Stones of Aran

by Tim Robinson

  27 Lady Gregory, Our Irish Theatre (New York, 1913); quoted in David H. Greene and Edward M. Stephens, J.M. Synge 1871–1909 (revised edition, New York and London, 1989).

  28 (Synge on the cliffs) See my introduction to J.M. Synge, The Aran Islands, (London, 1992).

  29 Synge’s 1898 notebook.

  30 A.C. Haddon and C.R. Browne, “The Ethnography of the Aran Islands, County Galway,” in Proc. RIA, 18 (1893).

  31 James Joyce, “Il Miraggio del Pescatore di Aran. La Valvola dell’Inghilterra in Caso di Guerra,” in Il Piccolo della Sera (Trieste, 5 September 1912). Translated in The Critical Writings of James Joyce (London, 1959); also in The Aran Reader.

  32 (“Tiger, Tiger”) Quoted from a Dublin Opinion of 1934 in Breandán Ó hEithir, “Tiger King and Man of Aran,” Willie the Plain Pint—agus an Papa (Dublin, 1977). For the making of Man of Aran, see also Pilgrimage, p. 161.

  33 (Artaud in Aran) Information collected by Fr. Connla Ó Dúláine, in Nuacht Litir (Cill Rónain, 10 May 1880).

  34 I have translated this and the following texts from Oeuvres Completes, Vol. VII Antonin Artaud (Gallimard, 1967). See also, Stephen Barber, Antonin Artaud: Blows and Bombs (London, 1993).

  AN EAR TO THE COFFIN

  1 Powell, Oileáin Árann, gives references to Parliamentary Papers 1826–27, Vol. XII, Irish Education Enquiry, 2nd report, and 1835, Vol. XXXIII, First Report of Commissioners of Public Instruction.

  2 Rev. Henry M’Manus, Sketches of the Irish Highlands: Descriptive, Social and Religious. With special reference to Irish Missions in West Connaught since 1840 (London, 1863).

  3 Reports of the Island and Coast Society 1846, in An Aran Reader.

  4 For Rev. Synge’s letters, see: Paul F. Botheroyd, “The Rev. Alexander Hamilton Synge in the Aran Islands,” Cahiers Irlandais (Rennes, 1983); also An Aran Reader.

  5 Rev. Dallas, quoted in D. Bowen, The Protestant Crusade in Ireland, 1800–70, (Dublin, 1978).

  6 (Jumpers rhyme) Information from Mícheál Báiréad, Roundstone.

  7 (Dr. Stoney) Information from Professor George Stoney, New York University.

  8 These controversies are voluminously reported in many issues of the Galway Vindicator for the period.

  9 “The Song of the Arranman,” in Galway Vindicator (30 December 1868); quoted in Powell, op. cit.; see also “The Big House” in this volume.

  10 (Ganly) See Powell, op. cit.

  11 The Irish Crisis of 1879–80; Proceedings of the Mansion House Com mittee (Dublin, 1881). This also includes Curran’s report of his investigation.

  12 (Ganly) Information from the late Mary Walshe, Cill Rónáin, and Alice Powell, Eochaill; see also Powell, op. cit., for the Land War events.

  13 “Amhrán Shéamais Uí Chonchúir,” from a version obtained in Aran by the late Éamonn Ó Tuathail, Dublin; a closely similar one was published in the local Nuacht Litir in May and June 1979; my translation.

  14 Rev. William Kilbride, The Book of Psalms; a Metrical Version in the Irish language, of seventy of the psalms most commonly used in churches, to which are added some Hymns and Sacred Songs (Dublin, 1863).

  BACKWATERS

  1 Ó Cillín, op. cit.

  2 J.M. Synge, The Aran Islands (London, 1907; new edition 1992). (The name “Digby” is replaced by a dash in Synge’s text.)

  3 Hardiman’s notes to West Connaught.

  4 (Digbys’ removal to Aran) Ó Cillín, op. cit.

  5 (Digby House) Admiralty chart (1844–48).

  6 (1831 distress) First Report of the Fishery Commissioners (London, 1836).

