Stamullen

GORMANSTON PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

A few weeks back, I commented in the Stamullen Notes about the new footpath and pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the Small-parks area of Gormanston College on the Stamullen Road and how it may be difficult for motorists to see pedestrians crossing here, particularly in the early mornings and later evening when the daylight hours are not with us. I note that last week two new pedestrian-striped poles and lights have now been installed on either side of the crossing. Well done to all concerned.

NEW ARRIVAL

Congratulations and best wishes to the parents, guardians and extended family of Lauren Elizabeth Brodigan who was recently baptised in the parish. Tommy Flemming Concert Balbriggan Parish have announced that Tommy Flemming will perform in concert at the Church of SS Peter & Paul at Dublin Street balbriggan on Wednesday evening November 15th beginning at 8pm. Tickets for this very special and awaited concert are priced at €20. For further details contact the Balbriggan parish Office at 01-8412116.

SAMHAIN

The commercialisation and `Americanism` that has become Halloween over the past few years on this side of the Atlantic is far removed from the true and ancient origins of this one-time Celtic festival known in old Ireland as Samhain. The word Samhain means `Summer`s-End` and was one of the four major Celtic festivals held throughout the year. It marked the gathering and storing of the summer harvest and fruits of autumn and the ending of the bright days and the emergence of the darkened winter.

The belief of these people was that their new year began now into November and that this new year and the Celtic day began with darkness and emerged into light, Winter into Spring and the second festival which they celebrated would then be that of Imbolc, February 1st; Imbolc literally meaning `In the belly` and is a reference to the Ewes coming into lamb. Samhain, like the other three festivals, was therefore a seasonal and pastoral festival and had nothing to do with the movements of any astronomical bodies in the sky and/or ceremonial or ritual activities.

Our ancestors believed that, at Samhain the ancestors from the `Otherworld` could march unbridled across the earth and take vengeance on those in this mortal world who had wronged them. The `Otherworld` was not just a place where the souls of the dead went, it was a place which apparently ran parallel to our own world and where individuals could freely move in and out of at specific times of the year and at specific events and happenings.