Archive for January, 2022


“So continuing with day five, we were on the road again to our next stop-over, but first three important sites to seek out. A town, an island and a mountain journey; a whole day of adventures, lunch and shopping lie ahead, stepping back in time to discover the present…”

 

Day Five: 16th September: Daniel O’Connell Church and Oratory, Ring of Kerry, Cahersiveen, County Kerry: Cahersiveen with a population of around 1200 people is one of the westernmost towns in Ireland and hence one of the westernmost towns in Europe. It has remained principally a market town down the centuries and never fully enjoyed the benefits of the tourist industry perhaps making it one of the more original towns on the Ring of Kerry. The name Caherciveen can actually be spelt in 3 different ways, Caherciveen, Cahersiveen and Cahirciveen. The town of Cahersiveen lies at the foot of Beentee Mountain, on the river Fertha and overlooks Valentia Harbour. A beautiful marina has been added to the town in recent years and if you are a boating or marine enthusiast then it’s well worth a visit. Another unique and indiidual town, full of colour and vibrancy, and we were learning this is a large part of the character of this part of Ireland. Full of ‘arty’ and delightful shopping experiences and of course we did linger awhile to fully experience it all…

Colourful vibrant Cahersiveen <click to enlarge>

An interesting church, beautiful inside, (Grail clues hidden within) and being delighfully open, and the only church, unique in Ireland to be named after a layman. The church is located in the parish of Cahersiveen on the spectacular Ring of Kerry, a trip in itself, for the whole area is stunning and full of historic places to visit, such as castles, standing stones, abbeys and bays. The church bears the name of Daniel O’Connel ‘The Liberator’ who was born in Cahersiveen 6th August 1775 and who worked in his political career in the early 19th century to bring about Catholic Emancipation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Kerry

The outside of the church showing the informative plaques and artwork <click to enlarge>

The church bearing his name was built between 1888–1902, and is the most dominant feature/landmark in the town.  It is constructed of Northern Irish granite  from Co. Down, and built in a combination of gothic revivalist and medieval style architecture. The laying of a marble slab which serves as the cornerstone took place in 1888. This marble block is very special as it was a gift from Pope Leo XIII sourced from the catacombs in Rome. Buried in the grounds of the church are the remains of Monsignor Hugh O’ Flaherty whose heroic life is captured on the famous Gregory Peck Film “The Scarlet and the Black”. Monsignor O’Flaherty (1898–1963) a Cahersiveen native, was a Vatican diplomat during the second world war. During his time in the vatican O’Flaherty organised the concealment and escape of more than 5,000 people including Jews and prisoners of war from the German occupying forces without the knowledge or approval of his superiors. There are some nice memorial plaques around the grounds of the church and a imposing and colourful artwork painted upon one of the nearby walls.

The story inside was something else entirely, stunningly magnificant, especially for a church <click to enlarge>

https://www.theringofkerry.com/daniel-o-connell

 

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • Earl Gospatrick Mac Maldred (Karl’s 26th X GGF) 1042-1082 = 40

“So across the water it was to Valentia Island”

 

 

St John the Baptist Church Kilmore, Valentia Island: Located on the Skellig Coast in the Southern Peninsulas of the Wild Atlantic Way adjacent to the Ring of Kerry.  Valentia Island is wild and remote and one of Ireland’s best kept secrets. It is everything one would wish for from an island. As one would think, lots of history to connect it to the sea, with even a knight or two within its history. Valentia Island is scattered with ancient cairns, dolmens, wedge tombs, standing stones, Ogham stones, a promontory fort, and the remains of churches and numerous beehive huts. Mug Ruith, or Mogh Roith, ‘slave of the wheel,’ a mythological, powerful, blind druid of Munster, is said to have lived on Valentia Island. Legend says he could grow to an enormous size, and that his breath caused storms and turned men to stone.

