Ireland: The Emerald Isle
Journal Entry 2, The Gorgeous Emerald Isle
Everlasting Beauty
The cover of this book Ireland, The Emerald Isle is about as idyllic an image as ever there was of Ireland. It is an exquisite representation of the breathtaking natural beauty of the country and the magnificent and majestic castles. The book was a gift, one of the many in a treasured collection we have of Ireland.
Photo credit, Dreamstime/Photofire
Breathtaking Beauty
In all my travels around the globe, never have I been more enamored than with the magnificent beauty of the country of Ireland. Truly it mimicks the gorgeous precious stone it is named after, the emerald, a star struck glimmering green wonder. Surrounded by the unsettled churning sea, Ireland is bathed in the prevalent rainfall and the rising mist which nourishes its everlasting beauty. It is breathtaking in every way from the mysterious deep, dusty blue skies, to the lavish, lush green landscapes; I remember so vividly the unforgettable images of how stunning nature was with infinite shades of blues and the most glorious greens. It’s impossible not to appreciate how moving the vistas are as a foreign and inescapable attraction seemingly beckons you to lie down as if it were a deep green velvet carpet.
The green of Ireland is like no other, and it tests the infinite variations of green on the color wheel. Ireland’s climate, plentiful rain, and ocean mist hydrates the land.Green is a beautiful color often used in interiors to “bring the outside in” and it represents life, growth and renewal. The color green ranges from yellow greens to blue greens, and in Laura Ashley’s book, Color, Using Color to Decorate Your Home, the names of some of the greens remind me so much of Ireland. Names such as Pale Moss, Lichen, Sea Green, Sage, Aragon Green, Nettle, Rosemary, and Forest Green could all well be seen here.
Anam Cara
Many years ago I purchased a book for my Irish husband as a gift. The book by author John O’Donohue was entitled Anam Cara. As the book jacket details, “Anam Cara explores the magical, mystical and spiritual teachings of the Celtic world. It is a detailed treasure trove of Celtic insights, stories, and land teachings on the universal themes of friendship, solitude, love and death.” Anam Cara means “soul friend”. Soul friends are the essence of devotion; they are relationships of purity, honesty, trust, and loyalty which never fail even at death. The book for me was a deeply spiritual and emotional read and fostered great interest in this mysterious land and an intense desire to travel there. As a Catholic the desire to visit this deeply religious land of the infamous St. Patrick soon became a passion.
The words, phrases, paragraphs and passages in the book were fascinating, drawing me in deeper and deeper into its meaning. I repeatedly read pages and took notes and, eventually, I chose to adopt this philosophy in the relationships of my life. I chose less relationships, but infinitely more meaningful ones, where I invested a great deal of time and energy. Having read the book, it was a wondrous prelude to what I found when I finally stepped foot in what I call God’s country. I have never been more moved by a culture or landscape in my life nor have ever felt as connected to the heavens as I was when I was there.
Lovely traditional stoneware (above) and porcelain pottery heralds from Ireland. Most popular Irish porcelain is known as Beleelk, a milky white background with intricate details. It is decorated with with small green clovers and the more valuable pieced are edged with gold markings.
Tour Highlights
In 2016 upon the college graduations of my children, as a family we made the pilgrimage to that beloved country. We chose to take a guided CIE tour, and we began our trip in Dublin where the highlight of the day was a a visit to stunning Trinity College and the Old Library to view the Book of Kells, a priceless illuminated treasure. This masterful work of art, dates back to the 8th century and contains the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which comprise the New Testament. Encased in glass, it is impossible to express the level of colorful imagery and detail on the 680 pages that comprise the ancient manuscript. The antiquated and impressive Old Library house where the book of Kells is kept boasts 200,000 documents, book, and manuscripts. The college’s impressive entrance is known as the The Great Gate which leads to the Great Court. Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, it is an architectural marvel and was chartered to replicate the iconic and exclusive gothic architecture of Oxford University in the Southeast of England, and Cambridge University in London.
Trinity college is a stately impressive neoclassical architecture style. The motto of the college in latin is Perpetus futris temporibus duraturam , meaning, “It will last into endless future times.” (Trinity College Dublin) The collective libraries of the college house over six million books; it is no wonder it is Ireland’s highest ranked University.
The dream of Queen Elizabeth I fostered the iconic and world renowned liberal college of Trinity, Dublin Ireland.
Traveling through the pastoral landscapes we stopped along the mighty River Shannon where we arrived at one of many monasteries for which this country is noted. Clonmacnoise is a deeply religious experience with a history dating back to 545 AD. Near to the burial grounds we observed the most spectacular of scenes. Against the beautiful landscape the foreboding dark sky and water laden clouds was a perfect picture. The monastary details the history of St. Patrick, the Celtic religion and an ancient burial site. The large stones, statues and monuments weathered, aged and off kilter, spoke volumes of the tributes to those who lie beneath them. It was here that I felt the first of many connections to the heavens. It was an unforgettable image and introduction to an unforgettable place with an odd captivating inexplicable feeling to stay and walk among the buried there.
