Awaiting the Eclipse

I wont be at Tara as planned for the eclipse later on this morning, but in Renmore due to a typical case of Carty bad planning, but nonetheless Im hoping for clear skies and a good view of what I barely remember back in 1999. Researching it – and Ive barely started – brings a lot of folklore to the tale, and reminds me of the Easter tales that we used to have in Longford, and what a year Ive had since missing the last Dancing Sun, missing it does seem to bring bad luck – beliefs that continue on to spite modernisation of these advanced times.

This is the Cutios (1) where we await
The monster to attack the sun (2)
Not to be driven off with shouts (3) as before
When the darkness has begun
To scare the folk former who lived in these lands:
We know more now – we are not scared
Unlike the old vassals (4) of the former times
Who these rocky fields in time have shared…
For all our wonders made at the hands of man
With his technological and engineering knowledge mix
Nothing can bring out in us the awe brought by nature
Such as what we await, the solar eclipse…

1) “Cutios” March/April known as the “Windy time” in the old Celtic year. [SRC = Living Myths]
2)Celtic belief stated that a monster was attacking the sun during the eclipse, held common in primitive peoples as far away as China.
3) In a classic case of primitive solutions, the belief that the sun was been eaten was to shout at it until it stopped, and so scare off the monster folk believed was attacking the sun. All sorting itself in time, the Druids could point their chants worked! How Irish indeed!
4) “Old Vassals” a term used by the Celts to desbribe Cruitin tribes who lived along Lough Corrib in the traditional Mannion / Mangan lands.

Have your say...

comments