Our Economic Situation

Citizen Abdication from governance and what we might now call state capitalism. Capital also now moves around the world to where profit is more easily available. Jobs move with capital. Jobs are more available to those who work more cheaply. In countries like the USA the middle class and upper working class disappears. Many suffer their degradement without will to govern a few, but in growing numbers chose to leave their country rather than take part in its governance. Capital power moves with capital. Some of that wealth and power has its source in state capitalism. That is they take state wealth with them often in the form of money from taxes. Citizens seem not to care what is done with their money or their labor. They continue to resist participation. They refuse to even speak of it.

Mago Bill One

 Mago Bill is a nickname I have given my paternal great grandfather

                

                

                I have used the name Mago Bill in recent blogs because I believe that it inspires me to give you some unusual and interesting backstories and histories in a variety of posts.

                My sister, the genealogist of our family, introduced me to existence of documentation of the life pf M. William Sheehan. His existence had not been known to us. We had not known his name nor that he had been our paternal great grandfather. As I remember, my sister showed me that he had probably been born in the far south of Ireland and that his parents had brought to the United States when he was very young. We soon discovered that the M in his name probably stood for Mago. to me he promptly became Mago Bill, my inspiration.

                Spanish speaking friend tell me that "mago" means magician. Some of the same friends tell me that the three kings or three wise men of Christmas who brought gifts to the infant Christ were call "magos." I have found that  Mago was an important name among the Carthaginian Phoenicians before Rome came of age. Some of that name knew Hannibal well.

                Carthaginian traders and traders and navigators came to Ireland to trade for tin an other commodities. They brought so much knowledge of the name Mago with them that it impressed some of the people there. So much that they used it. For hundreds of years the name Mago has experienced some on an off popularity in Ireland.

                You may have read before that my paternal great grandfather was named and called Mago William Sheehan and that I have called him Mago Bill. You have even read that he, as many and Irish lad from time to time, was named after a famous Carthaginian. However, have you remembered me writing of Mago Barca?

    

                Barca could have been that famous Carthaginian Phoenician of the late third century BC, or not. Mago Barca was Hannibal's (yes, that Hannibal) brother. He may well have been a navigator and also have fought Roman legions in Iberia accompanied by Irish and Dan. He was the youngest son of Hamilcar of the Barcids.

                The above has prompted my to think of the Balearic Islands and food. The   Balearics seem to have an Irish connection of a sort. On Menorca, Mago Barca lent his name to the port city there which is still called Port Mahon. Mago and Mahon much alike to us today, but the history of language is one of change.

                Does not Mahon seem to have a bit of an Irish ring. I remember seeing  photos of Balearic ladies long ago. They looked very much like my aunt Eleanor and sister Geraldine. My sister would probably agree that she was and is better looking than was my aunt. The Balearic ladies of the photos were all attractive and I was struck by their similarity to Eleanor and Gerry.

                Ah, yes, food! Mahon, the typical Mahon egg sauce of the island, that has conquered the world, is Mayonnaise! On a visit to Ireland, I found mayonnaise still moderately appreciated. Still isn't there another mayo something or other on the old sod. Do not think me capable of a nasty thought. You may have heard of Mayo County, Ireland.

                I seem to be on a bit of a roll. I thought of another couple of miscellaneous bits to add here. Gilli, gilly, ghilli, and ghilly is only one of them. I've searched for each online with no luck. I had a friend who's Irish mother spoke of having a gilli in the family. This was many years ago and I had heard of ghilly long before that. A ghilly is an Irishman, across centuries he has been one of particular talents. He can be one especially familiar with the Irish countryside. He might act as a guide. He might help one to catch a trout or salmon by hand. In amore distant time he may have been the right hand man of noble warrior. He might have been a sort of Irish Ninja and expert in the use of camouflage. He might have been expert in a martial art. He would have the skills and talents of a huntsman. If  you have heard more of ghilly tell us a bit. This is supposed to be an interactive site.

                There are still those in Ireland who know the term and there were those who used it hundreds of years ago. The gilli I speak of is unlikely t have been a Norwegian dancer. I have heard that there may have been a similar word with a similar pronunciation and, perhaps, meaning.

                I may have heard more than I know.

                The Irish whistle comes to mind and reminds me that  there is also an Irish bagpipe. Could the bagpipe have also been a Fir Bolg instrument? I have been told that when it comes to men before a battle, that an Irish whistle can get them on their feet as little else can.. But to keep them moving forward to battle, victory, death, or hell, it takes a good pipe and a good piper, even if it be a Scot.

                

                Thanks for reading.

                

                                                                                RCS  

One Ordening of Prehistoric Peoples on the Green Western Island. An evolving post.

This will be an ongoing work in progress for some time   

                My best guess is that the Emerald Isla was already well populated before 7,500 BC. The civilized navigators that I am writing of below came thousands of years later. However, the earlier hunter harvesters ate well, dressed well, and knew how to live quite nicely and neatly.

