Feile Mac Dara

 Every year on July 16th people gather on the uninhabited island of Mac Dara's Island for mass and fellowship.  Boats from the area shuttle people to the island in all manner of crafts.  We road in a zodiac to get to the island.


We arrived just before the local priest and some visiting clergy arrived to prepare for the mass.  There's a very small stone chapel on the island that holds the wooden alter that was moved for the service.  People picked their perches on the surrounding hill or in front of the chapel.  The rock we were sitting on had some significance because people kept circling it while saying prayers.  The mass started around noon.  We started gathering to head back towards the end so we could beat the crowd vying for boats for the return.  It was a very interesting and unique look at a traditional festival.




 We returned to the lodge for a little rest before our next review.  We took over one of the living areas for the critique. After the review we were treated to a dramatic reading by the Curlew Theatre Company.  Tegolin and Sean Coyne performed The Muse & Mr. Yeats.  Tegolin would change scarves to represent the different women in W. B. Yeat's life.  It was really a moving performance.





Tonight we ate in the much less formal pub for dinner.  It was good to not have a multicourse dinner for a break.

Tomorrow: Sheep Dogs


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