SyntaxSaer's blog: "Celt Blessings"

Once the Goban was in the Tabhairne (tavern)drinking mead as usual. At the next table a rowdy group - led by Cairbre O Loingsigh, the sea-captain's son - was loudly recapitulating the Goban's various adventures and misadventures. The stories invariably ended in roars of laughter. The whole idea was to show what a foolish and ridiculous character the Goban was. They kept glancing gleefully and maliciously in the Goban's direction, but he paid no attention whatsoever. In fact, he seemed completely unconcerned and even gave the impression that the thoughts running through his head were of a pleasant nature. Gradually - since they were getting no response - the rowdy group's joviality seemed to run down and they became quieter and quieter . Some continued to glance maliciously over at the Goban, but now frustration clouded some faces , others seemed puzzled or annoyed. At last , Conaill Mac Carthaigh , the tavern-owner - his curiosity aroused - wandered over to the Goban and said : "Goban : did you not hear what those layabouts were saying about you ? Aren't you going to do something about it ?" Suddenly the whole tavern went quiet, waiting for the Goban's response: Blinking, as if coming out of a dream, the Goban said: "..Well, now, tavern-keeper, if I'm walking along the road of an evening, minding my own business, and an 'oul donkey leans over a gate and brays at me, I'm not going to get upset, am I? Because that's what donkeys do ..!"

(1)Ni heolas go haontios Means: There is no knowledge without unity or (more prosaically & less accurately): You don't know a person until you live with them . (2) Bionn dha insint ar sceal agus dha leagan deag ar amhran Means: There are two versions of/two sides to every story & (at least) twelve versions of every song. (3)Is maith an scathan suil charad Means: A (true) friend's eye is a good mirror . (4) Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach Means: An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse . (5) An te nach mbionn laidir ni follair do bheith glic ! Means: He who is not strong must needs be cunning!

THE GOBBAN SAER BY T.D. M'GEE. [In Petrie's "Round Towers," there is a short account of "the Goggan Saer" - their builder. He is there supposed to have lived in the first Christian age of Ireland - the 6th century, but his birth, life, and death, are involved in great obsecurity and many legends. He is perhaps, after Finn and St. Patrick, the most popular personage in the ancient period of Irish history.] He stept a man out on the ways of men, And no one knew his sept, or rank, or name - Like a strong stream far issuing from a glen, From some source unexplor'd, the Master came; Gossips there were, who, wondrous keen of ken, Surmis'd that he should be a child of shame! Others, declared him of the Druids - then, Through Patrick's labours fallen from power and fame. He lived apart wrapt up in many plans - He woo'd not women, tasted not of wine - He shunn'd the sports and councils of the clans - Nor ever knelt at a frequented shrine. His orisons were old poetic ranns, Which the new Ollaves deem'd an evil sign; To most he seem'd one of those Pagan Khans, Whose mystic vigour knows no cold decline. He was the builder of the wondrous Towers, Which tall, and straight, and exquisitely round, Rise monumental round the isle once ours; Index-like, marking spots of holy ground - In gloaming glens, in lowland bowers - On rivers' banks, these Cloiteachs old abound: Where Art, enraptured, meditates long hours, And Science flutters like a bird spell-bound! Lo! wheresoe'er these pillar-towers aspire, Heroes and holy men repose below - The bones of some glean'd from the Pagan pyre, Others in armour lie, as for a foe: It was the mighty Master's life-desire, To chronicle his great ancestors, so; What holier duty, what achievement higher Remains to us, than this he thus doth show? Yet he, the builder, died an unknown death: His labours done, no man beheld him more - 'Twas thought his body faded like a breath - Or like a sea-mist, floated off Life's shore Doubt overhangs his fate, and faith, and birth, His works alone attest his life, and lore - They are the only witness he hath - All else Egyptian darkness covers o'er. Men call'd him Gobban Saer, and many a tale Yet lingers in the bye-ways of the land, Of how he cleft the rock, and down the vale Led the bright river, child-like, in his hand: Of how on giant ships he spread great sail, And many marvels else by him first plann'd - But though these legends fade - in Innisfail His name and Towers for centuries shall stand. http://www.archive.org/stream/stmoling00stokuoft/stmoling00stokuoft_djvu.txt This link is for serious research!

Song 08 is Iain Mac a'Ghobhainn on accordeon. Recorded in 2005. There are 86 songs in total. http://www.adb422006.com/modmusic1.html