The Knights of Kerry: https://www.valentiaisland.ie/life-business/history-culture/knights-of-kerry/

 

Rugged and wild – Valentia Island <click to enlarge>

The name in Irish means Dairbhre, ‘oak isle’, and is one of Ireland’s most westerly points. It lies off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of  County Kerry and linked to the mainland by the Maurice O’Neill Memorial Bridge at Portmagee. Valentia Island’s permanent population is 665, as of the 2011CSO Census.  It is about 7 miles long by almost two miles wide, making it the third-biggest island off the Irish coast. The English name ‘Valentia’ or ‘Valencia’ Island does not come from the Spanish city of Valencia, it comes from the Irish name of Valentia Harbour, cuan Bhéil Inse, “harbour-mouth of the island”. It was anglicized as ‘Bealinche’ and ‘Ballentia’ before evolving into ‘Valentia’ but is It is possible the spelling was influenced by Spanish sailors; there is a grave marker to Spanish sailors lost at sea in the Catholic cemetery at Kylemore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentia_Island

There is not much info about the actual ruin of The Church of Saint John the Baptist, it was built of slate at Kilmore in 1815, and was designed by James Pain and despite Cannon John Warburton’s lengthy absences from Valentia during his time as rector, a new Church of Saint John the Baptist was built at Kilmore in 1815, almost a generation before Knightstown was laid out and developed by Alexander Nimmo on behalf of the Knights of Kerry. The church could seat a congregation of about 60 people. However, as the Church of Ireland population of Valentia grew with the growth of Knightstown, the expansion of the slate quarry and the arrival of the transatlantic cable, the church became too small for the needs of a growing parish.

 

Church of St John the Baptist – beautiful, wild & almost lost in time… <click to enlarge>

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • Earl William Neville, 4th Earl of Abergavenny (previously visited by us) (5th Great Uncle) 1792-1868

 

“We left Valentia Island and enjoyed another spectacular drive up into the mountains to our next destination, almost of another world”

 

Timeless and ‘out of time’ <click to enlarge>

The Glen Cemetry Old, Saint Finan’s Bay, County Kerry,: This little ruin and extensive graveyard, is well off the beaten track and very much ‘off road’ for we had to abandon the car for a little walk there, along an old track. The graveyard  did have a very magical and ‘other wordly’ feel about it, when there. Another capsule hidden in time…

 

The Old Glen Cemetery. Stunning, magical and hidden in time…. <click to enlarge>

 

It was very hard finding anything about the burial ground, it took a while, but i came up with a little something. The cemetery is located in the grounds of an old ruined church, which was probably dedicated to St. Finan (otherwise Fionán) with spectacular views of St. Finan’s Bay. The cemetery is now ‘closed’, except for occasional burials in a family plot, and has been replaced by the newer Glen Cemetery. Old Killmagh Church (in the Irish language: Cill Imleagh) is traditionally is associated with Saint Fionan, founder on the Monastery on Skellig Michael as well as Monasteries on Inishfallen Island and Aghadoe in Kilarney, Church Island in Waterville and the Derrynane Holy Well here in the Glen. This ancient Church is listed in The Papal Taxation List (1302 -1306) for the Diocese of Ardfert. It was noted in the list of parochial churches in 1622 and again as being in ruins in 1756. The ruins visible today are that of a 19th Century Church built against the northern wall of the original medieval church.

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • Earl Gospatrick Mac Maldred (26th GGF) 1042-1082

 

“I have decided to start a new page for the step of the way, as lots to share and comment on, as we visit on Day Six: 17th September: St Fachtna’s Catherdral Rosscarberry, and the Drombeg Stone Circle Co Cork. On Day Seven: 18th September: Saint Fin Barre’s Catherdral. Cork, and Christ Church: Rath-Healy, Fermoy, County Cork”

 

“For now its new digs and bed!”

