The pagan feast of Samhain – the last night of October – marked the end of the harvest and the arrival of winter. It was also understood to be a time when the boundary between the world we are familiar with, and the Otherworld, could most easily be crossed. The Otherworld is where the fairies/gentry/little people/good people of Old Ireland dwell. They were the ancient race, the Tuatha De Danann, who were banished underground many centuries ago having been defeated in battle.

The poet and author WB Yeats says* ‘This night they (the fairies) dance with the ghosts, and the pooka is abroad, and witches make their spells, and girls set a table with food in the name of the devil, that the fetch (apparition) of their future lover may come through the window and eat of the food.’

Lady Jane Wilde (sheroesofhistory.wordpress.com)

And Lady Jane Wilde, mother of Oscar** ‘It is esteemed a very wrong thing to be about on November Eve, minding any business, for the fairies have their flitting then, and do not like to be seen, or watched; and all the spirits come to meet them and help them. But mortal people should keep at home, or they will suffer for it; for the souls of the dead have power over all things on that one night of the year; and they hold a festival with the fairies, and drink red wine from the fairy cups, and dance to fairy music till the moon goes down’.

The only entrances to the Otherworld are via fairy forts, or raths. These abound in Ireland, in all parts of the country. They vary in size and prominence, are generally circular and are often covered with hawthorn. And, even to this modern day, it is considered most unwise by many Irish people to plough or disturb these raths in any way.

Farmers leave them undisturbed, the way they have been for centuries. Planners of roads and other developments take great care to avoid a rath wherever possible. It is said that extreme bad luck will befall anyone who disturbs a rath.

Capeen Ringfort, Co Cork

Famously, one of Ireland’s richest businessmen, Sean Quinn, saw his empire collapse and he filed for bankruptcy in 2011. This after he had an ancient burial tomb moved to extend a quarry.

And in 1999 workers downed tools and refused to uproot a lone hawthorn bush. The Ennis by-pass was re-routed and the hawthorn bush remains.

Ardnamagh, Co Meath

I couldn’t, of course, resist writing about such a rath in A West Cork Mystery. Well, would you defy the fairies and disturb their home? You’re braver than I.

* Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry

** Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland. Read this online now.

If I have a spiritual home then it’s in Cork, Ireland. My parents came from the west of the county and I always get a clear sense of ‘coming home’ as I arrive there. Last week I made my first visit in six years.

These days there’s a cheap Dublin Airport – Cork express bus link. A bit of a rugby scrum to get on but it deposited me in the city centre in the early evening. For a Thursday the pubs were hopping with music everywhere as I re-made my acquaintance with Murphy’s stout, Cork’s superior answer to Dublin’s Guinness.

Corner House, Cork city

The next day, a few miles out to Douglas to stay with my old friend Deirdre. Formerly a stand-alone village, Douglas is now firmly part of the city. It has the best of both worlds having all modern amenities (though including an alarming number of fast food outlets) but situated beautifully on the estuary of the lovely River Lee as it completes its journey from the Shehy Mountains.

For a runner, especially a slow one, it is perfect. The route of the old Cork – Blackrock – Passage West railway line has become part of a well-used and picturesque trail for walkers, runners and cyclists. Three nice runs of 8-9 miles with not a hill of any sort – lazy stuff but just what the doctor ordered.

Old railway bridge over the estuary

Blackrock Castle

Harbour, Passage West

Some of this good work unravelled in the course of evenings of Murphy’s and crisps at my favourite-ever bar, the South County. The weekend pub crowds were buoyant with the Cork hurlers winning the Munster title and thereby progressing to the All-Ireland semi-finals. The early week evenings were quieter though always with a bit of music not far away.

South County Bar, Douglas

Trips into the city included Elizabeth Fort, the new Nano Nagle Heritage Centre and the Crawford Art Gallery, with a final evening Chinese meal overlooking the beautiful Lough, protected since 1881.

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, from Elizabeth Fort, Cork city

Back to Jersey with yet more fond memories. A pity that my aversion to flying makes these visits so infrequent, but it certainly makes them precious.

I’m not sure what’s bringing on this poetry jag – second post in a row. This one caught my eye on social media today. The writer DS Shorter (1866 – 1918) was a part of the so-called Irish literary revival which reflected a new and scholarly look at the country’s ancient traditions.

image from bloodontherainbow.com

The Kathleen of the poem is the mythical Kathleen Ni Houlihan, the Spirit of Ireland.

They lit a fire within their Land
That long was ashes cold
With splendid dreams they made it glow
Threw in their hearts of Gold
They saw Thy slowly paling cheek
And knew Thy failing breath
They bade Thee live once more Kathleen
That were so nigh to death

And who dare quench the Sacred Fire?
And who dare give them blame?
Since he who draws too near the glow
Shall break into a flame
They lit a beacon in their land
Built of the souls of men
To make Thee warm once more Kathleen
To bid Thee live again

How exciting is that? I just submitted my very first query to a publisher, this in relation to the manuscript of ‘A West Cork Mystery’. I know, I can hear you chuckling from here. I’ve heard all the stories about multiple rejections, about how each rejection ought to make you more determined. I even read somewhere of the writer who proudly decorates his office with rejection slips while he continues to slave over his PC.

I’m going into this process with an open mind – optimism tinged with realism. I know what I’ve written is good and that it is readable and marketable. I’ve done enough reading of my own – including a good slug of book reviews – to know that my writing is starting to compare favourably with others out there. Also I think I’ve improved and learnt a lot since my ‘Barry’ days. If an agent or publisher thinks likewise then happy days. If not, well, too bad – I’ll be no worse off.

Bantry House & Bay (david marhall photography)

There’s no doubt that the blogging community has helped a great deal. I am always happy to seek out advice and this is always freely given. Whereas once I thought I could just write with blinkers on without taking advice on board have gone. So thank you to all out there that share their advice and experience.

So, we’ll see. I’ve got the choice of Irish, UK and even North American agents and publishers. I’m sure that there’s a market for well-written Irish stories outside the shores of that country – you’ll find Irish emigrants and their descendants in every corner of the world.

And if it all comes to nought then I’ll bang it up on Amazon myself and plough on regardless.

Mention the Titanic or the Lusitania and most people will make the connection with great maritime tragedies. A little research will lead to further instances where thousands have died in single instances at sea. The toll down the years is horrific. Yet I learnt today of an incident close to home which claimed the greatest loss of life in Irish waters.

RMS Leinster, making the short hop from Dun Laoghaire (then Kingstown) just to the south of Dublin to Holyhead in Wales had barely left port to enter the choppy Irish Sea. She carried 771 passengers and crew.

RMS Leinster, from the official site

A couple of weeks earlier Germany had asked President Wilson for peace terms, but its submarines still lurked in coastal waters. One of them launched three torpedoes, two of which hit, the second sending the ship quickly to the bottom. It is estimated that more than 500 were killed. Many were civilians as well as military personnel from Ireland, Britain, Canada, The US, Australia and Canada.

The sinking, from the official site

There is an excellent account of the sinking here whilst the official RMS Leinster website is at http://www.rmsleinster.com