#corlea

Disclaimer: I tend to speak of the "characters" in the story as if I personally know them (I'm a long time pondering this one legend so forgive my familiarity). I'm analysing, (for myself really), the story, written by writers unknown who used real (or unreal) entities to describe and explain significant events of the time. I do not mean to imply I understand the Other Crowd. They are Themselves.

I've been thinking of Midir and the bog and the onerous task of creating a road in a soggy pit that is intent in sinking it. While I was saying in an earlier post he is the land, it's more that he is about the manipulation of the land, or his talent, one of his talents, if you will, is the manipulation of the land, matter, changing physical forms. It's interesting to think of a human king Eochaidh putting the task on him to change so much of the landscape and Midir's reluctance is so clear. He understands better than this human that every manipulation of the earth has a consequence.

" Put in hand, throw in hand, excellent oxen, in the hours after sundown; overhard is the exaction; none knoweth whose is the gain, whose the loss, from the causeway over Móin Lámraige. " 35/36

The tasks were enormous in man's terms, even if they had all the modern machinery we have today it would take months:

"These are the four things that Eochaid Airem imposed on many a manly-visaged throng with many a shield and spear:

A causeway over Móin Lámraige a wood over Bréifne, without difficulty a clearing of stones from the hillocks of great Meath and rushes over Tethba. " 30-34

All the tasks could be related in some form as forests would need to be grown to replace the wood used for the road, stones and gravel would be needed in the making of it and possibly reeds to bind it.

In the story he tells Eochaidh no one must come to look and yet Eochaidh sends his servant out who saw what looked like all the men of the world working. Midir put a fault in the road, it seems because Eochaidh broke his word and so the road didn't last long which is in line with the Bog Road discovered in Corlea in the 1990s, it sank within ten/twenty years of it's laying.

An outcome of the spying was the humans learned a new way to harness their oxen with Eochaidh given the credit for it from then on.

" Now until that night the men of Ireland used to put the strain on the foreheads of oxen, (but) it was seen that the folk of the elfmounds were putting it on their shoulders. Eochaid did the same, hence he is called Eochaid Airem i.e. ploughman, for he was the first of the men of Ireland to put a yoke upon the necks of oxen. " 35

Midir is all about balance even if he topples over the scale in one or other direction on many occasions. It seems he would like balance, he doesn't necessarily always have it and often it seems he has to jump on one side of the scale to realign it after he thinks others have messed up. I'm not saying he is right or infallible, he just is, well, Himself.

This is the third of our "A Day out in Co. Longford" stories. Tom, Mary and their grandchildren went back home with so many tales of their great Family Day Out to the children's parents that now their parents are getting very interested in what Longford has to offer. Mary's eldest daughter, Teresa is a teacher in a national school in Co. Leitrim, halfway between Sligo and Longford and was planning her school tour when she came across the website of Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre. She remembered her children's excited tales of The White Rabbit and the magical experience they had so she decided to investigate it more. She contacted Annette Corkery (qualified Art Teacher with Mlitt in Education) on 0863027602 and discovered that she could combine the annual school trip with gaining credit towards STEP 1 of their SFI Discover Science and Maths Awards by visiting this DPSM Accredited Centre. She loves it when life is made easier for her. Two birds and one stone!! Annette told her of the many other places the school could visit on their trip to Creative Ardagh and Teresa has kindly put the links at the end of the piece for you of the places she chose to visit. (While the guide names and contacts for tours are real the tourist group is fictional and based on many who have visited one or other of the sites)

