The Irish Times last Saturday caught my eye three times.
First with a 14 x7 inch colour picture of Clonmacnoise titled Rock of Ages at Clonmacnois taken from near the new restrooms with the sun shining from the south.Eileen Battersby writes about the monastery andrefers to Clonmacnoise Studies Volumes 1 and 2. Chase it on tour web. We are chasing the picture.
Then Michael Viney writes about Mushroom Stones which number about 60 for Ireland with a number in this area.Pipers Rock is well known but a number are to be seen in Clonburren at the top end of the back river.The wider flowing river after the Ice Age wore away rocks leaving a lean leg and a mushroom shaped head. Noel Keena tells us there are was a team of them near the Shannon below the Quarries at Clerhane. Theere is a new booklet out on Irelands Mushroom Stones bylouise.dunne@ucd.ie which costs ten Euros.
Lastly Irishman's Diary tells of a performance of new music for a Mass in Irish called Aifreann Feirste by Patrick Davey. CD available from pdavey@irish-music.net costs 10 Euro.
The opening hymn translates into ;
No fish in stream,
No bird on wing,
No shape on shore,
No star in sky,
No living thing
But is rich in Him
And Blessed in Him
And sings of him.