Celtic Consciousness

Greetings!  A couple of years ago Shannan and I attended the Scottish Highland Games at Stone Mountain Park. This was a lovely nostalgic event as I used to go there as a boy. In middle school I competed in the caber toss a couple of years and did quite well. This year there were no competitions for us. We were shopping, eating and appreciating the proud display of Scottish heritage. 

Playing on a small stage in the back was a band we had not heard of and honestly, found their name hard to pronounce on first sight, Rathkeltair. This group mixed high energy rock with Celtic influence and a bag pipe to compliment the smoking guitar player. Shannan and I sat down and listened until the band completed their set, at which point I promptly bought a CD, Durty Wullie. I’ve listened to their music regularly since that time.

Last spring we were in North Carolina at a Highlands Festival. The band that was playing was great.  As we sat down to eat, I realized I recognized the music and began to sing along. “I know that band, I announced excitedly. We listed through the set and again, I promptly purchased a CD, Everybody in the Big White Van, a double album.

Early this month while in Ireland on numerous occasion we heard Celtic tunes that I had learned thanks to Rathkeltair. It was a fun connection. Better yet, I had Rathkeltair music on my mp3 player. Most of their material is great listening while running. The morning of our last day in Dublin, and my final morning run ended with Kennedy Street March, a tune that made me want to progressively run faster.  I did.  The band is really work a listen. Check them out at http://rathkeltair.com/home

Appreciate Music. Run.

Tom

Seeing Things for the First Time

Four minutes. At 5:45 am in Dublin, Ireland I went out of my morning run. We had to be on the tour bus at 8:00, thus I planned a short run to leave time for clean up, breakfast and to be out on schedule. The weather of the morning was the best of the three days we had been on the Emerald Isle. The sky was exquisitely clear. I was enjoying the run so much that I didn’t notice I had gone four minutes over my turn around time. 

What a happy mistake that turned out to be. I had just arrived at the bay, a glorious sight to behold. As the water came into my field of vision it was like a great discovery. I was alone in the dark and in unfamiliar territory when out of nowhere a great wonder appeared as if only for me. I wanted to keep pushing forward, however, we were on an organized bus tour with thirty other people. I had to turn back toward the hotel.

I picked up the pace back to the hotel and made it on the bus in plenty of time. The tour did not disappoint, we visited the ruins of the Rock of Cashel the Port of Cork, Blarney Castle and kissed the the famous stone. Our day ended in the lovely town of Killarney.

See things. Run.

Tom

Bridge Crossing Along the Liffey

Greetings!  It felt a bit silly zig zagging across Dublin’s Liffey River across bridges. However, it was fun way to make run in a big city. Most folks were sleeping leaving none the wiser to my antics. The majority of business had not opened for the day. Only a few taxis hawked along the lamppost lit streets. A handful of people presumably made their way to work, while sparse stragglers from Friday night’s reveling crept along the predawn morning.

After the manic jogging over the river I turned back toward the hotel. This took me down O’Connell Street, the main thoroughfare in the heart of the city. The abundance of pubs tucked in with retail shops and tourist destinations was to be expected in a visit to Ireland. What proved surprising was the three Burger King fast food restaurants coupled with two McDonald’s within a mile. Coffee shops abounded, much like the pubs, this was anticipated. I also noted unlike like the suburban area of Ballsbridge, fewer runners, walkers and bikers were out for daily exercise. I could make no more of that than my desire to crisscross the bridges.

The morning of wonder and intrigue continued as Shannan and I visited Bru na Boinne, better known as New Grange. The ancient site leaves a great deal to mystery, except that a unified human effort can be awe inspiring and enduring. From there we spent a lovely afternoon on the Hill of Tara where the panoramic views of Ireland are spectacular. It’s a must visit if you are in the Dublin area.

Make a Mystery. Run.

Tom