Friday, May 13, 2011: Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
This is the 6th day I have been back in Ballyvaughan and in the Burren, and the first day to myself. This past week went by very fast and we have a good start on the study-trip that I am leading. The light is beautiful as the weather changes instantly from showers to sunshine and back again and the air is fragrant with Yellow Gorse, Whitethorn and peat smoke.
Thomas Connely drove our group through the landscape on Monday the 9th to Kilfenora –he chose to take the road to Lisdoonvarna out of Ballyvaughan. We rode up corkscrew hill and through the Burren countryside to our destination. The sun was shining and the warmth of it felt like a welcoming greeting from the land itself. These paragraphs from John O’Donohue’s book, “The Four Elements: Reflections On Nature” help to describe my feelings:
“Stone is perfectly silent. The stillness and endurance of stone focuses in an intense way the unobtrusive eternity of the earth. Thus among ancient peoples, stone often symbolized the earth itself. And amidst intensities and diversities of landscape, stone stands as the tabernacle of memory.
Memoria is not an anonymous storing place where the past is housed. Memoria is particular, passionate and diverse. Though concealed, it is a special presence. Presence is one of the most beautiful words. It suggests a unique, passionate and welcoming thereness. The distinctive nature of this presence is conveyed eloquently in the image of ‘Tabernacle’.
The presence of Memoria is concealed and silent. As the tabernacle of memory, stone, embodies this hidden presence. . . . the presence of memoria in stone is mediated presence. It calls and engages those who take time and are sensitive in attention. Though reserved, this mediated presence is generous. It releases its depths to the one who approaches reverently. It bequeaths its secrets to the attentive and ready sensibility.”
- Graveyard at Kilfenora Cathedral
On Tuesday the 10th I led the students on a walking tour to the ringforts of Cathair na hYamham, An Rath and An Cathair Mohr –it was a round trip of approximately 8 km. The wind blew but for the most part the sun shown bright and lit the landscape with a magical glow. The landscape was certainly not disappointing in its beauty.
- Cathair na hYamham
Today is flying quickly by. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to start working on my drawing. Robert Wainwright will be bringing me a drawing board to borrow from the college so I can have a smooth surface on which to draw. In the meantime I’m catching up with other things.
