colouring from deep grey to dark blue ending up in a red/violet dye, the robin, crow and the thrush were already singing and playing about  in the bushes on the highest terrace. Because there was no wind at all the only noise I heard was the sound of the waves splashing against the rocks at Trácht Each at the west side of Inis Meáin.

waves on inis meáin

How we can be inspired

I love this moment of the day when night turns into day again. Especially at this time of year  there is often a light drizzle during night time. The claí (stone walls) still being wet look like bronze, and the broken platforms of limestone get a very special polishing now in which its tremendous power and liveliness is shown. All these signs of nature offer us our inspiration for the ways we express ourselves.

inis meain aran islands

Inspiration

Well, as I said it was a fine and sultry day when I was heading to the pier a couple of hours later. I like to be there in time because I love to see the banrion na farraige  (the queen of the sea) rushing towards Inis Meáin, proudly cutting the waves…and there she came. Although  It only lasts a few minutes before the ferry embarks again there is always time to exchange a word or a joke. Eventually

Eventually we walked home agila and bezakt for there was a lot of material  to be brought to the island. During the fortnight to come we intended to give courses on felting for anyone on the island who is interested, no matter what age or how much experience one has.

Felted flower inis meain

Felted Flower

At the end of the two weeks we look back on a lovely time with the islanders who were able to make lovely things as a little cover for a mobile or a doily or an hairpin out of beautiful chosen colours in no time. We all loved it to work with our hands with soap in lukewarm water. Just as when we were kids or/and  mothers doing the washing!  And for some of us that is a long, long time ago….

felted ball

Even Tjitske the dog is inspirated by a felted ball

In the months to come there will be more courses on felting on Inis Meáin. If you are interested to attend… you know the way how to contact!

learn felting on the aran islands

Never too old to learn/

Slán go fóill,

Elisabeth from Inis Meáin.

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Aran Islands. The First parking ticket.

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Shock and horror on Inis Mór on Monday last.

A Kilronan resident, well known, but we won’t identify him here got the shock of his life on Monday….

Martin Mannion, the community warden, wrote himself into the history book by writing the first parking ticket under the new traffic management plan. What next from Galway County Council.

Certainly provided a talking point in Joe Watty’s and all over the Islands in the last few days. We’re sure the ticket will be framed and might even become a tourist attraction where ever it is displayed.

Parking ticket aran islands

Martin issues the dreaded ticket. Picture: Connaught Tribune

As reported by Máirtín Ó Catháin in the Connaught Tribune.

January 19, 2012 – 7:00am

By Máirtín Ó Catháin

One Inis Mór driver made history in a way they’d rather forget on Monday when they became the recipient of the first ever road traffic violation ticket issued on the Aran Islands.

Community Warden Martin Mannion attached the dreaded paperwork to the window of a car at Kilronan Harbour on Monday morning as the new County Council Traffic Plan kicked in on Inis Mór.

The Traffic Management Plan for the Harbour area in Kilronan was agreed by Galway County Council in 2011 and it came into effect on January 1.

It regulates parking and traffic movement in the vicinity of the newly developed harbour at Kilronan. The regulations also apply to an area in the Killeaney harbour part of the island.

But with regulation comes enforcement and the new traffic plan gives community wardens authority to issue on the spot fine tickets to motorists who disobey the law.

In a broader context the Community Wardens are already entitled to issue tickets for the non-display of motor tax discs throughout the island. However no traffic violation tickets were issued until now.

Parking along double yellow lines would be the most likely reason for a transgression of the traffic laws in the newly developed harbour area at Kilronan.

Abandoned vehicles could also attract the attention of Galway County Council and the Community Wardens.

But Community Wardens also have authority to issue on the spot fine tickets for the non-display of motor tax discs; this issue may come more under the spotlight in view of the new traffic by-laws in parts of the island.

Estimates put the number of vehicles on Inis Mór island at about 400; about 75% would be cars and jeeps. The islands have a special rate of motor tax of €95 per year – up from €88 euro due to budget changes – which applies to all vehicles irrespective of capacity.

A powerful jeep type vehicle that could cost over €1,000 in motor tax on the mainland can be taxed on the island at the special rate of €95.

The on-the-spot fine for non-display of a tax disc is €60.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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