                Here I will try to give some chronological order to differing prehistoric people on the island called Ireland by some. I will also try write something of the nature and doings of each of these people. I hope to gather some facts to offer here and to make my best guesses as to the dates of doings and happenings.

                One of the people I will speak of are the Dan. The were on the Island when the Mil arrived. They are one of the storied people of Ireland not known much beyond the Island.

                There is another list of people more widely known which I will also include here. They are Persians by many names, Greek, Norse, Phoenician and others.

                Among the last of prehistoric  and the closest prehistoric people to our historic times were those the Romans heard stories of. Historic times arrive with the Roman occupation of the land we have call England. Romans were not the first to write early accounts of Ireland, but they are the ones to have influenced us most. Greeks, Phoenicians and others wrote of the Island earlier.

                There is more related to this on other posts right here.

                I will try to list the peoples populating the Island as it is told by the Irish and those who became Irish. I'll try to begin to include early dating of happenings that have been called pre-historic.

Milesians:

                Milesians were probably in Ireland as early as 2,000 BC and they be the most recent of early arrivers. By 16oo BC to about 1290 BC they were still arriving. They might be called Greeks. 1,700 BC the Milesian brothers Eber and Eremon defeated the Danaan in the Battle of Taillet.

                The most recent of what I will call prehistoric arrivals to what was to become the Irish Island and called Ireland, I will call Milesians. I believe that many of the early stories of them can be truly called histories.

                They have long been called Milesions in what what has been called the mythology of the land. They can be called an Iron Age people, but I am not sure that the first of them to come were so.

                I believe that an early home of the the Milesians was the Anatolian island of Miletus. That island and its main city, also called Miletus has been called a famous font of Hellenic philosophy. It was occupied by settlers from Crete around 1,600 BC. Crete was the seat of a high pre-Hellenic civilization. By about 600 BC Miletus had become a maritime empire. It was about 1,300 BC that the late Bronze Age was coming to an end. It is at about this same time that Egypt came under under Egyptian control again. I suspect that by this time many Mediterania peoples had heard of the Island  which would come to be called Ireland. I also suspect that by about this time the people of a small Greek island near he coast of present Turkey came to know of the island that would come to be called Ireland

                It is said that the first Milesians to appear on the shores on the shores of the western isle, beyond the Pillars of Hercules(once call Atlas?), were defeated by the last of the Tuatha de Danann nobility.

                The names of the Milesian leaders of this early coming are said to be MacCuil, MacCecht, and MacGrein. Not much later other Milesians came and stayed. Their names sound like they were Scots. 

            So, it may be that early Irish came from early Greek colonies one of them being the island of Miletus from close to what is now the coast of Turkey. The people of that island included famous philosophers as well as sailors and ocean navigators.

            By learning of Breoghan we may interesting details of the Milesians. His tower of Brigantia may have some reality which offers us interesting Milesian details. His history may suffer some early Christian interpretations, but their writings may often be useful,

Fomorian

            Prince Elatha of the Fomorians was the father of Bress who became a Danann king. Fomorians were also also a real people and seem to have included real life sailors and navigators.I am not sure that the used the sail. They did seem to know much of the North Atlantic at an early date.

            Banba and Fintar were Fomorians.

Dan or Danann 

                The winning of a place of the Milesians on the Island may have been the beginning of the name Ireland. These Milesians,I believe, chose to call the Island Ere which led to it being called Ireland. The people prior to Milesians, the the people I choose to call the Dan, have been called the Tuatha de Danann. 

                           

Some Miscellany of the Danann:

            The Danann conquered the Fomorians,

            They have been called people of Danu. Danu was the daughter of the Indian progenitor god Daksha.

            Names of the Danann Include: Include the high craft masters:Goibniu.  Creidhne, and Luchta. The Dagda, Lugh  (half Dan).Morrigan. Ethal Anbuail a Tuatha di Danan.

            Sidhe descended from the Dannan.   

            Bress is a Danann king with Fomorian relatives. He is called a high king of Ireland and the time of his reign may have been as early as from 1897 BC to 1990 BC or from 1477 BC to 1470 BC, or not. He was preceded by Eochaid mac Eirc and succeeded by Nuada.

            Like the Milesians the Danann were real people and neither Gods nor fantasies. It seems that they may well be associated with the  passage tombs.

            The Danann may also be associated with with  Sidhe and Sidhe with Sheehan. Danann became associated with Aos si and the os si seem much like Sidhe. So Sheehan and Aos si seem associated.

            It seems very likely That the Danann reached Ireland from the eastern Mediterranean. Perhaps from Greek colonies in Syria or Turkey.

    

            Dagda, the Dagda, it is said, was a High King of the Tuatha de Danann after his predecessor Nuada was injured in battle. During reign of the Dagda there may have be a solar related incident of considerable magnitude. The harp was known in Ireland during the time of the Dagda. The Dagda fathered Bodb Dearg, Cermait, Midir, Aine, and Brigit. He was the brother or father of Oghma. He reigned long over the Danann and was seen as a father figure and good god of that people.