 

‘The Keeper of Scrolls’ January 2022

<moon.willow@ntlworld.com>

Day Three 14th September 2021:

“Excitedly leaving beautiful Angelsey to catch the ferry to Dublin and onwards to County Kerry to stay for a few nights and then a warm welcome to Ireland!” <click to enlarge>

 

Day Four 15th September: The Gallaunmore Standing Stone: This was a bit of an unusual exprience to say the least, for the standing standing stone was on the side boundary of someones front garden! We had a job to find it from the road, and could not see any signs for it, but in the end decided to follow the ‘sanav’ and drive up what seemed like a private track to private dwellings. We were greeted by excitedly barking dogs but still could see no standing stone. Upon reversing the car and heading back, we saw it across an imaculately mowed lawn, past a big private window. It was tucked between a made-gap in a private boundry hedge. Gallaunmore is a standing stone and National Monument located in County Kerry. Gallaunmore is located 1.9 miles east of Dingle. The stone stands 4.2 m (14 ft) tall and is 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) wide. The northwest and southeast sides taper towards the tip. With the dogs barking and lack of general privacy for visiting, we decided to give it a miss.. It all happened so quickly and strangely that i never even had time to get my camera out….

Grail Bloodline Connection:

  • King Fedlimid Rechtmar (61st GGF)  The Neville Line 95 – 119

 

St James Church, Dingle, County Kerry: It was lovely to arrive in Dingle; a bright and energetic town full of charm and a sense and pride of it’s own locality. Situated on the north east side of Dingle’s main street within the medieval walled town is the site of the 13th century parish church which was appropriated to the Augustinian priory of St Mary’s Killagh, near Milltown. This larger medieval parish church was believed to have been built by Spaniards. Some of the original masonry, including a number of chamfered quoins, was used to build the current structure. Sadly though St James Church was closed, but we had a good walk around its old weathered graveyard and tried to take a couple of photos through the churches windows.There are some very interesting gravestones in the graveyard there.

 

St James Church Dingle – sadly closed <click to enlarge>

Although it was closed it is used by the community for singing and art events and is even renowned world wide for being the venue for ‘Other Voices’. It is said to be a very spiritual place, attracting pilgrims who walk the ‘Dingle Way’, as well as its pilgrimage links to Santiago de Compostella. Pilgrims from Spain in Medieval times were thought to have been instrumental in building the church and, in the following years, many pilgrims set out from Dingle on spiritual journeys to Santiago de Compostella. St. James was rebuilt in 1808 and, like many old buildings, is in need of repair and restoration; an ongoing project for the church.

An interesting graveyard & trying to sneak some interior photos too! <click to enlarge>

St James’ Church was where The Treaty of Dingle was signed on 28 April 1529, by the Earl of Desmond, James Fitzgerald and the envoy of the holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, King of Spain. This treaty incorporated most of southwest Ireland into the Habsburg Monarchy, and gave Irish people citizenship rights in Habsburg Spain, Austria and the Netherlands.

“There is a good historical overview of the church here”

https://www.stjamesdingle.com/history-st-james-church-dingle

https://www.stjamesdingle.com/full-history-st-james-church-dingle

 

Dingle itself is lively and vibrant, and we did stay awhile for one can have a a brilliant ‘shopping experience’ there! The name in Irish is An Daingean or Daingean Uí Chúis, meaning ‘fort of Ó Cúis’, it is a town in County Kerry and the only town on the Dingle Peninsula. It sits on the beautiful Atlantic coast about 30 miles southwest of Tralee and 40 miles northwest of Killarney. A large number of  Ogham stones were set up in an enclosure in the 4th and 5th centuries AD at Ballintaggart. Dingle became a busy and important trading port with strong links to Eurpope and especially to Spain and was also a major embarkation port for pilgrims to travel to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela.

 

Lively and vibrant Dingle where one can have that well-needed ‘shopping experience’! <click to view>

Grail Bloodline Connection:

  • Earl William Neville. 4th Earl of Abergavenny (Karl’s 5th Great Uncle) 1792 – 1868

“What a stunning drive to Dunmore Head along the spectacular Atlantic Coast!”

<click to enlarge>

 

Dunmore Head: Lure County Kerry:  Irish: An Dún Mór is a promontory in the westernmost part of the Dingle Penisula,  located in the barony of Corca Dhuibhne in southwest County Kerry. The headland, together with parts of Mount Eagle’s northern slopes is formed from steeply dipping beds of the cross-bedded sandstones of the Eask Sandstone Formation, dating from the Devoian period and traditionally referred to as the Old Red Sandstone. Dunmore Head is the westermost point of mainland Ireland and one of the westermost points of Europe. It also bears a very important physical and metaphysical connection to a location we visited on the previous Irish Quest, an important Craft connection and the most relevant connection on this quest.

