Millennium ago, The ancient Celtic governance of what we call Ireland was ruled from Hill Tara by King Priests.  There were four kingdoms that had roads that led to and from that High Seat of government. This is all that remains of the once great Northern Kingdom on the Atrim Coast viewed looking North from the coast road.

I made my way down to the ruins of the ancient citidel of the Northern Kingdom to sit in the rubble and take in the splendor of the situation and eventually I fell asleep in the warm afternoon sun. While sleeping I dreamed a dream in which I was visited and studied by the ghost of a mighty Celtic Seer who after watching me for a time with probing curiousity, suddenly became very anxious that I urgently depart and began shrieking and screaming.

When I jolted awake, lying on my back, I beheld a huge owl, screeching and circling  some 30 -40 feet above me making any thought of lingering any longer unthinkable. I made a hasty, adrenalin driven retreat back to the coast road. For what it’s worth, I’m not particularly superstitious, but I experienced something very personal, something spiritually powerful in this experience, but I can’t explain that part..

There was a soccer tournament on the telly and everyone in the village was in rapt attention.

These ‘good ol boys’ in County Limerick would hear nothing of my not being a musician. Everyone is a musician in Ireland, at least in the pub. “The accordion can be made to sing by an elephants arse”.  After a few drinks I asked if anyone had ever seen any of the little people. After a few sideways glances and a little hesitation, the stories started to flow. You can believe anything you hear in a pub. It’s true.

The fellow in the middle is the proprietor of this Pub in Leenane, County Galway and the fella on the right is an old friend of mine from my days in Hawaii, Warren “Hinks” Goolsby, who joined me for a few days in West Ireland.

I found this object listed in an obscure guide to prehistoric objects in County Antrim. It has the nick name “The Devils Altar”.  It took me hours of searching in a number of very far “off road” properties, with the assistance of several local sheep rancers and property tenants, to find it.  It was pouring rain and I was exhausted after the search but here, at last,  it was.  It dates back to nearly 900 years BC.

I don’t know why I find these ancient objects fascinating and worthwhile. Celtic people are quick to tell stories, and the stories told about these mysterious articles are almost as interesting to me as the “sacred object” status they represented to pre-historic peoples. I guess you’d have to include some modern people as well. This is my idea of captivating aboriginal architecture.