            Aos Si are what the Bronze Age Danann became after the were overcome by an "inferior" Iron age people.

    

 

Bolg or Fir Bolg

                    The Bolg were in Ireland at 1935 BC and 1934 BC.

1200 BC their is large immigration to Ireland. Perhaps Greek. 800 BC to 700 BC more Iron Age "Greeks" came to Ireland. Fir means people. A system of communication in Ireland, and a type of tree. Bolg refers to a prehistoric area of Belgium, belly, stomach,abdomen, and bag. The Bolg people  were, in one ordering, the fourth group of people to settle  in Ireland.

Fir Bolg persons: Aengus mac Umer, Fiacha Cennfinnia, Fedbgert, Eochaid Mac Eire, 

Order of arrival

One ordering is:   i

 Cessair                           

Fir Bolg 

Fomorian

 Danann

Milesians

Another is:

Cessair

Portholoin. Tuan?

Nemed equals? Bolg and Danann

Fomorian

Bolg. Did Domnann Gailoin come with the Bolg.

Danann overcame Bolg and friends

Milesians

Gather more information including dates.

Nemid,Nemtona, Nimeth

Nemed, Nemenians: According to the Labor Gabala *11th C.), Nemed was leader of the third people after Muintir /cessair and Muintir Portholon. His people has be referred to as Nemidians. They are described as coming 30 years after the after the Partholoin people died out. Namibians died out became extinct or left Ireland. The word Nemed came to mean Privileged or holy in Irish..Nemedians, These Nemedians may have come from the borders of the Black Sea and may have gone west across Europe. However much of such migration has been by river and sea. It is said that they were told to continue across two seas until they came to the Wooded Isle. the Wooded Isle was ''surely" Ireland. They were said to have been told to make the voyage in 30 skins. Skins were popular water going vessels of that time. They were quite simple, but capable of sea voyages. I suspect that these 11th C. monks passed on some useful truths.

            The Nemed sailed from the Caspian Sea in 44 ships. They arrived in Ireland 30 years after the Partholoin. Descendants of Nemed are said to have both Bolg and Danann. Nemed are thought to have been both privileged and holy, and perhaps noble. Nemetona was a German goddess who across Europe had sacred groves and woods as holy places of worship.

            Nemed is said to arrived in Ireland With his wife Macha, his four sons, their wives, and 20 other Nemedians. More of a party then a migration. People were scarce for long after the  flood. The Nemedians fought the Fomorians until the Fomorians won.

            Nemedians are said to have been in the land until into the Iron Age.

Partholoin

            Partholoin left Ireland after very many of then had died from Plague. The left Ireland mostly uninhabited it is said. It stayed that way until the arrival of Nemed. The Partholoin may have arrived shortly after after the Ice Age.

Cessair and Fintan have been said to have arrived in Inis Fail in 2361 BC.

Portholon: The People died out?

A second order of coming

Portholon 1st

Cessair  2nd

Fomorian

Nemed  3rd

A third order of coming

Cessair

Porthilon

Nemed

A visit to Boyaca, Colombia

 

 Boyaca, including Sotaquira

 

                The Colombian "departemento" of Boyaca borders on eight other departments of Colombia, including the one in which I live, Antioquia! A Colombian departamento is analogous to a US state. Boyaca also boarders on the Republica Bolivariana of Venezuela, simply called Venezuela. The capital city of Boyaca is Tunja.

                The following introduction to the area can interest a first time tourist and, perhaps, a first time explorer. 

Hostel:

                If you are interested in ecotourism, Boyaca may be a good place for you to do some exploration. It can interest birders too. Much tourism has been developed for Colombians and other Spanish speakers. When your linguistic abilities do not include Spanish, there are still ways to enjoy your time in this departamento. There are guided tours available with guides who may speak a language with which you are familiar. There are also a good number of pleasant and comfortable hostels available. Most of them can provide you with a great deal of interesting and useful information. Many are likely to have information in a language you know. Many hostels will have personal who speak one or more European languages. A good hostel can be a valuable asset.

                Better hotels often have someone available who speaks English or a European language other than Spanish. Most hotels seem to have less tourist information of interest to the foreign tourist than do most hostels. But even those hotels may put you on the trail to some interesting and useful information; information like the phone number of a reputable tour company.

                In Boyaca much exuberant flora to be found; Boyaca has rivers and lakes; waterfalls and hot water spas; Colonial towns and churches; plenty of trees and a bit of desert. 

                There are places to stay which are interesting, pleasant, and comfortable. Many of these places can be found outside the cities, some in wonderfully scenic locals. Often there is an inviting swimming pool available. The food can be good, some both good and  bit exotic. From nearly every place, you can be directed to an establishment with healthy and tasty food. If a place looks iffy you may be sensible to request food to be served very hot from the kitchen. When you are in a place for the first time it could be best to resist that delicious looking fresh fruit drink or lovely salad.

