National Anthem, Irish Gold and Snakes!
- Helen Walsh Folsom
- Jun 3, 2017
- 2 min read
Dromoland Castle, County Clare
Over the next several weeks, I will be publishing, with the aid of my daughter, Bettse Folsom, a series of answer & questions & snippets about Ireland that many people have asked me during events where I have attended. The recordings of these can be found on my YouTube channel, HelenWalshFolsom.
The Irish culture has had a large impact on our United States of America culture since the very beginning. For example, there is the story of Turlough O'Carolan and his music.
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Turlough O'Carolan was blind but his harp filled many a tower house and castle with beautiful music in the late 1600s. He traveled over the land of Ireland creating folk songs of all kinds.
You may think that you never have heard of O'Carolan and his melodies that were written centuries ago. Not so! For every time you go to an American public event or patriotic celebration in this country, his music will make joy in your heart to hear.
"Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
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We talk about St. Patrick and his banishment of snakes from Ireland. And are they all gone then? Well, now not all.
Not all, for the Old Saint came brandishing his Hawthorne stick and one serpent in his hurry to get away from him fell into the large Lough Neath.
He begged and begged St. Patrick to release him from the lake and the man of God promised he would let him out on the morrow. He is there yet, rising every day from the depths of the lake and crying …
"Is it the morrow yet?"
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In the Avonbeg River in Ireland which runs through the tiny village of Woodbridge in County Meath, there is gold in the water. The truth is that a 22 ounce golden nugget was found in the stream in 1745. To this day, bits of brilliant yellow can be seen in its bed.
Gold was always in grand supply in Ireland. In 1854 workmen found a huge stash of prehistoric gold ornaments and art near an ancient ring fort at Dromoland Castle, County Clare, likely hidden there by Viking raiders a thousand years ago.
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I hope you enjoy the many lovable, interesting folklore and facts I have found about Ireland that I plan to share with you, my Readers.
Be sure to send in your questions or comments thru my website "Contact" page and check out my books for more interesting details and Irish history available on Amazon.com.
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