 

“The tides and the winds are so strong here at Dunmore Head, as are the energies of the place, not only in the sense of feeling the beauty and power of Dunmore Head but because of the very strong magnetics here, which cause a distortion of time and space connecting one to that which was (almost) lost under the seas….”

<click to enlarge>

Grail Bloodline Connection:

  • Richard Chas Neville (Karl’s Great Grandfather) 1899 – 1985

 

“Then back to our digs in Knocknagashel for one last time and day five (16th September) we were on the road again towards three beautiful sights in County Kerry ”

 

‘The Keeper of Scrolls’  January 2022

<moon.willow@ntlworld.com>

England into Wales…..

And so we are on day one of another epic Quest into Eire. We will be travelling through England, into Wales across the seas from Hollyhead through to Dublin, then travelling in a mostly south westerly direction through Eire via some most amazing rugged scenery, of both coast and mountains. An epic journey through time and history on this quest in the blazing trail of the enigmatic Grail. We will be connecting to St Michael at many points, as we have always done through times mysterious passage. We will be travelling to the heart of many mysteries both physical and metaphysical in our Grail quest (also both physical and metaphyical) to unravel the mystery and beauty of the grail….

 

 

Day One: 12th September 2021: St Michael’s Church, Bray, Berkshire: Bray, is a large suburban village and civil parish in the county of Berkshire, sitting on the banks of the River Thames. The civil parish is far larger than the village itself and includes a number of other villages and hamlets, it had a population of 8,425 at the 2001 census. Bray has some exclusive housing, known, in the press as ‘Millionaires’ Row’, and Monkey Island in the Thames is associated with the 3rd Duke of Marborough and houses two structures that he built and furnished with paintings of monkeys, and the architecturally grade 1 listed building, Monkey Island Hotel. The Jesus Hospital is a red-brick group of almshouses founded in 1609 by William Goddard to house thirty-four of the aged poor of Bray and six of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, to which he belonged.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bray,_Berkshire

St Michaels, Bray is a grade 2 listed building and a Keystone church, dating from 1293, supposedly to replace a Saxon Church at  Water Oakley. It was partly rebuilt ca.1500 and extensively restored in 1857–82 by Thomas Henry Wyatt. It has a number of sculptures which may have come from the earlier church, including a damaged Sheela na Gig. The church contains several brasses from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, notably that of 1378 to Sir John Foxley, the Constable of Southampton Castle. Sadly we could noy get in but did manage to take some very presentable shots through the glass windows of the church porch.

St Michael’s Church, Bray – shots taken from church porch <click to view>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Michael%27s_Church,_Bray

It is said that the Grail could have arrived in this area around 450 AD, in the era known as the ‘Saxon’ period when there was much migration going on from places such as Germany and Norway into the old kingdom of England. People were transient then, and with them, their possesions too. Like most churches, this current church is a replacement for a much older church. Many myths and legends surround the building of the older church. St Michaels is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1066, when at that time it was located at the site of an old Roman cemetry. If the Grail did journey here, as suggested,  to St Michaels, it would probably have been a very challenging journey.

You can read more about the Keystone churches and the journey of the Grail in the forthcoming book ‘When thw Trumpet Sounds’ by Mr Karl Neville on Amazon:

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • A Keystone Church
  • St Michael – past, present and future.

St Michael’s Church, Cefnllys, Llandrindod: Cefnllys is an abandoned ghost village, formerly a medieval castle town and boriugh near Llandrindod Wells in Wales. The settlement was founded during the 13th century by the Mortimer family in order to strengthen their hold on land in the vicinity of the Cefnllys Castle, with which the town was closely associated. The town was probably intended to become the primary settlement of the lordship and cantref of Maelienydd, but was unsuccessful and declined during the 14th century as a result of bubonic plague outbreaks, economic isolation and military insecurity. Despite this, Cefnllys retained its borough status until the 19th century. Nothing is left of this once thriving town and it is hard to imagine just how commercial a town it once was and you can read much more about it here and watch our own vide about it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cefnllys