                Two popular small cities that you may find worth a visit or a stay are Villa de Leyva and Paipa.

                When you have an excellent guide and have done a bit more than the usual reading there are places with histories which can be more than a little interesting. The backstories of of some landmarks can be informative and interesting.

                Many visitors find the geography of Boyaca and much of Colombia spectacular. I find much of it beautiful. The Andes are great; great big ranges. You may find some of the altitudes you are traveling are difficult to believe until you try to go for a run. An area of rolling nearly park like country may have the feel of low lands, but may be at 7,000 feet, or more. They may look like the rich hill country of home. They often have deep, fertile earth supporting rich green forest and field and not even show a rock and be at an altitude of 8,000 feet. Not all of Boyaca is among Andean peaks. There low lands and pleasant river valleys. If the weather where you find yourself is not just right for you, travel up or down for a very short time and find ideal warmth or softly cooling breezes.

                There have been some interesting happenings and doings in pre-Colombian times in this often lovely area. That reminds me that today on any day one may see an orchid blooming unattended. Back to pre-Colombian times. Much of the country you will see was very well populated then. Gold has been found in the mountains, rivers, and streams. Pre-Colombian mined it and worked it. They also mined emeralds. Those emeralds are mined today. Ask about local museums. you may find small, but interesting one.

                Their are trails to hike, mountains to climb, horses to ride, and, as Colombians say, rivers in which to bathe. The trails are often walkable enough, but often not well marked. There are also hammocks and comfortable chairs in which to relax, savor recent experiences, and come to note a softly pleasing breeze. There are comfortable small hostels and hotels; one with great views is not difficult to find. It is possible to find one where your language is spoken and the information is generous. It is not impossible to find one with natural hot water pools and a good cook. It might be peacefully rural with very comfortable beds.

Sotaquira:

                There are plenty of interesting towns an villages in Boyaca. One of them is Sotaquira. Sotaquira is also a municipio. A municipio is much like a small county. It borders on the municipalities of Tuta and Paipa. Its Spanish foundation date is December 20th of 1582. The founder was Friar Arturo Cabeza de Vaca. I do not believe that this is the known and loved Cabeza de Vaca of American grade-school text books. The town became a Catholic parish in 1777. "Sotaquira," in the Chibcha language of the Muisca, appears to mean "Place of the Sovereign." The economy of the municipio still consists mainly of pre-hispanic agricultural products. Still a dairyman may be a big man in the area.

                It is said that the residents of Sotaquira are mostly 'remnant' Sotaira people of the Muisca confederation, which included the Zipazco of Bacata, Zacazco of of Hunza, the sacred territories of Iraca, Tudama, etc. The Sotaira were direct tributaries of the Zaca of Hunza. Hunza has become Tunja, the present capital of the department. I have a unclear memory that Bacata is the source of the the name Bogota.

                At the time of Colombia's war of independence, it is said, that the people of Sotaquira donated one hundred horses to the patriot's cause. Colombia's independence from Spain had important beginnings throughout much of Boyaca.

                These first notes on Boyaca stir my interest in the pre-Columbian people of Colombia. Are you interested in them? Should you comment in the "comments" section just below be on the nature of your interests in them, I would try to work up some interesting notes on them and write up and publish a post on them here or on the history blog. Use the "comments" app below for anything related to the contents of this post. 

                Just now I am remembering the people who were here as Columbus sailed the ocean blue. I have mentioned that they included the Chibcha speaking Muisca. The Chibcha speaking people have been considered as having the highest cultural development of all the many people in the north of South America. They practiced a high level of highly varied horticulture. The seem to have been a bit more democratic than most indigenous people and most of the newcomers. At least the spread their gold around a bit more equitably than most.  

                Am I taking us to far into pre-Columbian times for a visit to modern Boyaca. Okay then I'll take a step into speculation. There seems to be growing evidence of an indigenous population here by 12,000 BC, that's more than 14,000 years ago! That's near the time of Noah's flood, perhaps before that flood. Some ancestors of native peoples could have survived that floods in mountains much like those of today. Some may lived here in that long Ice Age prior to the flood. Many may have found their way here to start a new life. There were perhaps five major language groups and more than 20 different languages and a couple of languages that seem to fit nowhere. Where did they originate.

                Thanks for reading.

                Come on down!

                There about 25 more posts on Colombia here including vidos and essays. Click on Colombia in above or in the Labels column.

    

.

                 

                

 

   

Comments!!!

                             As you may have found that it is no longer possible to comment here at RCS Posts nor at Governance With RCS nor Mago Bill.

                            I am very sorry. I find that I am unable to replace these comment functions! 

                            The comments app at Dialogue With RCS is still present and functining.

                       You may leave comments meant for Governance With RCS, RCS Posts, or Mago Bill. When you do so please mention the blog and post you are commenting about.