  7 Annals of the Four Masters, quoted in Hardiman’s notes to R. O’Flaherty, op. cit.

  8 “Na Dubhchrónaigh,” in Nuacht Litir (Cill Rónáin, 6 and 14 April 1979); also reminiscences from Caomhán Ó Goill, Máire Bn Uí Chonghaile, Mícheál King, Thomas Fleming, and other islanders.

  9 (Clifden episode) Information from John Barlow, Roundstone.

  CLIMBING THE HILL

  1 (An Suicín) Information from the late Prof. T.S. Ó Máille, UCG.

  2 (Bord na Gaeilge report) Liam Mac Con Iomaire, speaking on Raidió na Gaeltachta (1 May 1991); also, The Irish Times (8 and 9 May 1991).

  3 “An Teanga sa Ghaeltacht,” Willie the Plain Pint—agus an Pápa, B. Ó hEithir (Dublin, 1977); (my translation).

  4 “Haraí Steatail” is also recorded from Carna in Connemara; see Foirisiún Focal as Gaillimh, Tomás de Bhaldraithe (Dublin, 1985).

  5 “Beart Sgéalta ó Árainn,” in Béaloideas, Vol. 3 (1931–32) (three tales collected by Seosamh Ó Flannagáin, who was the schoolmaster in Eoghanacht).

  6 Breandán Ó hEithir, “Liam Ó Flatharta agus a Dhúchais,” Willie the Plain Pint—agus an Pápa. Also, information from Alice Powell, Eochaill.

  7 Tom Ó Flaherty, Aranmen All (Dublin, 1934).

  MAINISTIR

  1 B. Ó hEithir, “Má Bhíonn Tu in Árainn Bí in Eochaill,” in The Irish Times (15 July 1977); my translation.

  2 (1581 inquisition) Ó Cillín, op. cit., taken from the RIA library’s interleaved copy of Mervyn Archdall, Monasticum Hibernicum (Dublin, 1786). [this text not in original, p.464] For these divisions see also F.J. Byrne, “Eoghanacht Ninussa,” in Éigse (Earrach, 1958).

  3 (grants) Ó Cillín, op. cit.

  4 T.J. Westropp, “The Aran Islands,” in JRSAI, 25 (1895).

  5 Charles Plummer, Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, Vol. II (Oxford, 1910); translated for me by Ann Mohr.

  6 O’Donovan, op. cit.

  7 Plummer, trans. Ann Mohr.

  AMONG THE THORNS

  1 J. O’Donovan, Ordnance Survey Letters.

  2 Colgan, Acta Sanctorum, quoted in Hardiman’s notes to R. O’Flaherty, op. cit.

  LIGHTS IN THE DARKNESS

  1 (Churchill) Information from Tim Collins.

  2 Stokes, The Life … of George Petrie.

  3 (“Whoever las it …”) Breandán Ó hEithir, “Ciall Cheannaithe,” in The Irish Times (1977).

  4 Paul Kerrigan, “The Defence of Ireland 1793–1815,” in An Cosantóir (February 1982).

  LOCUS TERRIBILIS

  1 B. Ó hEithir, “Má Bhíonn Tu in Árainn Bí in Eochaill,” in The Irish Times (15 July 1977).

  IN SEARCH OF WASTED TIME

  1 (1581 inquisition) Ó Cillín, op. cit.

  2 G. H. Kinahan, “Notes on some of the ancient villages in the Aran Islands, County Galway,” in Proc. RIA, 10 (1867).

  3 John Goulden’s preliminary reports to the Royal Irish Academy, quoted in John Waddell, “J. R.W. Goulden’s excavations on Inishmore, Aran, 1953–1955,” in JGAHS, Vol. 41 (1987–88).

  4 Waddell (1987–88).

  THE FOUR BEAUTIES

  1 T.S. Ó Máille, “Five Co. Galway Placenames,” in JGAHS, Vol. XXVIII.

  2 J. Colgan, Acta Sanctorum.

  3 An t-Ath. Martán Ó Domhnaill, Oileáin Árann (Dublin, 1930).

  4 J.R.W. Goulden, “Kilnamanagh: The Lost Church of Aran,” in JGAHS, Vol. XXVI (1955).

  5 Ó Cillín, op. cit.

