Monthly Archives: January 2012

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.

Win your own Aran Sweater

 

January, time of reflection. Inis Meáin

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The month of January we are living in now is a characteristic example in which one reflects on what is passed the year before. The name  derives from Janus with the two heads, one looking backwards, the other one looking forwards. The binding of the two is made by the moment, the present. On Inis Meáin one speaks about  Lá nollag beag (little Christmas) or New Year’s Day which is also called Lá na gCeapairí (day of the sandwich). In the last phrase you see these three moments of time span being united as well.

During this month we seem to be more able to reflect on what was, think on what is and dream on what future has in stock for us. It is this month which lies somewhat isolated between the month of December which is dominated by the warmth and happiness of Christmas and the busier months which lie ahead of us. The months in which other, more manual work perhaps, is waiting for us to take on.

Also the different skies during this time of year match with the quality of the month; it is amazing how tender the colour of blue can be in this month. Look also at the various shapes of the clouds and the intensity of them, we can admire now. Future lies ahead of us….

A couple of days ago I shared such a moment of reflection with someone else on the island. It was lovely to hear about life on Inis Meáin at the time population was much more dense than nowadays. It was nice as well to hear e.g. about places people used to meet one another where I use to walk now. And  to hear stories how daily life was organized then. We were chatting away until there was a knock at the door…

A young person came in eager to learn everything about Aran knitting.

Slán go fóill,

Elisabeth from INis Meáin.

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