                        

                                                                                                Richard 

Barra: Hints of early Irish Learning and Wisdom

                     Finbarr, has been dead since about 622 AD, but a surprising number of the Irish know his name and a bit of his history. He lived from 550 AD to 622. Most knew him as Saint Finbarr. Let's just call him Barra for now. He was born in what is now Connaught, Ireland at Garranes near Bandon. He was born into what might be an upper middle class family, his father dealing in iron works and his mother a Lady at court. I think they called him Lochan. His father's name was probably Amegain. Later Irish mothers and Fathers named there sons Finbarr and one or two of them also became Saints!

                    Please correct my errors of commission, omission, execution, etc. You may do so in "comments." The "comments" app for this important blog has disappeared and we have not been able to restart or replace it. However, you may go to any of our associated blogs such as Dialogue With RCS at URL: https://dialoguercs.blogspot.com Be sure to include the name of this blog and the title of the post or essay you are commenting on.

                    Barra is venerated by both the Easter Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church. He and his closest disciples  began over a dozen schools and churches in Ireland and beyond. His first school has been called: a school of learning, a college of religion, an asylum for the poor, a hospital for the sick, an abode of wisdom, and a sanctuary of Christian virtues. His schools produced many Irish Saints. He has been described as a torch of wisdom and humility for all.  He is well known as a bishop of Cork. He provided his schools with a copy of the Gospels transcribed by him. He is know to have visited Rome at least twice and Scotland more.

                    He seems to have been familiar with teachings and translations of  Rufinus of Aquileia who has often been called Tyrannius(or Tyrannous Rufinus).  Rufinus lived from about 344 to 420 AD and may have visited Ireland. He studied at Alexandria and certainly had knowledge of Ireland. Rufinus knew the works of Origen. 

                    Barra was also familiar with Jerome and his translations from Hebrew and Greek. Jerome was alive in 342 and 370 AD.

                    His formal studies probably began in Ossory in what is now county Connaught. He also learned from the works of Origen, Jerome, and Rufinus. Origen lived from about 185 to 253 AD. He studied and taught at Alexandria. If you know more these last three tell us a bit about these intelligent and learned men. 

                    Thank you for reading

                                                                                            rcs

Recent Economic History of Irelandf(After loss of food, land, religion, language, and half of the Irish)

                The Irish seem a persistent lot with good memories who after more than 1,000 years of some of the worst domination from the early colonial times to nearly the end of the last century. 

                    It has made  wrong for an Irishman in Ireland to have his land, religion, or language. After they built fine churches beautified with their gold, supported a fine education for their youth, lived well with healthy lives for many years and for many years living in Christian peace, the Vikings heard of their gold and rich green land and came and came and took and killed. Later they came and traded and and stay, treaties were made and some peace came. However, the culture was weaken and diluted. Fewer and fewer Norsemen came. In the meantime the English culture had grown they came and saw the pleasant green land. More came. More came with armies. They conquered and controlled. This control lasted for about 1000 years.     

                    Then step by step the land was enclosed and not permitted to the Irish, Irish language could not be taught nor could Irish history. Irish Christianity was outlawed. Finally with no land there was no food. There was hunger and death, nobility fled the country, some well educated wealthy fled, then many found a way to flee. Peat grew over bones also Irish blood and genes continued to move over the land.

                    Then step by step there were more hedge schools where religion was taught and more, helping the Irish to remember. The Irish abroad remembered too. Step by step the Irish resisted. The English began to loosen their grip and step back a tiny bit. Between the US Civil War and WWI enough Irish came to feel that Ireland ought to be and an Irish Nation be, be not just a dream, but BE. Step by step they learned to free themselves and step by step are learning to be a modern, democratic leaning nation; learning to be free citizens, learning to govern themselves.

                    Governance is not easy to learn. Modern economic systems are not easy to deal with. The Irish are still stepping and many are remembering even more. They are quickly learning to be excellent navigators of the economic seas of today. Very turbulent seas indeed. 

                    Enjoy the Video. Help me to better understanding.

                    Thank you for reading.

                                                                                                        R Sheehan

The Dagda - (Celtic Mythology Introduced)

                            The Dagda has been called shee. He is a personage seen as a protector, guide, force, and often from Iron Age times and known well during the comings of the Vikings. Has been associated with Lug. You could renew your exploration of ancient Ireland with the Dagda.

                                                                                                                                RCS

Reminders of Shee From Early Ireland

Much of the shee and she of Sheehan I find in the Bronze Age Irish of Ireland.

            At a time in Ireland, as in much of our world, an Iron Age culture overwhelmed a Bronze Age culture. Iron cuts bronze. Many overwhelm the few. However, with some investigation we find that in many ways Bronze cultures often seem superior to Iron Age cultures in a variety of ways. That superiority has been acknowledged by Iron Age people. You may notice that I am not putting much of what I note of what I believe to be historic Irish happenings in History my blog, but rather put it hear with my Mago Bill writings. I do not do so because my belief is weak, but rather because my ability to produce convincing evidence that historians would accept is weak.