Ancient ruins from Clonmacnoise and the beautiful River Shannon. The monestary dates back to the 6th Century and was founded by St. Ciaran.
The Heritage Ireland website indicates “St. Ciaran founded his monastery on the banks of the River Shannon in the 6th Century. The monastery flourished and became a great seat of learning, a University of its time with students from all over Europe. The ruins include a Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian grave slabs.”
Sacred ground. Once a flourishing monastery it now lies in ruins in the most lovely and peaceful settings.
Galway, a fun, colorful festive city, will be remembered with jovial merriment as we dined, pub crawled and enjoyed the vibrant energy of the city. Heading southwest the Connemara catamaran cruise was a study of nature exploring the fjord, hillside creations of peat bogs, granite formations, and brilliant reflective lakes. Each day was one idyllic scene after another as we travelled across the land through the Inagh Valley and the Wild Atlantic Way. In a stunning meandering journey which wrapped around Kylemore Loug, we came upon the majestic splendor of Kylemore Abbey nestled in the Druchrauch mountainside. It is a magnificent castle-like architectural wonder, in a picturesque setting of serenity and tranquility and is one of the most beloved attractions in Ireland. Built as a gift by Mitchell Henry for his wife, Margaret, he spared no expense in it’s construction, and sadly when his wife passed away shortly after it was completed, he erected the small but beautiful Gothic church on the premises, complete with a stunning walled garden. The preservation of this Victorian wonder is credited to the Benedictine nuns who at one time used it for a school. Today it is impeccably managed under their dutiful care and a glorious sight to behold.
The entrance to Kylemore Abby is breathtaking. Spectacular stone obelisks are adorned with ivy covered decorative wrought iron lanterns which light the entrance to this stunning treasure tucked into the Druchrach mountainside.
Kylemore Abby, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ireland, is a a breathtaking Benedictine Gothic Monastery safely tucked into the mountainside and magnificently reflected in the lake to which it faces. It is located in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland. Connemara is also famous for a deep green uniquely beautiful marble found on the rugged west coast.
Continuing our journey we enjoyed learning about the obedience and intelligence of sheepdogs and the masterful sheep herders that work the countryside. The sheepdogs are incredibly disciplined attentively listening for specific whistle cues by the shepherds. Sheep graze the entire countryside and are sheared for some of the most beautiful high quality wool. Lanolin and natural oils enhance the wool fibers making them nearly water resistance, a fitting characteristic for the climate in Ireland.
Sheep dot the pastures of Ireland. They roam and graze on the verdant landscape and produce some of the finest woolens in the world.
Arriving at the coast of the mighty Atlantic Ocean are the majestic sea Cliffs of Mohr. Rising to 700 feet above sea level at their peak, and about nine miles long, the cliffs are striking and harrowing where windy conditions at the peak could be perilous. Surrounded by glorious mountain ranges the Cliffs bear the brunt of the frigid, raging sea delivering an endless cadence of slapping waves as they swirl around the rocks below. It is a wonder of nature and quite the adventure.
The ragged, rugged edge of the Cliffs of Moher are a spectacular sight. The relentless attack of the sea is unforgiving as it rages below. The formidable cliffs rise a daunting 700 feet above sea level. You can swim in the frigid sea at a temperature of about 53 degrees depending on the season. It’ a very rare photograph that shows little cloud cover in this part of the world.
The Ring of Kerry is one of Ireland’s most popular, scenic and stunning ocean drives. It leads to the iconic image of Skellig island, where a scene from one of the infamous Star Wars movies was filmed. Now populated by thousands of birds, this mountainous wonder rises up out of the water as if to the heavens. Inhabited by Christian monks as a place of pilgrimage, it’s baffling to comprehend the level of skill needed to inhabit the island made of old red sandstone and compressed slate. The clever and proficient monks carved a steep 618 steps upward on the island to find a flat space to live against the ravages of nature in small domed stone dwellings. The monks lived in near isolation and exclusively off the land shunning civilization and devoting their lives to God and prayer. It is impossible to leave this location without admiration for those devoted monks and the challenge of the daily life they lived.
The ever gorgeous and breathtaking Ring of Kerry.
This is a stock photo of Skellig Island as we were not able to tour it as the weather is treacherous most of the year. Touring is strictly monitored and limited.
Departing the astounding story of the island, our afternoon of day five was yet another wonder. Muckross House, a majestic Tudor mansion with a stunning grand facade of windows is on Muckross Peninsula in Killarney. This grand Manor has 65 rooms, three floors and a captivating vibrant, colorful garden graced with exotic trees, shrubs and flowers, long in bloom given precipitation on the peninsula. It remains completely furnished in typical Tudor style with dark heavy woods, excessive carvings, and rich velvet drapery and furnishings.
Muckross House is a stunning glass facade mansion completely furnished in the Tudor style of the period. Dark heavy woods, detailed carvings, heavy furnishings, wrought iron lighting, and fabrics of brocades and velvets define the decoration of the period. This stately home, built on a peninsula is surrounded by lovely gardens lush from the plentiful hydration of the ocean air .
