In any attempt to give tangible expression to man’s physical presence on earth, the relative long term place association with his landscape surroundings is surely one of the most important. In this respect, those elements which are relatively stable over time can afford special spiritual and sacred refinement to his cultural development and evolution. Thus, stone in its many manifestations throughout the landscape of Ireland has been a major source of inspiration and has been the focus of myths, legends and folktales down through the centuries.
The reason behind these current reflections on the value of stone is partly because of a wonderful book I picked up recently during an afternoon walk in Oughterard, County Galway. It is called “Stones of Adoration-Sacred Stones and Mystical Megaliths of Ireland” by Christine Zucchelli, and is an enchanting exploration of the origins and rituals associated with stones in ancient and modern times. The book refers, in clear terms through text and photos, to the background and social context of megalithic tombs, passage graves, standing stones and indeed even beds of stone for ‘old hags and fair maidens’. I particularly liked the story of the sorcery that was employed to weaken the warrior Cuchulainn and the ancient history behind that ‘Big Man’s’ Stone.
For my own part, I have personal recollections of the background behind The Proleek Dolmen, known as the ‘Giant’s Load’, where those wishing to find themselves a partner would throw a small pebble onto the capping stone. If the pebble did not fall down, the applicant could assume that he or she would be married within a year. I myself tried this out successfully when young and although I cannot recall whether my own marriage followed within a year of the event, I san say that its continuing longevity testifies that it was not a ‘rocky’ experience. At any rate it can still be viewed in the grounds of Ballymascanlon Hotel outside Dundalk and so far I have not heard of anyone disputing the powers of the stone.
Some of the more fascinating descriptions in the book refer to the origins of the Ogram inscriptions on stones going back to the time of the mythical Tuatha De Danann tribe and also to the influence of the Sheela-na-Gig statutes which feature naked female figures that emphasise the genital area and have been seen by many as a symbol of fertility and protection for women with spiritual significance even to this day. In fact the entire book ranges over a vast variety of stone types from birth stones to wishing stones and even ones associated with ‘petrified sinners’. I have pleasure in posting a few photos from the book but I would highly recommend it to those with a sense of awareness of the importance of their experience of soul as witnessed in stone symbols employed through the passage of time.
My final reason for reflecting on stone at this time was the decision, partly prompted by the book, to remove the ivy covering the old stone wall at the back of the garden. Some of the stones probably originate from the outhouses of an old landlord residence long demolished and have lain covered by ivy for at least 30 years. So over the holiday weekend I began laboriously to remove the layers of clutching vines and was very pleased to discover a wide range of both granite and limestone shapes of different size and colour. Indeed if Christine Zucchelli’s book is to be believed, some of the round stones uncovered could well be ‘swearing stones, cursing stones or protective idols’. At any rate such was the effort required to dislodge the ivy from underneath some stones that a few new curses emanated from yours truly during the clearing process. The Irish tradition for the construction of random rubble, dry stone walls can be seen stretching across most of the western seaboard from the famous Burren limestone crags in Clare to the wild hills and bogs of Connemara and even across the barren stone strewn landscape of the Aran Islands. It is therefore nice to think that in opening up and restoring a natural wall feature one is participating in an action which has a resonance in Ireland across the Millennium of time. It was truly a life affirming ‘ripple of a pebble in a pool’ moment for me.
Thus, on finally inspecting the cleared wall I was pleased to echo the words of Saint Colmcille, my namesake according to my parents, uttered in the sixth century:
“Let not the Old Glen be violated, the site of the Stone Slabs of Heaven”.
All comments and musings welcome!
The reason behind these current reflections on the value of stone is partly because of a wonderful book I picked up recently during an afternoon walk in Oughterard, County Galway. It is called “Stones of Adoration-Sacred Stones and Mystical Megaliths of Ireland” by Christine Zucchelli, and is an enchanting exploration of the origins and rituals associated with stones in ancient and modern times. The book refers, in clear terms through text and photos, to the background and social context of megalithic tombs, passage graves, standing stones and indeed even beds of stone for ‘old hags and fair maidens’. I particularly liked the story of the sorcery that was employed to weaken the warrior Cuchulainn and the ancient history behind that ‘Big Man’s’ Stone.
For my own part, I have personal recollections of the background behind The Proleek Dolmen, known as the ‘Giant’s Load’, where those wishing to find themselves a partner would throw a small pebble onto the capping stone. If the pebble did not fall down, the applicant could assume that he or she would be married within a year. I myself tried this out successfully when young and although I cannot recall whether my own marriage followed within a year of the event, I san say that its continuing longevity testifies that it was not a ‘rocky’ experience. At any rate it can still be viewed in the grounds of Ballymascanlon Hotel outside Dundalk and so far I have not heard of anyone disputing the powers of the stone.
Some of the more fascinating descriptions in the book refer to the origins of the Ogram inscriptions on stones going back to the time of the mythical Tuatha De Danann tribe and also to the influence of the Sheela-na-Gig statutes which feature naked female figures that emphasise the genital area and have been seen by many as a symbol of fertility and protection for women with spiritual significance even to this day. In fact the entire book ranges over a vast variety of stone types from birth stones to wishing stones and even ones associated with ‘petrified sinners’. I have pleasure in posting a few photos from the book but I would highly recommend it to those with a sense of awareness of the importance of their experience of soul as witnessed in stone symbols employed through the passage of time.
My final reason for reflecting on stone at this time was the decision, partly prompted by the book, to remove the ivy covering the old stone wall at the back of the garden. Some of the stones probably originate from the outhouses of an old landlord residence long demolished and have lain covered by ivy for at least 30 years. So over the holiday weekend I began laboriously to remove the layers of clutching vines and was very pleased to discover a wide range of both granite and limestone shapes of different size and colour. Indeed if Christine Zucchelli’s book is to be believed, some of the round stones uncovered could well be ‘swearing stones, cursing stones or protective idols’. At any rate such was the effort required to dislodge the ivy from underneath some stones that a few new curses emanated from yours truly during the clearing process. The Irish tradition for the construction of random rubble, dry stone walls can be seen stretching across most of the western seaboard from the famous Burren limestone crags in Clare to the wild hills and bogs of Connemara and even across the barren stone strewn landscape of the Aran Islands. It is therefore nice to think that in opening up and restoring a natural wall feature one is participating in an action which has a resonance in Ireland across the Millennium of time. It was truly a life affirming ‘ripple of a pebble in a pool’ moment for me.
Thus, on finally inspecting the cleared wall I was pleased to echo the words of Saint Colmcille, my namesake according to my parents, uttered in the sixth century:
“Let not the Old Glen be violated, the site of the Stone Slabs of Heaven”.
All comments and musings welcome!
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