For the day that’s in it.
The featured image is from Newgrange, Brugh Na Boinne, Contae na Mí.
I rarely make recommendations like this, but it is worth visiting, and the tour guides are excellent.
The grand Neolithic passage tomb in Meath, overlooking the river Boyne, was built circa 3200 BC.
Consequently, at 5,200 years, it is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
My ancestors here would have celebrated this time of year like no other.
The Solstice sunrise this year will be at 08.38 AM tomorrow morning.
So as darkness fell, the fires would be burning and the party would begin.
They knew that the days would get incrementally longer; this was hugely important to Ireland’s original farmers.
Their lives revolved around the cycle of the seasons.
Ok, another recommendation.
The Ceide Fields in my father’s Mayo is stunning.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is really top-class at this stuff.
For me, the Winter Solstice is also a day for reaching back and connecting, as well as looking forward to the longer days.
We’ve been on this island longer than we’ve been pals with Baby Jesus.
In a few days, folk here will emerge from Midnight Mass and wish each other, as Gaeilge, a happy midwinter!
In the Irish language, December is Mí na Nollag, literally the month of the winter solstice.
A few years ago, the Big Fella and I did the DNA ancestry thingy for the craic.
When the results came back, I wasn’t surprised that he had inherited the R1b gene from myself.
It’s on the Y Chromosome, so father to son only.
Studies have found that 84% of Irishmen have this gene, which has the highest density anywhere.
That means we’ve been here a long, long time.
In a time of climate change, it serves us well to reconnect with the seasons and become more aware of the centrality of the planet’s well-being to our continued existence as a species.
My ancestors would have partied on this day because, once more, they had seen out the darkest of the winter and better days were ahead.
So, dear reader, Nollaig shona dhuit!
We all need the light.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Time to reflect, & time time to dream.
Thank you for shining light into some of the darkest parts of Scotland this year!
A happy solstice to you and yours, sir. And all the best for the new year when she arrives.
Wonderful stuff Phil, thanks.
Happy Christmas to you and yours Phil , hope you have a good one. Let’s hope our club wake up and finish off this version of rangers
Happy Winter Solstice Phil, all the best to you and yours over the festivities and thanks for all the good work exposing the dark arts in Fair Caledonia!
I enjoyed our telephone conversation one Sunday afternoon from Tennents Bar, Byres Rd on another Brians phone!
Cheers from Tenerife 😎🎄👍🍀
Stay well Brian
In the words of Keanu Reeves’ character in ‘Point Break’….
….”you’re not going to start chanting, are you?”.
Here’s to the brighter days ahead – here’s hoping Brendan & the bhoys are on message.