Thomas Johnson Westropp
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In
the Obituary Notice published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, the writer concluded that Westropp's"memory will live as an inspiration to those who knew him; and his name will remain written high on the Roll of Honour in Ireland, long after many men, who make a much greater noise in these times of ours, have dropped into the oblivion that awaits them." |
.. on fairies
angel photograph by Cindy Marler |
Dr Browne met a man who had seen over 100 fairies dressed in white, running on a mountain side in the spring of 1896; other people had rescued a child from them. Fairies are mischievous beings - the least wicked of the fallen angels - allowed to haunt the earth till the Day of Doom. Clare Island Survey vol.1, p.43. |
.. and banshees
Mr. T. J. Westropp has furnished the following story: "My maternal grandmother heard the following tradition from her mother, one of the Miss Ross-Lewins, who witnessed the occurrence. Their father, Mr. Harrison Ross-Lewin, was away in Dublin on law business, and in his absence the young people went off to spend the evening with a friend who lived some miles away. The night was fine and lightsome as they were returning, save at one point where the road ran between trees or high hedges not far to the west of the old church of Kilchrist. The latter, like many similar ruins, was a simple oblong building, with long side-walls and high gables, and at that time it and its graveyard were unenclosed, and lay in the open fields. As the party passed down the long dark lane they suddenly heard in the distance loud keening and clapping of bands, as the country-people were accustomed to do when lamenting the dead. The Ross-Lewins hurried on, and came in sight of the church, on the side wall of which a little gray-haired old woman, clad in a dark cloak, was running to and fro, chanting and wailing, and throwing up her arms. The girls were very frightened, but the young men ran forward and surrounded the ruin, and two of them went into the church, the apparition vanishing from the wall as they did so. They searched every nook, and found no one, nor did any one pass out. All were now well scared, and got home as fast as possible. On reaching their home their mother opened the door, and at once told them that she was in terror about their father, for, as she sat looking out the window in the moonlight, a huge raven with fiery eyes lit on the sill, and tapped three times on the glass. They told her their story, which only added to their anxiety, and as they stood talking, taps came to the nearest window, and they saw the bird again. A few days later news reached them that Mr. Ross-Lewin had died suddenly in Dublin. This occurred about 1776."
.. even more banshees
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Mr. Westropp also writes that the sister of a former Roman Catholic Bishop told his sisters that when she was a little girl she went out one evening with some other children for a walk. Going down the road, they passed the gate of the principal demesne near the town. There was a rock, or large stone, beside the road, on which they saw something. Going nearer, they perceived it to be a little dark, old woman, who began crying and clapping her hands. Some of them attempted to speak to her, but got frightened, and all finally ran home as quickly as they could. Next day the news came that the gentleman near whose gate the Banshee had cried, was dead, and it was found on inquiry that he had died at the very hour at which the children had seen the specter. |
.. and beasties
The old Irish name for Scattery Island was Inis Cathaigh, after the Cathach - a legendary monster who inhabited the island and terrorised people. When St. Senan arrived on the island the Archangel Michael led him to the highest hill from which Senan was able to locate the Cathach. Senan faced the monster and ordered it to depart from the island. In some stories the Cathach obeyed immediately and 'neither stopped nor stayed' until he reached the dark waters of Doolough Lake at the foot of Mount Callan.
T.J. Westropp relates how the Cathach devoured St. Senan's smith, Narach, but Senan brought him forth again alive. The Cathach advanced 'its eyes flashing flame, with fiery breath, spitting venom and opening its horrible jaws', but Senan made the sign of the cross, and the beast collapsed and was chained and thrown into Doolough Lake.
... on Ireland
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"for the wilderness blossoms with flowers and ferns; and the dainty colourings of the rock- ledges and their shadows, the lovely outlooks to distant hills and out on the sea, the ivied cliffs, the spray of the waterfalls, the loneliness, and the strange weird sounds on the uplands, here a vast and lasting charm. No one fully realizes how he loves the strange hills, glens and plateaux till, after absence, he feels the joy of returning to them again." |
.. on The Burren
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A barren and dry land on its summits but with underground rivers and silver-laced waterfalls in its glens. Rock gardens of exquisite flowers, gorgeous cranesbills, creamy mountain avens, ferns and sedums adorn the nooks and shelves of the limestone. Magnificent sheets of colour carpet it, when the Spring Giver makes it bloom with flowers like sapphire and the loveliest of its flowers blue gentian and violet, sheet the ground and primrose and foam-white anemone the ledges. |
.. on Treasure
Tim Tool (Austin) Ballybeg, Inisturk, 1911 |
Mr Tim Tool tells me of a curious Clare Island Survey, p.48 |
.. on Justice
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"In Tooreen, not very far away, another outrage
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