This is the fourth in a series of blogs about common Irish myths. One that is prevalent to this day - and eagerly spread by the Irish themselves on Saint Patrick's Day - is that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. It's an intriguing notion, but it's not true.
What is true is that Ireland doesn't have a snake on it.
St. Patrick didn't drive all the snakes into the sea during a 40-day fast as reported, because there were none to drive out. In ancient times (prior to 10,000 years ago) Ireland was too cold for snakes to survive there. In the past 10,000 years, the fact that Ireland is surrounded completely by water keeps the snakes from migrating to the Emerald Isle from neighboring countries. And the Irish government has very strict regulations about importing snakes - they are simply not allowed, as pets or otherwise. If any escaped and multiplied, the ecosystem could not support it and could be dramatically effected, according to scientists.
Ireland is one of only a few places on earth in which snakes do not exist. Other places are: New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica.
When I visited Ireland this year, I found it fascinating that there were no bugs. I am sure there are some somewhere - but in the trips I've made there, I have only seen the smallest of spiders and no beetles, cockroaches, or other insects that are common in the southern United States (and elsewhere.) Again, it may remain too cold for most insects to flourish, and being an island, it is unlikely for insects from neighboring areas to colonize there, unless they are unwittingly brought in with travelers.
The nearest thing to a snake that Ireland has is a worm - called the "slow worm", it is a blind and legless lizard. It is only found in the Burren section of the island (in County Clare), and was only discovered in the 1960's. They can grow to 50cm (19 inches) long and they can live to be 30 years old in the wild or up to 54 years old in captivity. They feed on worms, slugs and insects. It might look like a snake in the picture, but it doesn't have scales like a snake, and it blinks like a reptile. They can also have visible ears.
The slow worm is protected in the United Kingdom, which includes Northern Ireland.
Two of my series, Black Swamp Mysteries and Ryan O'Clery Mysteries, have Irish men as main characters - Dylan Maguire and Ryan O'Clery. In The Tempest Murders, Ryan O'Clery has questions about his Catholic faith as he is plagued by nightmares that turn out to be the memories of a distant uncle. He is also divorced after having found his wife in bed with another man.
It has been almost 20 years since the Irish voters voted to allow divorce in Ireland, though it was a narrow vote - 51% to 49%. Although 1 in 10 marriages now ends in divorce, Ireland has the lowest divorce rate in Europe and the third lowest in the world (after Mexico and Chile).
In the Black Swamp Mysteries series, we meet Dylan's childhood friend, Thomas, when he journeys to Ireland (in Dylan's Song) and we discover that Thomas is now the Catholic priest in the village where they grew up together. In the next book in the series, Vicki and Dylan travel to Ireland to be married by Father Thomas in a traditional Irish Catholic wedding.
To purchase any of my books, visit www.pmterrell.com and click on "Order" to order direct from the website or find links to amazon. All my books are also available as eBooks worldwide or in paperback at all fine book stores. If you don't see them on the shelves, please ask for them!
I've finished my summer book tour, and I'm happy to announce that Jeanne R. of New Hampshire won the beautiful Celtic butterfly suncatcher. The suncatcher is almost identical to the one mentioned in the book in a pivotal scene between Charleigh and Sean. If you missed any of my online appearances, here's a recap:
I recently returned from another trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland. In speaking with fellow Americans, I've been surprised to learn how others envision Ireland, particularly if they have never traveled to Europe - or even outside the United States. So I am beginning this series to dispel a few myths.
Myth # 1 : All Irish Live in Little White Cottages
Followed quickly by:
Myth #2 : All Irish Live in Centuries-Old Stone Castles
It is true that little white cottages dot the Irish countryside, which is part of its age-old charm. And it is also true that hundreds of castles or castle ruins can be found all over the Emerald Isle. But the typical Irish resident doesn't live in a cottage or castle with no running water, no electricity and no access to the outside world any more than the typical American doesn't live in a log cabin without modern conveniences.
Irish homes can have beautifully modern kitchens with all the latest, modern appliances. Even older homes frequently have remodeled kitchens with islands and an open floor plan. Bathrooms can actually be more modernized than the typical American home, with water-saving devices that still pamper - like separate showers and jet tubs. Irish rooms are also becoming larger again; at one time rooms were very large and then as more rooms became the norm (such as a receiving room, or formal living room as well as a den or family room) rooms tended to get smaller. In the past two decades, they've become larger again while not sacrificing the number of rooms. It isn't uncommon to find homes upwards of 2,500 square feet or even double that.
WiFi is common all over the island, and it's more of an anomaly finding someone without WiFi than someone with it. They have satellite television series as well as cable. Cell phones are common. And they have more wind energy and solar panels than anywhere I have traveled in the USA.
The cost of housing is low compared to the United States unless you are living in one of the major cities such as Dublin or Galway, or you are conveniently located near mass transit, which is commonly used today by commuters.
To see the homes that Ireland has to offer, visit: www.property.ie. You'll find homes to rent or for sale there.
p.m.terrell has written more than seven suspense novels that take place in Ireland. Visit www.pmterrell.com to see a complete list!