It is said that the settlement was concentrated around St Michael’s church, now a very isolated church nestling in the mountains, almost hidden from view from the outside world and indeed a merry game to actually locate it at all! It is found on low land next to the river, where there would have been easy access to the mill and a nearby spring. A series of earthworks surrounding the church represent raised causeways above boggy land, sunken roads in the direction of the toll bridge and probable medieval house platforms, as well as ridge and furrow patterns from open-field system agriculture which we managed to take photos of. Archaeological finds surrounding the church have been mostly from the Tudor period or later, however. the church’s structure is of 13th century origin, although the date of its founding is unknown and it was heavily restored in 1895.

Hints of the once thriving settlement and town can still be seen, as can the very intriging tree ‘grove’ <click to view>

The church of St. Michael was erected in the 13th century, but most likely it could have been built on the site of an earlier building from the 10th or 11th century. The earliest written references to the building date from 1291. During this period under the Norman rule, a settlement developed near a nearby castle, which became a royal borough with market charter. At the end of the Middle Ages, the castle fell into disrepair, and the village decreased to a small hamlet, with the temple remained, as a symbol of better times. In the 16th century, construction works were carried out at the church, probably from this period the southern porch comes from.

St Michael’s Church, Cefnllys <click to view>

A major renovation was carried out at the end of the 19th century. It included a partial reconstruction of the walls, replacement of windows and a timber ceiling. The church was built on the bend of the River Ithon, which encircled it from the north and west, and further south. On the eastern side, the church was dominated by an oblong hill occupied by Cefnllys Castle, which secured the only land route into the meander of the river.  The church was erected as an orientated building on an elongated rectangular plan, consisting only of the nave, without the externally separated chancel. On the west side, there is a low tower, and right next to it, at the southern wall of the nave, a 16th-century porch. The façades were most likely pierced by narrow lancet windows, perhaps doubled in some places.  Inside, the priestly part was separated from the western part intended for the congregation by inserting a wooden rood screen partition. Sadly we could not gain access to see any of these features or any of the ‘treasures’ contained within such as the oldest element of the temple’s furnishings, the octagonal Norman baptismal font. The late-medieval painted rood screen has also been preserved in the church, divided into 6 sections on both sides of the door. The roof truss and some of the windows (especially on the south side) are the result of early modern renovation. It is a Keystone church with connections to the Grail and of course St Michael, with suggestions in history that the Grail may have spent some time here around 1430 AD. See more in our video, where you can see the contours on the land from past settlements there and also a very intriging grove of trees….

St Michael’s Church, Cefnllys

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • A Keystone Church
  • St Michael – past, present and future.

So at this point it was time to make our way to our digs for the next two nights – the appropriately named ‘Cosy Cottage, in Felinhell, in Wales. We were high up in the mountains, and the clouds were low over the mountain tops and in the shadowy dusk it created a very magical and misty effect. One could entirely see why Wales is known as the land of myth and legends. Finding our digs and letting ouselves in, in the pitch black is a story for another day…..

Wales, stunning, beautiful, magical and timeless…

Day Two 13th September 2021: Dolfellau Stone Circle Dolfellau: (Dolgelly or Dolgelley) is a town and community in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion. We had not planned to have wander or indeed some lunch here, but Dolgellau was such a pretty and interesting town, steeped in history that it would have been a great shame not to have stopped. The town was formerly the county town of Merionethshire (now Gwynedd). Its main bridge over the Afon Wnion dates back to 1638 and the remains of historic Cymer Abbey, founded in 1198, can be seen in the nearby village of Llanelltyd. The stone circle on the Marian (the local recreation field) is not ancient, but left over after the 1949 Eisteddfod. Although those whom built it must have known a thing or two for it is situated on old energies. The many buildings, shops and walks here are full of history and ancient character; one can see why it is so popular and it is an excellent base from which to explore Snowdonia. The name of the town is of uncertain origin, although dôl is Welsh for “meadow” or “dale”, and (y) gelli (soft mutation of celli) means “grove” or “spinney”. This would seem to be the most likely derivation, giving the translation “Grove Meadow”. The Encyclopaedia Britanica in 1911 suggested the name means ‘Dale of Hazels’.