  6 (Fursey) Richard Sharpe, Medieval Irish Saints’ Lives (Oxford, 1991).

  7 (Brendan) Miles Dillon and Nora Chadwick, The Celtic Realms (London, 1973). For Maol Dúin, see also “Eoghanacht” in this volume.

  8 I have slightly amended O’Donovan’s translation, in his Ordnance Survey Letters, of the “Life of St. Kevin” from the Codex Kilkenniensis.

  9 J.M. Synge’s 1898 notebook.

  10 O’Donovan, op. cit.

  11 A. O’Kelleher and G. Shoepperle (eds.), Beth a Colaim Chille, Life of Columcille), compiled by Manus O’Donnell (Chicago, 1918). The phrase naming the abbot is unclear and varies between mss; O’Donovan makes him out to be called Santal. The name Talgaeth is given in James F. Kenney, The Sources for the Early History of Ireland (Dublin, 1979), Section 219, “Minor sources relating to Columba.”

  THE BED OF DIARMAID AND GRÁINNE

  1 I have based the opening of this version on a translation of the middle Iris
h original into modern Irish in Seanchas na Féinne, Niall Ó Domhnaill (Dublin, 1943). The lullaby is a twelfth-century work; it is given in Gerard Murphy’s Early Irish Lyrics (Oxford, 1956) and I have used his prose translation as a crib. Gráinne calls Diarmaid “cró gaile íarthair Gréc” (battle-fence of western Greece), but given the hero’s psychology my “playboy of the western world” makes more sense today.

  2 J.R.W. Goulden, “Kilnamanagh: The Lost Church of Aran,” in JGAHS, Vol. XXVI (1955); includes a reproduction of the O.S. plan and elevation of Clochán an Phúca.

  3 G.H. Kinahan, “Notes on some of the ancient villages in the Aran Islands, County Galway,” in Proc. RIA, 10 (1867).

  4 William O’Brien, “Altar Tomb and the Prehistory of Mizen,” in Mizen Journal, No. 1 (1993).

  5 (inhabited megalithic tombs) T.J. Westropp, “Prehistoric Remains along the Borders of the Burren,” in JRSAI, Series 5, Vol. XV (1905).

  6 (goose-pen) Information from Patrick Nolan, Gleninsheen, Ballyvaughan.

  MODALITIES OF ROUGHNESS

  1 Information from Conor MacDermot, Geological Survey, Dublin. For the terms Asbian and Brigantian, see T.N. George et al., “A Correlation of Dinantian Rocks in the British Isles,” in Geol. Soc. Lond., Special Report No. 7 (1976).

  2 (solution of limestone) Frank Mitchell, Shell Guide to Reading the Irish Landscape (Dublin, 1986).

  3 Llubica Jelicic and Michael O’Connell, “History of vegetation and land use from 3200 B.P. to the present day in the north-west Burren, a karstic region of western Ireland,” Vegetation History and Ar chaeobotany (Springer-Verlag, 1992).

  4 David Langridge, “Limestone Pavement Patterns on the Island of Inishmore, Co. Galway,” in Irish Geography, Vol. 6 (3) (1971).

  THE BLOOD OF THE HEART

  1 (Tobar Ghrióir) Story from Mícheál King, Fearann an Choirce.

  2 S.F. (Samuel Ferguson), “Clonmacnoise, Clare, and Arran,” Parts 1 and 2, in Dublin University Magazine, XLI (1853).

  3 (British Association) A Short Description of the Western Islands of Aran, no author named (W.R. Wilde), quoted in Haddon and Browne (1892).

  4 Congested Districts Board Report on the Aran Islands (1893), reprinted in Island Life Series I, A World of Stone: The Aran Islands (Curriculum Development Unit, Dublin, 1977).

  5 Canon John O’Hanlon, Lives of the Irish Saints (1875–97), quoted in Daphne Pochin Mould, The Aran Islands (Newton Abbot, 1972).