Imagine a doctor opening a clinic and having no patients.
Imagine an attorney passing the bar but his grand office has no clients.
Imagine a builder developing an idyllic neighborhood but it remains a ghost town.
Imagine a grocer stocking all the shelves but no one ventures inside.
This is what a writer's life can be like. In the wake of a down-turned economy, I saw scores of people putting pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard) believing all they had to do was put their thoughts into words and they would be firmly established with a lucrative career as an author.
But placing words on paper does not create a professional career any more than stocking a medicine chest makes one a doctor.
The truth is, no one needs fiction to live. Unlike medical treatment, a roof over our heads or food in our bellies, fiction does not sustain life. In a weakened economy as disposable income becomes more rare, often we must wisely select where our money goes, and reading for pleasure can be easily discarded.
When my computer books were released, they flew off the shelves; the personal computer industry was in its infancy, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs hadn't yet made their millions (or billions) and people needed to learn computers to remain viable in the workforce.
So how does an author of fiction sustain an audience?
First and foremost, by writing something so compelling that readers will spread the word. When you hear someone say, "You have to read this!" there's a good chance that book will sell some copies.
Second, by giving readers what they want. Reading is highly subjective; some people relax with a western, others with true adventure, still others with romance or suspense or a sci-fi trip to an uncharted galaxy. Write something that no one cares about and the book will flounder.
Third, by making it easy for readers to find them. This is where the largest publishers excel because they can afford the sales forces needed for maximum exposure. Even if a publisher does not spend a great deal of money on media advertising, they still hold all the clout in placing their titles where readers can spot them.
Fourth, an author is only as relevant as their latest title. I can't think of an author since Harper Lee who has been able to earn a sustained income from one book title. Today, the market is all about producing; some authors have even begun writing novellas in lieu of full-length novels so they can get as many as a dozen titles a year in front of their audience.
Fifth, by constantly perfecting their craft. Each book must be better than the last one or that climb to the summit will result in a few brief moments at the peak before plummeting back to base camp. I've met many New York Times bestselling authors who don't have two pennies to rub together today because their moment in the spotlight was all too fleeting.
Sixth, keep your eyes on the market. A downside to the largest publishers is their focus on constantly increasing book sales; one dip can mean a cancelled contract. Small and mid-size publishers have far less overhead than the big guys, but they still need books that sell to keep them in business. This means constantly viewing the market and assessing what will sell and what won't and making adjustments where necessary.
Seventh, understand each author is a brand. When Fifty Shades was released, I saw countless authors leave a set of genre fans behind in the pursuit of becoming the next millionaire author in another genre. Even more interesting were those authors who left the mainstream in order to write for a small niche market, believing that would be their claim to fame.
For every author who earns a living writing, there are thousands who can't sell books to anyone outside their immediate circle.
So considering the odds, why write?
First, don't write for the income. If it comes, it's icing on the cake but don't expect it.
Second, write because you love the process. Write because that story inside you absolutely has to come out, even if no one else ever reads it.
Third, write even if no one notices. If you are writing for the constant accolades, you'll be disappointed. If the attention comes, that should be an unexpected bonus.
Fourth, understand your words may never die. In this age of technology, it is possible for books to remain in print long after the author has died, even if they are not profitable. I've seen many authors dropped by traditional publishers who have re-released their titles as self-published eBooks. It is possible that long after the author is gone, the book could find an audience. One need only look at the authors we revere today who were unappreciated in their own time.
The RMS Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the
second the three Olympic class ocean liners built by the White Star Line.
The Titanic Museum in Belfast was built in the shape of a white star.
The Titanic Museum covers much more than the building of the Titanic;
it begins with the history of Belfast. Belfast linen, for example, has been
sought after the world over, and was just one of the exports that needed ships departing
for Europe and America. As industry expanded in Belfast, so did the population,
bringing scores of people who worked not only in the textile industry but in
metals, iron works, furniture and buildings. All of these industries played an
integral part in the building and outfitting of the Titanic.
Workers on the Titanic were often divided into very small groups
overseen by a foreman. Because of animosity between the Catholics (Unionists)
and Protestants (Loyalists), there was a time in which workers entered the
shipyard through the entrance bearing the name of their faith. They were kept
separated while they worked.
The Museum is built in what is known today as the Titanic Quarter, and
it is the best known attraction in Belfast. http://www.titanicbelfast.com/The-Experience.aspx
It is built at the original site, and from the windows shown below, the visitor
can view the location where the Titanic was built:
There are so many things to do and see at the Titanic Museum that the
visitor should plan on at least one full day there. You can tour the
multi-level museum, take part in a Titanic walking tour, take one of the Boat
Tours, take the Wee Tram around the shipyard, and tour the Nomadic, one of the
three Olympic class ocean liners and the last remaining White Star Line ship in
the world.
Hours of operation: 9 am to 7 pm during the summer tourist season
(June, July, August). Purchase the tickets online at www.titanicbelfast.com to save 5% and
avoid the queues.
