Norse notes in an Irish song

(📩 650 words, Travel musings, photography, a five minute read)

There’s something defining about the tall wooden figure facing off across the busy harbour-front road with its opponent: the icy modern loading hoist, made in steels of various hues.

We’re in Waterford, the vibrant coastal heart of south-eastern Ireland; home to the famous crystal glass factory. I can close my eyes and still hear the harmonic ringing of one of our old (inherited) Waterford wine glasses after it was flicked by a teen’s fingernail.

The city was founded by Vikings in 914 CE. I had to read that twice when I first saw it on a tourist board; founded, not invaded. 

There’s something of the ‘Viking spirit’ about the raw lumps of molten glass being twisted and ‘blown’ into shapes we eventually recognise as crystal glassware.

Waterford is a Viking city – and proud of its cultural – and no doubt genetic – past. The map shows why the Vikings chose it: adjacent to the ocean, sheltered by the Irish Sea rather than facing the fury of the Atlantic in the west… and a lot nearer to the power base of the English throne, which was vital for survival in the first few centuries of its existence. 

It’s wet, of course. Everyone was staring up at the blue sky in amazement: ‘In March, for heaven’s sake, they would say…”

This is Ireland at its winter best. Having said that, we did enjoy a lovely, blue-skied day when we arrived, just one, mind you… It gave us the light to take these photos of Waterford’s city centre while the shy sun shone…

There seems to be encouragement to explore artistic style within the city’s streets. The whole feel of the ocean-side city is creative.

Anyone who’s experienced Irish hospitality knows these people need no help in having a party. On our trip, we’ve felt how powerful is the Irish love of a song and the singing of it. This tradition, shared so easily, takes us immediately into another place, one where the rules are flow, rather than the stop-start of ordinary conversation.

Poetry and most of the graphic arts, here, share this. Live Music is present everywhere and in everything, here.

It’s there in the poetic variance of tone in the language; in the way people – and even strangers – greet each other; and most of all in the dedication to making music, in all its forms. 

This feeling was reinforced when we came across the music shop in the photo, above. Stocked with every conceivable folk instrument, the window simply invites you in…

Have a chat, y’dont need to buy anything…

But even more than the shop window, the entrance way of the same shop tells the whole story.

Festooned with small brochures, calling cards and messages, it’s a riot of contact, colour and identity. It’s the single most potent image I will take with me when we leave this fine place, tomorrow – as we continue our journey along the south coast to Kinsale.

More photos and travel notes from there… Thank you, Waterford. We’ll be back…

©Stephen Tanham 2024

All photos taken and processed on an iPhone 12 ProMax.

Stephen Tanham is a writer-photographer and mystical teacher. He is the founding Director of the Silent Eye, which offers an exciting journey of the soul guided by lessons, inner experience and outer companionship.

There are two blog streams:

http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk

(mystically-oriented writing)

and

http://www.suningemini.blog

(general interest, poetry, humour and travel)