The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #77631 Message #4102279
Posted By: Cattia
15-Apr-21 - 09:52 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Cliffs of Dooneen. WHERE?
Subject: RE: Origins: Cliffs of Dooneen. WHERE?
Like Avalon, the Cliffs of Dooneen are not found in a specific place, but in the mists of myth and nostalgia.
Blear version
I have travelled afar from my own native home Away over the mountains, across the white foam But give me a home where the grass grows so green By the old mossy slopes on the Cliffs of Dooneen
How nice tis to walk on a fine summer’s day And to view the Skereens* that will never decay Where the sea grass (1) and sea weed and old carraigeen Grow rich on the rocks by the Cliffs of Dooneen
The sandhills of Beale (2) are lovely and grand And the old castle’s ruins (3) look out towards the strand The rabbits in plenty today can be seen Making holes for their homes by the Cliffs of Dooneen
My footsteps retreat to the boathouse of old And the dance at the clash where love stories are told Today you can see each lad and colleen Walking round by the shore near the Cliffs of Dooneen
Farewell to Dooneen farewell for a while And to all the nice neighbours I left on that isle May my soul never rest till I lay on the green On the old mossy slopes by the Cliffs of Dooneen
NOTES 1) these sea floor plants often grow in large "meadows" that resemble grazing. There are various types of red algae found along the coasts of Ireland - Great Britain: the alga dulse (Palmaria palmata) and the irish moss (Chondrus crispus also called Carragheen) which, when spread out and dried in the sun, turns to white in a characteristic "blonde" color! * I still don't know the meaning of the word the Skereens (any algae?) 2) Corcas and Sandhills at Beal Point 3) in Beal you can still see the ruins of Beal Castle; it is interesting to read in the brief description of the ruins to mention the presence of numerous rabbit holes.