            I suspect, and suggest to you, that Iron Age people who came to Ireland found the Bronze Age culture wondrous, a bit fearsome, and worthy of respect. Some of the Bronze Age people seemed magical and so, shee. Some of the Bronze Age people were seen as spiritually potent, as unusually skillful, and wise and so, shee. They seemed fay and faerie like; so they began to be called, shee. Shee began to be an Iron Age name for some of those Bronze Age people. And, just like that, our name was changed. 

            I am interested in this because my family name is Sheehan. The final syllable of Sheehan is -han and once meant "people" or "family" and formed the plural. So, we became the shee people, those who were overwhelmed by iron and greater numbers. It comes to me that there are more Sheehan than ever in Ireland, the US, and elsewhere. We may have been overwhelmed, but we are still here.

            One of us was a "shee" and a number of us were "han." She was the name of a people and han was the plural. There are many words in Irish containing "shee." You may have heard the word "banshee" used in English. "Ban" in Old Irish meant female or woman. So, a banshee is a shee woman. I will add more examples of  shee and sometimes she usage in Old Irish.

            My father's father told him to remember that all Irishmen are wits and you are half Irish. My father's mother was Norwegen. My mother was not Irish. That seems to leave me a quarter-wit. I am far from having an Iron Age or Bronze Age culture and am American. Even so, I do have the name and so do have some personal  connection with this essay.

            I have written elsewhere, some on this very blog, about Irish, English, and Old Irish words containing the syllable, shee, and so won't repeat them here. However, I have recently been reminded of some other uses of shee; so, I will share some here.

            Among other interesting happenings, doings, and beings is that the Dananns were likely to have been called "shee" by the Milesians. The Dananns represented the ending of the Bronze Age culture and the Milesians represented a strong Iron Age culture. 

            A usages of  of Old Irish relating to the term shee which I have forgotten may be written much like this "Tir na nOg" to denote the Old Irish. If you have any knowledge of  the phrase tell us about it in "comments" below.

            Their remain certain stone carvings, sometimes called idols that have been found in Western Europe, England, and Ireland. They show a female figure displaying an exaggerated vulva. They are not beautiful and are often without breasts. Some date to about 9,000 BC, so they certainly are not young. They would be be about 11,000 years old. They have been called shee. They may be old enough to have been Flood survivors. Those idols have long been call "Sheela na gig." An exact translation seems not to be agreed on. I think that "Sacred spirit of the vulva" may do. I believe that I have said elsewhere that "shee" has been used to indicate sacred or holy.

            In Wikipedia it says that one of the best examples of these ''sheela'' was found in the round tower of Rotton in county Kerry, Ireland. 

             At times the figures in these sculpted stone idols have been called witches hags and less complimentary terms. I remember passing through England years ago and hearing and hearing some young men in the streets referring to their girl friend as their sheela. I also remember that in the distant past a hag was a wise and respected older woman.

            Some of these same old stone sculptings have been removed from their original sites to then incorporated into older church buildings. Shee has gotten around.

            There is an old Irish dance called the "Sheela na gig." According to good old Wikipedia, the oldest written record of that dance goes back to only about 1650. 

            There is a ''myth," in Ireland and beyond, of a goddess who grants kingship. She might appear as a lustful old hag and most men would avoid her and reject her advances. The one man would sleep with her, found her transformed into a beautiful maiden who conferred royalty upon him and blessed his reign. She has been said to be shee.

            I've been told that many an Irish lad has been taken by a good tail and also that there are some tricky old ladies on the island.

            ''Shee" is found in much of the older Irish language a significantly in more modern Irish. I have written of examples elsewhere and, if you so wish, will write more of such examples in a future post.When you have anything to add to the content of this post (or any post of  mine) or corrections to make or comment to offer, use the comment app below.

            Shenandoah

            Sailors knew words and music to a song called Shenandoah very early and carried it far and wide.. The music was older than the lyrics. The words varied, but often had an ongoing similarity. We learned of that song from the English who mostly learned of it  from French voyageurs on rivers which became part of the land Americans call America. Those French voyageurs sang that song with their Indian friends and families. Those Voyageurs sang their versions of that song before the English had colonies in the land. Knowing this I believe the song is Irish. I believe that the title is Irish, in the Old Irish language.

            I believe that I am not the only one to believe the song has Irish roots. I suspect that the title meant something very like "wise people of long ago" or perhaps "wisdom of old." And who would question this old man's beliefs. Anyway, a song which still has some popularity today was sung long before there was a U.S.

           

 Thank you for the visit and for reading.

