Tweets, Trials and Trophies

I must admit to being a speed reader tweeter of the last few weeks. I jumped on the tweet mill a short time ago to see whether it was a social media that suited me. There appear to be two schools of thought about tweeting, you either hang around there all day, or you plan you tweets in advance with software that farms them at intervals for you.

As I like the option of dropping in once or twice a day and speed reading the tweets, I was compelled to open a link to a tweet about a cow in Ireland, that is set to enter the Guinness Book of Records, as the smallest cow in the world. Ella, is a 31inch cow that can fit under the kitchen table in the County Sligo home of her owner, Mr. Henry Judge. Click to read article

A few days later I came across a tweet about a judgement handed down by Judge Patrick Durcan in Ennis District Court to a Co. Clare farmers charged with cruelty to his animals. I have often been asked what happens in cases where farmers are charged with cruelty to animals. I've always been told that in such cases, and they are rare, that the farmer could loose his animals and face hefty financial penalties and/ or a prison sentence. In this case, the farmer received a 10 month suspended sentence. He was previously ordered to dispose of his herd. The Department of Agriculture Inspector provided evidence that the animals had a lack of water, feed and shelter during the harshest of winters. The judge that his 73 cattle be taken from him. Click to read article

It is rare that you see cases of farmers treating their animals cruelly in Ireland. The fact that the farmer lived near Kilrush, Co. Clare struck a chord, as I had memories of my grandfathers medal which he was  presented with in 1915 for his actions taken to protect a donkey being mistreated by a farmer, when he was member of the Royal Irish Constabulary... and yes, you guess it, he was stationed in Kilrush, Co. Clare.

I hasten to add, that the reason this tweet stuck out in my mind, was due to the fact that it's a very rare occasion that such cases ever come before the courts. And if any of you want to wander down in the beautiful limestone regions of Co. Clare make sure to drop us a line and take some photos of the beautiful healthy cattle.... but you'll have to head to Sligo to see the world's smallest cow.

Holy tree and a cure for warts

It's been an amazingly mild Autumn this year. I tried to visit a tree in County Laois, Ireland during the summer of 2012, only to find that due to the volume of rain, it was a walk in waders as opposed to wellies to visit the site that the locals had often mentioned to me. However the Autumn of 2013 proved successful to see this holy tree with attested abilities to relieve the presence of warts.

You won't find this tree marked on Ordnance Survey maps, though I suspect that there would be a reference to it in the National Schools Folklore Collection carried out in the 1930's (only a hunch... perhaps one day I'll get to follow up that line of enquiry)

The tree is an ash tree located at a modern gated entrance to an agricultural field in Ballygillaheen townland. The townland name, although uncertain, is probably a reference to the baile (i.e. settlement/ hamlet) of Giolla Chaoin (Gillachaein's town). Mac Giolla Chaoine translates as the Servant of St. Caoine and is relating to the modern surname of Coyne or Kilcoyne.

I know little about a St. Caoine... I'd be glad to hear any information from anyone who reads this entry.

The ash tree has two main branches rising from the main trunk. The trunk itself is rotten and badly damaged at the base. At the junction of the two main branches is a small area that retains water. It is said locally that if you immerse you hands in the water you will be cured of warts on your hands. I have also heard through local knowledge that the water has been given to sick animals (but with unknown results).

There is a small religious picture of Mary pinned to the tree trunk and a plethora of coins lodged into the bark of the tree. The coins are firmly fixed in the bark, as it a car key from a Nissan, which has been bent sideways. I've often visited 'rag trees' in Ireland associated with holy wells, and regularly visited holy wells where people have places coins either in the water of the holy well or in a case on the Inisheer, Aran Islands, placed the coins in a bullaun stone beside the well, but I've rarely come across coins lodged into the bark of tree which has curative associations to water lodged within the tree.

If anyone reading this can shed some light on a St. Caoine or indeed others trees with curing/ holy trees associated with coins lodged in the bark, I'd love to hear from you. And if you are ever wandering through County Laois let me know and I can give directions to this beautiful spot. But remember your wellies !

Charitable acts, but at what price ?

I'm often fascinated about what video clips people upload onto UTube. I've often watched some very funny clips and sat bemused by the ones that make it to the national airwaves in Ireland, usually as a result of some crazy stunt that somehow people pulled off.

As someone roving through the countryside, I naturally use the roads frequently. The message about road safety is being drilled into road users and thankfully most of us are aware of the hazards of speeding and foolish manoeuvres.

Not so for three truck drivers in County Kerry who are currently explaining their case to a local judge. The three truck drivers, decided to drive alongside each other on a main road... why... as part of charitable act !!. The incident was filmed and uploaded onto UTube.

Click for UTube video

Click for story and photo

The men, who appear to stress the charitable nature of the act (as I can hardly class it as a manoeuvre - as this implies a skillful or careful action) have offered to pay €3000 each to the court poor box. Why they didn't just donate €3000 to the charity in the first place and not do such a stupid stunt as this is beyond me.

I have the highest regard for truck drivers, I have always felt they are some of the most polite and safe drivers and I still can't believe that such a skilled driver would even think of doing such a dangerous act  on a public road. The judge is threatening 14 days in prison, the solicitor is offering €9000 and two nights detention in a garda station. For me, I would have thought it would be an endorsed drivers licence.

The irony of this all is that the charity that they were trying to raise money for is Pieta House - a charity to help people with suicide ideation or participate in self harm !

So if any of you are roving through the countryside, lets hope none of you encounter such charitable acts on the road, but for those of you who have never been to Ireland, please trust me that this is not an everyday occurrence.