rhys gethin09-01-2007, 20:57 I was responsible for post 27. I said there was a nice (ie fine) distinction. Let me explain: in the culture I come from a man might be known as "Donald son of Thomas". (Domhall mac Thomais). That's patronymic. His surname might be MacKay. (Mac Aoidh) Which means Son of Aoidh. But Donald's father wasn't called Aoidh - it was Thomas. In fact in this case perhaps nobody's father was Aoidh, it's a archaic word for fire. While there might have been an Aoidh, it's just as likely that the clan name (clann means children) "son of fire" wasn't literal. But it's quite normal for someone to be called Domhall mac Thomais Mac Aoidh. And I'll not go into women, who commonly get called, colloquially, by their maiden names all their lives. This is where it gets complicated: Gowans (or Gowan, or Gibbon) comes from the Gaelic for a smith, which is gobhainn (pron gowaign). However people are called Mac a' Ghobhainn in Gaelic - son of the smith. But that same person would be called Smith in English. (A famous example is the novelist and poet, Iain Crichton Smith, known as Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn in Gaelic). So is Smith patronymic or not? What about Gowans? See what I mean about a fine distinction? (Sorry for the side track, but I find this stuff interesting). Yup - same with us. The sort of surname your talking about is pretty well universal in Cymru: it was once a patronymic. Gwilym ap Rhys had a patronymic name. He had a son called not Ifan ap Gwilym but Evan Rhys/Rees. Since his father wasn't called after his father, he had a surname. We don't have occupational names - I had ancestors who were smiths, but they weren't called Gof but -incredibly - Smith, though they didn't speak English at that point, as far I can make out. Some local landowner being 'helpful'? Very odd! **************************************** P.S.- Celtic is a language family with a number of different, but related, languages, including Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Manx on the Gaelic side, and Welsh, Breton and Cornish on the British side.Celtic and Gaelic courses involve the study of the languages, literature, history and culture of the Celtic peoples over the centuries with particular emphasis on Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh in their medieval and modern forms.For those fluent in Scottish Gaelic a range of courses are taught through the medium of Gaelic. Literature courses include the study of literature both in the original and in translation.

Celtic Blessings and Prayers May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. traditional gaelic blessing Beannachd Dia dhuit (blessings of God be with you - ScotsGaelic) Blessed Be. ancient - celtic blessing May the blessing of light be on you - light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it. And may light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in the window of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm. And may the blessing of the rain be on you, may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines, and sometimes a star. And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day; and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen. —Scottish Blessing If there is righteousness in the heart If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be —Scottish Blessing Lang may your lum reek. (Long may your chimney smoke.) —Scottish Blessing A Gaelic Prayer Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh Good health and every good blessing to you! May you have - Walls for the wind And a roof for the rain, And drinks bedside the fire Laughter to cheer you And those you love near you, And all that your heart may desire - Celtic Blessing An Old Wedding Blessing May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward May those who love us, love us. And those who don't love us, May God turn their hearts; And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May He turn their ankles, So we will know them by their limping. Be ye our angel unawares If after Kirk ye bide a wee, There's some would like to speak to ye, If after Kirk ye rise and flee We' all seem cauld and still to ye. The one that's in the seat with ye Is stranger here than ye, maybe. All here have got their fears and cares, Add ye your soul unto our prayers, Be ye our angel unawares. — Scottish Blessing Gaelic Wedding Blessing Mile failte dhuit le d'bhre/id, Fad do re/ gun robh thu slan. Mo/ran laithean dhuit is sith, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni bhi fas. Translated as: "A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief, may you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches." This is attributed to the Rev. Donald MacLeod, minister of Duirinish, Skye, Scotland c. 1760. May the hills lie low May the hills lie low, May the sloughs fill up, In thy way. May all evil sleep, May all good awake, In thy way. —(Source: “Mystery on the Isle of Skye” God to enfold me, God to surround me, God in my speaking, God in my thinking. God in my sleeping, God in my waking, God in my watching, God in my hoping. God in my life, God in my lips, God in my soul, God in my heart. God in my sufficing, God in my slumber, God in mine ever-living soul, God in mine eternity. ancient celtic oral traditions - carmina gadelica I arise today Through a mighty strength: God's power to guide me, God's might to uphold me, God's eyes to watch over me; God's ear to hear me, God's word to give me speech, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to shelter me, God's host to secure me. first millenium - bridgid of gael You are the peace of all things calm You are the place to hide from harm You are the light that shines in dark You are the heart's eternal spark You are the door that's open wide You are the guest who waits inside You are the stranger at the door You are the calling of the poor You are my Lord and with me from ill You are the light, the truth, the way You are my Saviour this very day. celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine upon your window pane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near to you and May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. traditional blessing We bathe your palms In the showers of wine, In the crook of the kindling, In the seven elements, In the sap of the tree, In the milk of honey, We place nine pure, choice gifts In your clear beloved face: The gift of form, The gift of voice, The gift of fortune, The gift of goodness, The gift of eminence, The gift of charity, The gift of integrity, The gift of true nobility, The gift of apt speech. traditional gaelic Circle me, Lord. Keep protection near And danger afar. Circle me, Lord Keep hope within. Keep doubt without. Circle me, Lord. Keep light near And darkness afar. Circle me, Lord. Keep peace within. Keep evil out. david adam Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the infinite peace to you. adapted from - ancient gaelic runes God's Heart There is a mother's heart in the heart of God. And 'tis his delight to break the bread of love and truth for his children. from a Hebridean mother Spare Us the Fall May the roof above never fall in, May we below never fall out. a Celtic grace My Fortress The Sacred Three My fortress be Encircling me Come and be round My hearth and my home. —Celtic prayer Big Sea, Little Boat Dear God, be good to me; The sea is so wide, And my boat is so small. fisherman's prayer A Familiar Stranger I saw a stranger today. I put food for him in the eating-place And drink in the drinking-place And music in the listening-place. In the Holy name of the Trinity He blessed myself and my family. And the lark said in her warble Often, often, often Goes Christ in the stranger's guise. O, oft and oft and oft, Goes Christ in the stranger's guise. Celtic Rune of Hospitality