                                                                                                      rcs

Mago Bill Has a History

 

Mago Bill Inspired History Notes 

            You may remember Mago Bill as the name of some of my earlier blogs. Well, now in my dotage, I am beginning the resurrection of one or those Mago blogs. You may remember that I believed that the given name of my paternal great grandfather was Mago William. While that Mago may have been called Will, he may never been called Bill, but it makes me smile to do so.

            My, somewhat imaginary, Mago Bill has inspired my interest in history and supported my political vision.

            Thoughts of Bill, Mago Bill, lead me to the following. The Phoenicians had certainly heard of Atlantis, but that fabled land had been lost for thousands of years before these Phoenicians posted themselves near the Pillars of Hercules. Those pillars may have been called the Pillars of Atlas, or even the gates of Atlas. They certainly guarded the way to the great Atlantic Sea and to the isle beyond the Western Isle.

            The paragraph above led me to thoughts of many stories, but I will stick to my notes on those who knew the name “Mago” well.

            They were a knowledgeable people whom we might now begin to call Carthaginians. They knew much of trade and navigation. They also knew of mining, metallurgy, the writing of languages, and of defense and attack on land and sea. They were seamen. They that the islands not too far beyond the Pillars not only contained gold, silver, lead, and tin, but also contained men who knew about mining and metal working. They may have known about the little people who could follow the veins of metal deep into the earth. Those Carthaginians knew that men all around their smaller sea valued tin for making their bronze.

            The name and perhaps title of Mago was well known among those Carthaginian Phoenicians. I have found the use of title among them as early as 750 BC. You may find that it was used much earlier. I do find strong evidence that they were carrying on trade with the Western Isles from 500 BC to 400 BC.

            The Magonids were a political dynasty of Carthage room about 550 BC to 340 BC. The dynasty began with Mago I, under whom Cartage became prominent among the Phoenician colonies in the western Mediterranean. Under the Magonids the Carthaginian Empire expanded to include Spain, Sardinia, Libya, and Sicily. Diodorus and Herodotus often better tell us of the doings and happenings of the Magonids more honestly than do the Romans.

               There was a Mago II and then a Mago III who led the Carthaginians. There also seems to have been A Mago who commanded, or navigated for the trading fleet which connected the Western Isles to the Mediterranean. You may know, or have guessed, that the isle beyond the western Isle is the island nation we call Ireland.

           It might have been Mago, that knowledgeable ship-master, who so impressed a Sheehan as to name his, or her, son Mago. My great, great grandfather later called his son Mago William. That is a source of my inspiration to call a blog of mine “Mago Bill.”

            I am inspired to post more on Mago and Mago Bill.

            Thank you for reading this short which I hope you have found pithy. Would you enjoy a longer piece. What would you like to read more about?

       

 

                                                                                    RCS

 

 

Ireland in Very Early Times

                     I have a feeling that I could be moving into a greater coherence of  my dealings with Irish prehistory.

                   I'm not Irish, but my name is. I am Richard Carroll Sheehan. "Carroll" and "Sheehan" are each an Irish surname. Some early Sheehan immigrants to the US had a certain respect for the Carrolls already in America. Sheehan's in Ireland had a certain respect their because of certain happings and doings in a distant prehistory. 

                  In preCeltic time Sheehan had different names. They were probably renamed with the coming of the Milestian. I have heard that -han meant something like people so we became the shee people. Some of the why of that probable fact is becoming clearer to more than just me. "Shee" is a later day interptation of  andearly celtic word.

                "Aos Si" or something similar is an early celtic name for a real people of Ireland. They also been called Aes sidhe and the like. They have been named things that meant "people of the mounds" and that seems more useful than other names they have been given. There are remenants of mounds in Ireland today. Those mounds have been called sidhe. They have also been called shee. Shee may have been and be used as an ajective. People of the mounds have been called daoine sidhe. It has also been said that the mounds are shee. So the mound people ancestors of the Shee people, Sheehan. 

                Some say the Si or Sidhe are the Danann and that may be so. I belive it more likely that the Danann were called si, sidhe, or shee. They were more truly called "people of the goddess Danu." The Danann may have reated inland as more and more Celts arrived. They were few in the face of many newcommers. Still they  remained protective of their physical and mental culture. They tried to protect their "mounds" from the newcombers and came to be thought of  by them as the "mound people." Those newcomers were probably mostly Iron Age celts. Those Celts came to be called Milesians after their homeland Miletus. In time, perhaps by their very numbers, the Milesians so dominated the earlier people that the caused the language and culture to virtually disappear. 

                The Aos Si remained respected ancesters for a long time after the extended arrival of Iron Age Mikesians. A faint remenent of that respect seems to remain to this day. Those "shee people" may have seemed a bit fearsome to a few, but they were called ''good neighbors,'' "Fair Folk," and "people of peace." Aos si," "aes sidhe," and "daoine sidhe" all seem to mean people of peace.

                These shee, si, and sidhe were also known as defenders of the old Bronze Age culture which it seems they felt was well worth the effort. The festivals known to this day seem to have been theirs. Those festivals are Samhain, Beltane, and Midsummer. You may now know that the mounds were also theirs.