Velvet is an exquisite textile. So inspired by Celtic imagery, I chose this soft green velvet fabric by Robert Allen, for pillows which reminded me of a Celtic pattern. Google describes velvet like this, “The term derives from the Middle French velu, “shaggy.” Velvet is made in the pile weave of silk, cotton or synthetic fibers, and is characterized by a soft downy surface formed by clipped yarns. The wrong side of the fabric is smooth and shows the weave employed.” Velvet was a popular textile especially in the Tudor and Victorian eras as a luxurious fabric often used to decorate the homes of royalty and the wealthy.
Irish farmland is the most glorious blanket of green with perfect soil and climate for growing potatoes. The crop came to Ireland likely from South America, and became a staple for food, and a main source of revenue for the Irish people . Many proud Irish farmers today, despite modern plow equipment remain plowing fields by hand an arduous task. Throughout the fields and landscapes are burial sites for one million Irish that perished from hunger, starvation and disease in the potato blight an infamous period from 1845 - 1852 . The potato famine was also known as the Great Hunger. another one million people emmigrated the country. Two poignantly penned historical fiction reads are, The Irishmans Daughter, by V. S. Kensington, and the heartbreaking story The Orphan Train, by Christina Baker Kline, which details the tragedies of orphaned children sent from Ireland to the farmlands of America. They are intensely thought provoking, sad and very compelling reads.
Throughout the trek within this glorious country, I grew to love it more and more each day as we experienced the art, architecture, landscapes and culture. It was a picturesque moment at nearly every turn showcasing nature in all its glory. Blarney castle was as much as wonder as every other with its very narrow passages and 100 uneven steps to the top, reaching nearly 85 feet. The mystery and magic of the Blarney Stone is an experience. In an odd unexpected twist, to kiss the stone, one must lie backwards, hanging out over the grounds of the castle, (with assistance) and holding onto metal bars. Kissing the stone has many meanings one of good luck, and some suggest the “gift of gab.”
Kissing the Blarney Stone is quite the experience as you must lie on your back, and with a guide, while holding onto metal bars, stretch out of the castle wall to reach up and kiss the Blarney Stone.
Blarney castle like nearly every castle in Ireland, is surrounded by gorgeous gardens, soft rippling streams and a lush landscape. On it’s premises is a garden of intrigue which is known a the “Poison Garden” believed to be created in 1446. Filled with a variety of unique plants and herbs, once medicinally used to create tinctures, potions and poisons, it is interesting to learn of the plants and how they were used.
Waterford completed day six with a wonderful visit to the Waterford Crystal factory and the intricate detail involved in creating this beautifully carved glass. It is decades of mastercraftsmen who have perfected the art of glass blowing, cutting and shaping to create brilliant cut crystal and sparkling home furnishings such as chandeliers, glasses, bowls, vases, and a wide variety of decorative items. We ended this memorable tour in the pretty city of Waterford with a visit to the Medieval Museum, the 13th century Cloistures Hall, a 15th century Mayor’s wine vault and a view of the incredibly elaborate 15th century cloth-of-gold vestments. It was so captivating an adventure there was no time to think of home, nor truly a desire to return. It was a magnificent family experience and absolutely one I would do again.
Forever Inspired, a an Irish Tablescape Theme
To say I was inspired by the beauty of Ireland, is an understatement. I reflect on it’s natural beauty often in design themes as I adored the endless combinations of blues and greens. I greatly admired the patina of the castles, and I am an ardent admirer of rocks, so brown tones and gray shades have become a favorite in color palettes too. Upon returning from the Ireland I came to know and love, it became the theme for a charity tablescape for the Avon Historical Society (Connecticut) that I created shortly after our trip.
Inspired by Ireland I created a tablescape utilizing Blarney Castle imaged tableware, pewter goblets, Irish pottery and gold flatware. Of course the ever beautiful shades of green and blue set the theme.
Antique cherubs hold moss balls for this tablescape as well as a pretty Belleek box for decoration to complete the Irish themed tablescape.
Irish engraved goblets add a final touch to this salute to the Emerald Isle.
I wanted to acquaint the viewers of the tablescape to this magnificent country. I wanted to capture the glorious green rolling hills and velvety pastures, the mysterious dark clouded skies, and the frothy blue of the sea, all a truly exquisitely beautiful palette.
In addition to its lush pastoral landscape, majestic ancient castles, spiritual and religious monasteries and abbeys, and potatoes, Ireland is also known for its beautiful linens, intricately crafted Irish sweaters and woolens, a plethora of pretty pewter, Irish soda bread, delicious ales, Jameson Irish Whiskey and jewelry most notably the Claddagh which is the symbol of love.
Ireland remains one of the most beloved countries I have ever been to mostly for its breathtaking natural beauty. I have had the good fortune to traverse the globe to 34 countries covering six continents. As an interior designer, fashion designer and a business entrepreneur, I derive great inspiration from travels around the world studying the art, architecture, landscapes and cultures. Travelling has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Wanderlust will always be a part of me.
References for this blog are from my personal travels, Google, Wikipedia, Trinity College, CIE tours, Vagabond Blog, Mukross House Manor. I regret if I have omitted any references.