  6 Mary Banim, op. cit., reprinted in An Aran Reader.

  7 (grants, land reclamation) John C. Messenger, Inis Beag (New York, 1969).

  8 Peadar Ua Concheanáinn, Innismeadhoin: Seanchas agus Sgéalta (Dublin, 1931).

  9 Tomás Ó Direáin, “An t-Árannach,” Nuabhéarsaíocht 1939–1949, ed. Seán Ó Tuama (Dublin, 1950; republished 1974).

  10 T.G.F. Curtis, H.N. McGough, E.D. Wymer, “The Discovery … of Arable Weeds … in the Aran Islands,” in Ir. Nat. J., Vol. 22, No. 12 (1988).

  11 W.Y. Evans Wentz, The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries (Oxford, 1911; reprinted Gerrard’s Cross, 1988).

  SPUDS

  1 (Cuckoo in Inis Oírr) Messenger, Inis Beag.

  2 E. Estyn Evans, Irish Folk Ways (London, 1957).

  BLACK HARVEST

  1 Austin Bourke, “Phytophthora and Famine,” in Technology Ireland, Vol. 22, No. 4 (July/August 1990).

  2 Transcription of a tape recording, Píosa seanchais bailithe ó Sheán Ó Giolláin, Scoil Éigse Eoghanachta 1975–76; my translation.

  A MOUTHFUL OF ECHOES

  1 (blackin’) Information from Bertie Joyce, Cill Mhuirbhigh.

  2 James Duran, “The Irish Language in Aran,” later published in The Book of Aran, ed. John Waddell, J.W. O’Connell, and Anne Korff (Kinvara, 1994).

  3 (Bríd Gillan) Michael Finlan, “Witness to a century of Irish history returns to her roots,” in The Irish Times (12 September 1994).

  4 From the tape recording of Seán Ó Giolláin, Scoil Éigse Eoghanachta (1975–76); my translation.

  5 Tom O’Flaherty, “My First Suit,” Aranmen All (Dublin, 1934); slightly shortened and rearranged.

  6 I am grateful to Professor John Waddell for showing me George Warren’s journal, which is now in the possession of Patrick Gageby, Dublin.

  7 Further details of O’Callaghan’s life are given in Beathaisnéis a Ceathair.

  8 A.C. Haddon and C.R. Browne, “The Ethnography of the Aran Islands,” in Proc. RIA (1892).

  9 Siamsa an Gheimhridh, Dómhnall O’Fotharta (Dublin, 1892).

  10 Tom O’Flaherty, Aranmen All.

  11 (Gaelic League) Fáinne an Lae (20 August 1898).

  12 The following account is based on Powell, Oileáin Árann, and Patrick F. Sheeran, The Novels of Liam O’Flaherty (Dublin, 1976).

  13 Liam O’Flaherty, Skerrett (London, 1932).

  14 I am obliged to Roddy McCaffrey of Robinson Keefe Devane, Dublin, for this description of the Residence.

  III. WEST

  ON THE BOUNDARY

  1 An tAthair Mártan Ó Domhnaill, Oileáin Árann (Dublin, 1930). His biography is given in Beathaisnéis a Trí.

  2 I owe the idea that Creig an Córach may represent the boundary between the territories of Dún Dúchathair and Dún Aonghasa to Claire Cotter of the Discovery Programme (for which see “Dún Aonghasa Revisited” in this volume).

  THE VILLAGE OF CONTENTED WOMEN

  1 Máirtín Ó Direáin, “Cuireadh do Mhuire,” Dánta Aniar (Dublin, 1943); my translation.

  2 (jerseys) J.M. Synge, The Aran Islands.

  3 This history of the Aran knitting is based on M.M.E. Robinson, “The Four Dropped Stitches,” unpublished essay (1982), and Deirdre McQuillan, The Aran Sweater (Belfast, 1993).

  4 P.A. Ó Síocháin, Aran, Islands of Legend (Dublin, 1962).

  STORM-DRIVEN MALE

  1 Tom O’Flaherty, op. cit.

  2 Liam O’Flaherty, Shame the Devil (London, 1934; Dublin, 1981).

  3 Tom O’Flaherty, op. cit.

  4 Éamon Ó Ciosán, An t-Éireannach, 1934–1937, Páipéar Sóisialach Gaeltachta (Dublin, 1993).

