Sunday, March 8, 2020

Celtic Kissing Cousins...Ireland and Scotland


"Woodland at Loch Lomond" photo by the author, Kate Wood
I’ve always wished to travel to the magical lands of Ireland and Scotland. Must be something deep in my DNA calling me home. I’ve not yet made it to the Emerald Isle (not to be confused with North Carolina’s lovely Emerald Isle, to which I have traveled!) But several years ago, I spent a couple weeks in Scotland, half of that time on the wild and windswept Isle of Skye. At every turn, I found both photographic and literary inspiration, much of which has made it into my latest “work-in-progress” contemporary fantasy novel, Murmuration.

In researching for my book, I found several crossovers of Irish and Scottish mythological creatures such as, water horses—the Irish Aughisky, and the Scottish Kelpie, and the wailing criers of impending death—the Irish Banshee and the Scottish Ben Nighe. With similar origins, including the Norwegian Vikings, and just the Irish Sea between them, (as narrow as 47 miles across in places,) it’s not surprising.

"Dunvegan Castle" by Kate Wood
Both cultures take their fairies seriously. While traveling on Skye, I was able to capture a photograph of Dunvegan Castle, which I think illustrates its fairytale qualities. Later, I learned there is a real fairy story connected to Dunvegan and the Clan MacLeod, whose chiefs have resided at the castle in an uninterrupted line since the 13th century.

"The Fairy Bridge" by Kate Wood
The tale is one of love and marriage between a fairy lady and chief of the Clan MacLeod. Apparently, there are a couple versions of the story, although both tell of a time-limit on the union before the fairy must return to her own kind. In one, the fairy wife left their baby with the saddened MacLeod and when she heard the child crying one night, returned and wrapped him in her silken shawl. Another tells of her giving the shawl to her husband as they parted ways on The Fairy Bridge (three miles away from Dunvegan Castle and still standing.)

Both stories agree that, waved as a flag, the red-dotted yellow silk shawl would shield the clan from harm as long as it was employed no more than three times. At last count, it had been raised twice. Though fragile and tattered, the Fairy Flag can still be viewed by today’s visitors, the enchanted shawl protected within a glass case inside Dunvegan Castle, ready to fly one last time in defense of the MacLeods.
"Kiss Bill, He's Irish" photo of author's husband by Kate Wood

Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back, now. (And a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all you Celtic Kissing Cousins!)

Kate

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