DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 249

The ancient and sacred feast of Imbolc, dedicated to the Goddess Brigit (Brigantia) pan Celtic goddess of fertility takes place on February 1st,  Spare a moment to reflect on all that Imbolc means...the warmth of the sun, the sprouting of the seeds and the ewes giving birth.  To those of Wicca one of the most sacred of all the Celtic Festivals as one can look forward to longer days and the fruiting of our mother earth.  Beannacht!

DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 250

On the 3rd day of February,  we celebrate the life of 'Silken Thomas' Fitzgerald,  an Irish rebel whom the English feared so greatly that they snuffed out his life on the gallows that day in 1537.

DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 251

Robert the Bruce secured the release of Dumfries from the English on the 7th day of February in 1313.  A great victory! Just a note to remind you of Robert, grandson of Robert Bruce who tried for the throne after the death of Alexander 111.  'Tis said he descended from King David I through is great grandmother who was daughter of the Earl of Huntington, himself being grandson of King David 1.  Here is a great persona, rich in history for one of us (men that is) to bring to life!  Write me.

DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 252

Meadhbh of Connachta bore Fergus of Mac Roich (son of Great Horse a son...his name was Ciar however some historian report tis birth to be triplet sons, but it is Ciar for whom a dynasty survived.  It is in Kerry we find the tribe of Ciar (the very same son of Fergus and Meadhbh of Connacht. This sept had several branches one of which settled in West Kerry, (which is derived from the name Ciar).  The county of Kerry is reported to have been inhabited by humans for over 4000 years.  Kerry was invaded by Normans in the 1400s (thanks McDermott) however the authority of the folks of Kerry was not replaced by them until the late 1250s or early 1600s.  Mining was the prime occupation of these early inhabitants.  However, they maintained their cultural integrity as Gaelic is still spoken there.

DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 253

Dal Riata was the name given to a kingdom established by the son of Conaire Moir...said to have been descended from the Mileasians.  Conaire was Ard Right of Ireland between 277 and 212 A. D. Some legendary genealogists report that Conaire was a mere 96 generations removed from Adam.

DIDJAKNOW NUMBER 254

The Dal Riata were called Scotti by the Romans.  There are a number of interpretations as to why the name of Scotti; some say it is because their ancestor was Scota, the Mileasians.  The Dal Riata were most worthy for spreading the Gaelic tongue.

DIDJAKNOW 248

Originally from Ulster, they relocated twice.  They moved southward to Munster but due to the tribal fighting there and their subsequent and frequent lack of food, they moved back north.  Their stay in Ulaid (Ulster) is very tangled but it does seem that they had been allied with or interested in the Pictish people who inhabited Scotland and through skirmishes and intermarriage they finally established themselves in Scotland where they came to the attention of the Romans..