Celtic Soul

Founded in 636 CE by St. Maolcethair, what is left of the Kilmalkedar church structure dates to the 12th century – there are no remains of the earlier monestery. The churchyard contains several interesting standing stones: a holed Ogham stone, a sundial stone, and a broad cross.

Kilmalkedar is linked with St. Brendan (d. 577) who was believed to have crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

The inscription on the Ogham stone (above left) at Kilmalkedar reads: ANM MAILE INBIR MACI BROCANN (The name of Mael Inbir son of Brocan). Above right is the sundial stone.

The settlement of Reask was first occupied around 385 CE and became a monastic enclave in the 8th century. It continued in use until Medieval times. The remains of the walls are about three feet high. There are several round stone huts (clochans) and two square ones, which were oratories. A calm, peaceful feeling pervades the site. Of the standing stones, one was large and beautifully carved with classical, Celtic and Christian symbols. The later inscription “DNE” means “d(omi)ne, O Lord”. I closed my eyes as I placed my hands on the stone and felt a shift in energy. The whole place seemed to awaken. A section of the enclosure wall has what appears to be a built-in altar stone. Above it are three very large stones that seem to mirror the mountains of the Three Sisters.

One night was very stormy with heavy downpours and gale-force winds. During the wee hours of the morning when I was between wakefulness and deep sleep, I envisioned a dragon outside walking around the cottage and clawing to get in. I wasn’t concerned about the dragon wanting to cause harm because he just wanted to get in out of the wind. In the morning the skies slowly cleared but the wind continued to howl.

On the way to the Ring of Kerry, I passed around Castlemaine Harbour. There were many series of running waves rushing toward shore then disappearing. With mist hiding the horizon it seemed magical and mystical. It was still very windy and I became aware of the Celtic emphasis of the powers of earth, wind and wave.

	Amairgen Eightercua was another site where it was necessary to scale a stone wall and then carefully maneuver over a barbed wire fence. As before, it was worth it. In the cow pasture on the opposite side of the wall was the ruin of a small chapel. It looked as though there could have been a holy well at one time. The place was very overgrown with brambles and gorse.

On the top of the hill above the chapel was an alignment of four massive standing stones. One by one I stood before the stones and placed both my hands against them. Each one seemed to have a pulse. As at Reask, I felt an energy shift each time I focused on a stone this way.

There were remnants of a cairn and tomb down the hill not far from the chapel ruin. Local legend tells that the site marks the burial place of Amairgen’s wife. Amairgen was one of ancient Ireland’s most famous poets who arrived with the Milesians circa 1700 BCE. Archaeologists have dated Eightercua to that period. It was Amairgen who chose the sister goddess Erin to give name to the land.

		I am the wind that blows across the sea, I am the wave of the ocean, I am the murmur of the billows, I am the bull of seven battles, I am the hawk upon the cliff face, I am a ray of the sun, I am a salmon in the pool, I am the lake upon the plain, I am the skill of the craftsman, I am the word of knowledge... – from The Song of Amairgen

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