  5 (Liam’s first story) Quoted in Benedict Kiely, “Liam O’Flaherty at Eighty,” in The Irish Times (27 August 1976); see also Liam O’Flaherty, Shame the Devil.

  6 (shell) Shame the Devil.

  7 Liam O’Flaherty, Two Years (London, 1930).

  8 (Rotunda occupation) Breandán Ó hEithir, “Biseach na hAoine,” in The Irish Times (18 November 1983).

  9 Liam O’Flaherty, Thy Neighbour’s Wife (London, 1923; Dublin, 1972).

  10 Liam O’Flaherty, The Black Soul (London, 1924; Dublin, 1981).

  11 Liam O’Flaherty, Spring Sowing (London, 1924; Dublin, 1976).

  12 Liam O’Flaherty, The Informer (London, 1924); A Tourist’s Guide to Ireland (London, 1929); Famine (London, 1937; Dublin, 1977); The Ecstasy of Angus (London, 1931); Skerrett (London, 1932; Dublin, 1979).

  13 Liam O’Flaherty, Dúil (Dublin, 1953).

  14 The Irish Times (17 June 1980), and personal information from O’Flaherty’s niece, Mrs. Alice Powell, Eochaill.

  15 (“storm-swept rock”) quoted in B. Kiely, in The Irish Times (27 August 1976).

  THE SHINING WAYS

  1 (identification of Ferris) Breandán Ó hEithir, “Skerrett: Liam O’Flaherty,” Islands and Authors, ed. Proinsias Ó Conluain (Dublin, 1983).

  MOONGRAZING

  1 Tom O’Flaherty, Cliffmen of the West (London, 1935).

  2 J. Vendryes, Lexique Étymologique de l’Irlandais ancien (Lettre B) (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1981).

  3 Liam O’Flaherty, Spring Sowing.

  4 (Nostoc) Information from Maura Scannell, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

  THE CLOCK

  1 Preston Cloud, Oasis in Space: Earth History from the Beginning (New York, 1988).

  GOING TO CILL MHUIRBHIGH

  1 J.T. O’Flaherty, “A Sketch of the History and Antiquities of the Southern Islands of Aran …,” in RIA Trans., Vol. XIV, A
ntiquities (1821–25).

  2 Information from Michael Gibson, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.

  3 Máirtín Ó Direáin, Ó Mórna agus Dánta Eile (Dublin, 1957); my translation.

  ANCIENT HISTORIES

  1 (school) Griffiths’ Valuation (1855), and A. Powell, op. cit.

  2 Colm P. Ó hIarnáin, “Hernon—Ó hIarnáin,” unpublished typescript in my possesion.

  3 W.F. Wakeman, “Aran—Pagan and Christian,” in Duffy’s Hiber nian Magazine, Vol. I (1862).

  4 (radio-carbon dating) R. Berger, op. cit.

  5 Seathrún Céitinn, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (Geoffrey Keating, The History of Ireland), written c. 1633–36, translated and edited by D. Comyn and P.S. Dinneen, four vols. (London, 1902–14; reprinted 1987).

  6 George Petrie, The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland (London, 1845).

  7 (Mil) T.J. Westropp, “A Study of the Early Forts and Stone Huts in Inishmore, Aran Islands, Galway Bay,” in Proc. RIA, Vol. 28C (1910).

  8 T.J. Westropp, “Aran Islands,” in JRSAI, 25 (1895), reprinted in P.J. Hartnett and B. Ó Ríordáin, The Aran Islands and Galway City (Dublin, 1969).

  9 (Johnston crest) Information from Jim Higgins, Galway.

  THE FEROCIOUS O’FLAHERTYS

  1 (arms) Hardiman’s appendices to R. O’Flaherty, West or H-Iar Connaught. This is also the source of most of the early O’Flaherty history in the next few pages.

  2 (Niall) Dr. Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, Myth, Legend and Romance: An En cyclopedia of the Irish Folk Tradition (London, 1990).