The shipyard is still in operation today. In addition to shipbuilding, repairs are made here on oil rigs. Belfast is very close to some of the richest off-shore oil operations in the world.
I
grew up in America during the times of The Troubles in Belfast and Northern
Ireland. Though the issues are complex, a simple explanation is the conflict
between the Protestants or Loyalists (those who tend to be loyal to the British
throne and who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom) and
the Catholics or Unionists (those who want a united Ireland and a separation
from the United Kingdom).
So
when I traveled to Belfast recently, I was more than a bit apprehensive about
going there. I worried about venturing into the wrong neighborhood, saying the
wrong thing, or wearing the wrong colors.
Yes,
you read that correctly. You can spot at a glance whether you’re in the
Protestant section or the Catholic section by the colors displayed. The British
Jack in its red, white and blue can be seen flying proudly over the Protestant
areas, along with pictures of the Queen of England and other monarchy. Cross
into the Catholic section and you could be verbally or physically assaulted if
you flew the Union Jack. There you’ll see the Irish colors of green, white and
orange flying proudly.
The
most curious thing that happened to me while visiting Northern Ireland was a
trip to the post office to purchase stamps for a friend in the States who
wanted them for his collection. On the first day I went in, I asked the lady
behind the counter for some postage stamps. She stared at me as if I had
arrived from Mars. I asked her again, more slowly in case my accent made me
difficult to understand. She said they didn’t have any and she turned and
walked away.
When
I told my sister of the problem, we returned together. This time, my sister
asked her for postage stamps. Again, she said they didn’t have any. We must
have had an expression like Elaine on an episode of Seinfeld because a
gentleman came from a back office and asked us what we wanted. When we told him
we were simply looking for postage stamps for a collector friend back home, he
took us to another area where he sold us the stamps.
It
turns out that every stamp in the United Kingdom is exactly the same except for
the color: they all display the Queen of England. And it also turns out that
Unionists or Catholics would never, ever collect anything with the Queen’s
likeness on it. I had mistakenly stepped over the line when I asked to buy
postage stamps but didn’t have a letter to mail.
In
1997, then-President Bill Clinton forged an agreement between the Unionists and
the Loyalists to end thirty years of violence. Though the bombings stopped, the
animosity between the two groups did not end overnight. In 2015, the vast
majority of school-age children are raised completely separated by their
religion—Catholic or Protestant—and integrated neighborhoods are nearly
non-existent. It has only been recently that adults have begun working together
in business, side by side.
The
neighborhoods are separated by a wall. On one side there is a wrought iron gate
behind which the Protestants live. On the other side is a graffiti-covered
concrete wall behind which the Catholics live. The graffiti has risen to an art
level, and even the most beautiful or poignant among them can be there today
and gone tomorrow as they are continually covered over by newer images.
In
this film clip of the Peace Wall (which is the name given to it after the peace
agreement was signed) I was riding in a tour bus, which is the best method for
seeing the city without the risk of venturing into the wrong neighborhood.
When
I arrived in Belfast on the Ulster Bus, we stopped where every bus stops that
ventures into Belfast: at the Europa Hotel. Little did I know at the time that
the Europa Hotel held the distinction of being the most bombed building in the
world until the Baghdad Hotel took that title after the start of the Iraq War.
I
asked a Catholic lady in a village outside of Belfast how The Troubles had
affected her family and friends, because it occurred to me that when I arrived
at the Europa, I was amidst a number of people (predominantly women on my bus)
who had come to the city to work or to shop. They were civilians. A bomb going
off in the bus terminal would have killed or maimed primarily civilians of both
faiths.
The
lady I questioned told me that no one ventured into Belfast during that time;
it had become too dangerous. The Troubles, she went on to say, hadn’t done
anyone any favors and the violence had only made everything worse. If they
couldn’t find what they were looking for outside of Belfast, they simply went
without.
Belfast
is growing today as a result of 17+ years without the bombings. It is a
beautiful city about the size of Richmond, Virginia. One of the more impressive
sights is the Titanic Museum, which I’ll cover in detail next week.
If
you plan to visit Belfast, I suggest the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus.
The tickets are good for 48 hours after you first use them, and you have the
ability to hop off at any of the stops and hop back on when the next bus
arrives, which is anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour later. In addition to the
Peace Wall, it tours the Shankill Memorial Garden, Crumlin Road and Donegal
Street, Falls Road, Queens University, cathedrals and the Titanic.
Colors to avoid wearing in Belfast: red, white and blue; green, white and orange. They represent the flags of Britain and of the Republic of Ireland.
Symbols to avoid wearing: the crown, the poppy flower, an orange ribbon or orange sash, a bowler hat, the star of David, and the red clenched fist are all symbols of the Loyalists. IRA slogans (representing the Irish Republican Army), the Crest of the O'Neills, the Celtic emblem, the Crest of the United Irishmen, the Easter Lily (symbolizing the Easter Rising of 1916 which led to Irish Independence), and the green ribbon all symbolize the Unionists.
Subjects to avoid while in Belfast: religion and politics.
Next
week: The Titanic, one of Belfast's newest attractions.
