History and legends

Subject: History and legends
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 12:19 PM

I recently ran across the Gaelic phrase "Crann Tara" and would like some other peoples ideas on the meaning of it as well as any legends they may have heard. From what I can find out it is the name for the signal fires that were lit on hill tops and also the torch that they carried to warn of impending danger or as a call to battle. Really, I am interested in anything that anyone has heard regarding this phrase. It doesn't have to be fact...legends or stories would be fine.

Thanks! Lisa

P.S. What do you all think of it as a band name??

Subject: RE: History and legends
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 02:16 PM

Nice and snappy and if you play the sort of music that lights up inspiration it would be good - I fancy it as the name of a celic gospel choir myself..... especially as I learned a new song today by Dave Bilborough, called 'Send the fire today' - inspired by William 'Blood and Fire' Booth, it really is a heart (and roof) raiser!

A group called signal fire could really make something of that!

LTS

Subject: RE: History and legends
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 04:44 PM

Liz,

Thanks for your response!! It is definitely on the top of our "Name List". But I guess I should qualify the real meaning of the torch part. it was actually a crossed piece of wood that was lit and carried. A Burning cross...does that bring the wrong images to mind?!!

Lisa

Subject: RE: History and legends
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 06:16 PM

Errr... I'd stick with the signal fire if I were you !!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: History and legends
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Oct 00 - 06:33 PM

Carbonek: The Grail Castle of Arthurian legend, was an otherworldly heaven guarded by angels and wondrous spirits who's unearthly song was beautiful beyond imagining. The castle housed the Grail, a holy vessel, said to be the Cup of the Last Supper, which contained healing spiritual sustenance. Lancelot was ferried to Carbonek on a ghostly ship without a captain or crew and permitted a distant vision of the sacred chalice because of his courageous spirit. His love ove Guinever forbade a complete vision.
--From the Encyclopedia of Mythology by Arthur Cottrell

Also Taliesin, prophetic poet. Wales's greatest bard. Was gifted with all-seeing wisdom after drinking from Ceridwen's cauldron. Fortold coming of the Saxons and oppression of Cymry (Wales). (I'm not sure this name hasn't been used by a group in the past.)

Ceridwen - Welsh goddess of fertility. To compensate for giving birth to the ugliest man in the world, she boiled a cauldron of knowledge. The tale gets rather messy after that.