Pretty Dolfellau – well worth a stroll around with lots ot see and nice places to eat <click to enlarge>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgellau

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows: Not part of our quest as such, but we were drawn there for a reason. There were some interesting artifacts inside one piece was very old and of interest, so including some of the photos i took and an online link for reference…

A bonus church full of surprises….

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Seven_Sorrows_Church,_Dolgellau

 

A lovely relaxing lunch – just what we needed! <click to enlarge>

So after a delicious lunch we made our way to the Dolfellau Stone Circle, which was the main purpose of our visit here. Although this is a modern stone circle built in 1948, and were erected when the National Eisteddfod came to town. It is important to note that the circle was built on a much more ancient site of pyramid energy. There are indeed mixed and strange reviews on the internet for this peaceful little circle, which instinct tells me does indeed get used in the modern day and age. What the modern reviewers dont know is that like all Craft sites we visit, it is what is under the current structure, of whatever age that is really important; usially pyramid sites of energy and power…. Obvioulsly the folks whom set it up knew just what they were doing and why – another case of something important hiding in plain site for all to see, yet no-one does.. The circle does follow the ancient designs of stone circles and could best be describes as a marking point in time…..

If one looks closely one can see the lines of energy formed from the magnetics of the site <click to enlarge>

 

On the road again and Barmouth awaits…..

St Mary’s Church Llanaber: Barmouth: The drive to Barmouth on the west coast of Wales, (where the mountains meet the sea) was extremely picturesque, along some beautiful rugged coastline and Barmouth itself, although we only drove though it looked like a lively and arty place for a visit one day. Barmouth is a seaside town in the county of Gwynedd, lying on the estuary of the Afon Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. The Welsh form of the name is derived from aber (estuary) and the river’s name, “Mawddach” The English form of the name is a corruption of the earlier Welsh form Abermawdd. The community includes the tiny villages of Llanaber, Cutiau, and Caerdeon and it was Llanaber were were making our way to…

A scenic drive to Barmouth…

The church was set upon a solitary possition upon the cliffs overlooking the sea and the local railway line. The graveyard was on a slope with some interesting gravestones there, and some hidden Templar symbolism too, and a beautiful lingering perfume that seemed to come from nowhere which permeated the very air… Sadly though the church was shut, but it would have been lovely to go inside. According to one of the church websites, Llanaber is in many ways the original settlement for Barmouth and as such the church served the once thriving local ship building community. Sadly though, the coming of the railway in 1866 finished the shipbuilding industry.

St Mary’s on the cliff top over looking the sea, hiding a few secrets… <click to enlarg>

St Mary and Bodfan is a Grade I listed building, which despite substantial restoration work in 1860, is a well-preserved 13th-century building with lancet windows and arch-braced collar beams (16th-century) to the chancel roof. Ancient maps refer to the church as St Bodfan’s and an association with the saint is preserved in the name of the nearby Bodfan Farm, but the church is more popularly known as St Marys. The present church dates from the early thirteenth century. One of its great benefactors was Hywel ap Meredydd ap Cynan, the Lord of Ardudwy, Hywel was a great grandson of Owain Gwynedd and a near relative of Llewelyn the Great. In the north west corner of the church are to be found two ancient stones. One is the Calixtus Stone, placed in the Church in the 19th century and having been previously used as a footbridge on a neighbouring farm. The inscription has been read as: CAELIXTUS MONEDO REGI, and is thought to mean Calixtus King of Mona. Such a shame we could not gain access to see these ancient treasures…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_and_St_Bodfan_Church,_Llanaber

Grail Bloodline Connections:

  • Sir Thomas Neville (4th GGF) 1810 – 1893

In the morning we were catching the ferry from Holyhead to arrive in Dublin early evening.

More Irish adventures were waiting and i was so happy i wanted to dance with joy….

 

‘The Keeper of Scrolls’  January 2022

<moon.willow@ntlworld.com>

%d