The Day Out begins: Creative Ardagh 10am to 12.30pm

Taking the N4 as far as the third roundabout at Longford and following the brown heritage signs directing them to the Ardagh Road, Teresa and her colleague George arrived with their 3rd and 4th Class pupils at Creative Ardagh at 10am as arranged for their 2 hour workshop. After a quick snack from their packed lunches they took part in the DPSM approved workshop of Woodland Creations which was adapted by Annette from her Infant to 2nd class one for the older students. (All the programmes at Creative Ardagh can be adapted for all ages.) The tour began with a nature walk in the woods where they identified the native trees and plants and looked for animal homes including bat and bird houses and wood piles for insects.They also noticed some fairy houses along the way. They created a den together in the wood and alternative homes for the creatures you would find there. They walked up through the woods,stopping at The Wishing Tree for a photo and in The Sensory Garden where they identified the plants they can see, hear,touch, smell and taste. The children collected leaves, twigs,flowers and other natural materials to create a collage with when they returned to the building to bring home. Some of the children bought some lower priced items in the Craft Gallery.They were hungry by the time their session was over so they had their packed lunch picnic in The Neighbourhood Garden while Ann and Annette gave the complimentary Tea and Coffee to Teresa and George. Ann and Annette told the children about the Legend of Midir and Étain while they ate their lunch and the connection with Ardagh and The Corlea Trackway which is where they were heading next.The children left saying "This is the Best Tour Ever" with the smiling teachers holding their DPSM certificate and some items they bought in the Craft Gallery on their merry way on the 10 minute journey over Brí Leith to The Corlea Trackway.

Corlea trackway 12.45pm to 1.45pm

(3km from Kenagh village and accessed on the Longford-Kenagh road, R357.15km from Longford or from the Mullingar-Lanesboro road R392.)

The Corlea centre interprets an Iron Age bog road that was built in the year 148 B.C. across the boglands of Longford, close to the River Shannon. The oak road is the largest of its kind to have been uncovered in Europe. Inside the interpretive centre, an eighteen-metre stretch of the preserved trackway is on permanent display in a hall specially designed to preserve the ancient wooden structure. Breda,their guide for the day showed them the climate controlled room where the timbers of this Iron Age road are kept. She told them about all the theories as to the purpose of the construction, vividly described bog bodies, told them of the flora and fauna and the links between Corlea and other archaeological sites around Ireland including Midir and Ardagh. George, Teresa and their pupils had a walk around outside after viewing the video and they were delighted to see dragonflies and other interesting bog creatures around them. "I wonder are any of them Étain" mused Jill, one of the quieter pupils. The time flew and they hoped back on the bus to go the very short journey to the ISPCA National Animal Centre.

ISPCA National Animal Centre: 2pm to 3pm

The Centre is located on the main R392 between Ballymahon & Lanesborough, Co. Longford. (Do not turn off for Kenagh village).

The ISPCA National Animal Centre was established in order to support the ISPCA Inspectorate with the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of animals that have been cruelly treated, neglected and abused.The Centre, which opened in 2002, is situated on 88 acres.The National Animal Centre is truly a centre for all animals and is currently capable of holding up to fifty canines, fifty felines and in excess of fifteen equines. The children were fascinated with the Cat Rooms,"It's like a hotel for cats!" said Jimmy. "Or a hospital" said Jane "Where they have babies." Her mother has just come home with their new sister so she knows what she is talking about. There were loads of lovely kittens. They played with the rabbits and they watched the volunteers walk the dogs. They then visited the ISPCA Memory Garden in the stunning surrounds of a walled garden nestled in the woodlands and bought some items in the shop. The children had all brought 50c to put in the donation box as they knew the centre needed lots of money to feed all these animals.They learned about how to treat their pets. "I'm going to be a vet!" said Sally.

McDonalds

On the way home the bus stopped at McDonalds on the N4 Axis in Longford where they had rang in their order and had an area prebooked for them. They all chatted to Teresa and George about the "Best Tour Ever" and went home happy knowing their parents would be waiting for all the stories from their long but fun day away.

(Feel free to contact the page with details of more sights to see and things to do in County Longford and they will be included in one of our A Day out in Co. Longford stories.

Creative Ardagh information and contact details:

ArdaghHeritage And Creativity Centre, Ardagh, Co. Longford.

http://creativeardagh.blogspot.ie/p/adults.html

https://www.facebook.com/creativeardagh

tel:(086)3027602 or email :[email protected] to arrange your school tour or workshop,group class or book into anevent

Corlea Trackway information and contact details:

Corlea Trackway, Kenagh Co. Longford 043332238

E-mail:[email protected] (Forinformation only. All bookings must be made by phone/fax).

ISPCA information and contact details:

For School Tours to the National Animal Centre, or School Visits by ourteam please email [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/irish.spca?fref=ts

http://www.ispca.ie/

0433325035 or email [email protected]

McDonaldsinformation and contact details:

McDonalds,Longford, N4 Retail Business Park