                The Sheehan of today are a tiny remenent of a part of the culture of pre-Cetic occupants of Ireland. I myself might be 1/4 of one infantismal remenant of  a largely forgotten preCetic culture of Ireland. How very much of that once dominent Celtic culture survives. Among some Highland Scots and others with fewer ties to the Irish Island, there remains some tiny memory of what I have just written. 

                The Bronze Age people I have just written of may be the Danann. I suspect that some Danann and Skithian may have been arriving on the Island an nearly the same time. What have been Skithians were probably Scythians, Scythians may be what who we have called Persians. As we know Iranians were Persians. I hope to be alive enought to write of this later.

                However, the Anatolian island of Miletus is an early home of the Milesians of Ireland. Miletus island and city have been called a famous font of Hellenic philosophy. Miletus was occupied by settlers from Create around 1,600 BC. Creare was the seat of a high prehellenic civilization. By about 600 BC Miletus had become a maritime empire. 

                It is said that the first Milasians, to appear on the shores of  the  western isle beyond the pillars of Hercules, were defeated by the powerful Tuatha De Danann nobility. Names of the Milesian leaders were Mac Cuil, Mac Cecht, and Mac Grein. Not much later other Milesias came and staye.d

                Conflict between the Danann and the Milesians is probably a source of the name Ere for the land which came tombe known as Ireland, 

            There is some evidence that Ireland was  well occupied by 7,500 BC.

                Scythia orobably once included an area around the Caspian sea and may have included what is now Kazakstan, Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Caspians of the area may be called Iranian, preIranians, or non-Indoeuropean people.

                Magos is said to have been a grandson of Noah and, perhaps, the father of Agnoman of Scythia.

                More probably there was Scythian/Irish contact during about 2350 BC  and 1730 BC.

                In Ireland an ancient king of Scythia known as Fenius Farsaidh, Fenius Farsa, and Farsi had something to dowith the intoduction of the Ogham alphabet to Ireland.

                It has been said that Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah, and an ancester of the peoples of the Agean Sea, Anatolia and more. A son of Japheth is Magog. Why would a christian have said such things?

                By about 1,300 BC  many were experiencing a Bronze Age. Ireland had been heard of around the Baltic Sea and the mediterranian and further abroad. At the same time Egypt had come under Egyptian control again. Also about this time the people of a small Greek island near the coast of present Turkey came to know of Ireland. That Island was Miletus know to peoples of the Mediterranian world and to quite a few in Ireland. 

                

  

It is Good to Know Your Sources

 Some Sources for Irish History and Prehistory         

              Labor Gabala Erenn, In English The Book of Invasions, from Cessair to Danann is a literary work of the taking of Ireland. It is not just a pack of lies, but is best taken with a grain of salt. It has been influenced by the church, by conaurers, and by Roman works.

            If it becomes your principal source for early Irish history you may stray far from reality.

            There is information on pre-Roman Ireland and it is being studied and clarified. But even our timeline of those early days and centuries is as faulty as our timeline of Egyptian early history and prehistory.

Historians:

            There are English translations of early Irish histories. I would like to see well translated works by Roderick O'Flaherty. I have heard of his work Ogygia. He is an Irish historian born in 1629 AD and who died in about 1717. He seems to have been the last recognized chief of clan Flaherty. He inherited Muycullen Castle and lost it tp Cromwell in the 165os. His son helped him lose another 200,000 acres. He became a highly regarded historian with neither Castle nor 200,000 acres. Seems a fine man for coming from as far north as he did.

            His teacher was Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, who has been known ad Duald MacFirbis, Dudly Ferbisie. He was known to be alive in 1643 and died in January of 1671. He was an Irish scribe, translator, historian, and genealogist. He was one of the last traditionally trained Irish Gaelic scholars. His best known work is the Leabhar na nGenealach which was published in 2004 as The Great Book of Irish Genealogies.

            Who is Eamonn Burca

            Dudly may have received his training at Mac Aohagain bardic school located at Ballymaceagan Lough Derg, County Tipperary.

Prehistory and myth   

            Remember when we say prehistory we usually mean that solid documentation is lacking. And that often we say myth we speak of another

 man's religion or history.

 

            Ogygia is a name for the mythical Greek island of  Calypso. The Nymph Calypso lived on an island called Calypso. It is said that the name Calypso refers to "hidden knowledge" or "concealing the knowledge." Calypso's father may have been Atlas and her mother Tethys.

            Dudly in Ogyia credits Milesius as the father of the Goidelic people. Sounds right.  The people of  the island of Milesius may be those who caused my name to be changed to Sheehan. It  may well be a truth passed on by Dudly that each letter of ancient Ogham is the name of a given tree.

            There is a lot to enjoy and a lot to learn about Ireland's wide ranging ancient connections with a significant part of the world.

            Thank you for reading.

                                                                                rcs