At the second battle of Moytura Lugh killed his fearsome grandfather using - and this part varies - a slingshot, or a spear. Right through the eye.
What has this got to do with the hill and mound at Knock Iveagh? Knock Iveagh is a place where, like the Tuatha De Dannan of Irish myth, the people went 'into the hill'. They didn't just 'go into' the cairn in ceremonial urns, their remains were scattered amongst the cairnstones themselves. They didn't just 'go into' the cairn either, the summit of Knock Iveagh itself was littered with their burnt offerings. They literally put themselves and perhaps even their homes into their 'sacred' hill. Then their descendants went there over and over, respectfully, for millennia, just as we did. The 'battle' for Knock Iveagh is something of a David and Goliath/ Lugh and Balor. The Friends of Knock Iveagh are regular people. In fact, a lot of the hard work behind the scenes has been done by mothers with young children. Not archaeological experts, not politicians, not professional planners, 'just' very ordinary working families who love the hill. We are up against a real-life one-eyed giant at Knock Iveagh, and determined developers with deep pockets and 'scary lawyers'. It's as simple as that. At times we have been criticised for not getting out in front of diggers, or for not heading up there and taking direct action. That just wasn't an option for us. Most of us went there as children with our families, and we took our own families and friends there until very recently. We went there freely and unobstructed. It is where we went to clear our heads, it made us feel good. We miss going there. The ancient hill is still 'sacred' to us. Because of a series of monumental (!) failures by the 'professionals' this area has come close to losing a key piece of its history. But we remembered and we told the story. We are not fighting with slingshots, but the battle is the same. It is time that the people who WE PAY to ensure lawful planning in our country do the right thing, put an end to the desecration of Knock Iveagh, and ensure that it can be enjoyed again by everyone. Please help us, and share the story of Knock Iveagh with your friends. #protectthesacred #saveknockiveagh *If you want to learn more about the story of Lugh, we highly recommend this beautiful book. The stories are simply told and it's perfect for children! 'The heroic sagas of Ireland are great treasures of our cultural inheritance. They recall for us our ancestors and remind us of the ancient bond that was forged between the people and the land.' Read more about Lugh and Balor here.
1 Comment
Jacqueline hale
1/13/2019 02:36:59 am
I really enjoyed the analogy between david and the giant, as indeed we do fight against principallitys i.e.(bankster types) and laywers, we know who wins in the end though, great men and women of ireland keep strong in your dilligence.
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