Foreword: It’s been just over 100 years since the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6th, 1921, and 105 years since William Butler Yeats declared that “a terrible beauty is born.” There have been many “What Ifs” and “If Onlys” that have shaped the course of Irish History and had profound impacts on the history of Ireland, America, and the World through the deaths of many Irish and the dispersion of the Irish Diaspora around the globe, especially to America.
The Brannan kids could hardly sleep. The excitement of their upcoming adventure in Ireland was too much to allow for quiet rest. They still could not believe they were taking a trip to Ireland for Christmas. Against great odds, they had won the lottery drawing and would be allowed in the Newgrange tomb when the sun rose on the morning of the Winter solstice, December the 21st. They looked forward to spending Christmas in “the old country” and roaming the streets and lanes of Killorglin, Cobh, and Killarney.
Noelle Marie was the oldest, named in honor of Christmas and Mary. Conall Arthur was the second and oldest boy, named for an Irish Saint and King. Ronan Michael rounded out the trio, named in honor of the archangel and for the joy of his playful and adventurous spirit.
As they made their way out of Dublin Airport, they headed to the Christmas market on St. Stephen’s Green to grab a bite to eat before bedding down for the evening at their bed and breakfast on Grafton Street. While eating, the waitress remarked that miracles happen in Ireland at Christmas and to be sure to say their prayers before bedtime. The children promised and prayed the rosary before going to sleep and asked the Holy Family to bless their trip to Newgrange the following morning.
Departing very early in the morning for the drive from Dublin to Newgrange, the three children peacefully dozed as the driver sped along the highway for the sunrise event.
Arriving while it was still dark, the kids were taken into the passage tomb and moved to the back of the chamber to wait for the ending of the longest night of the year. As the sun rose and the light moved to the back of the chamber, illuminating the interior, the children basked in the 17 minutes of glorious sunshine and remembered the triumph of our Lord over death and darkness. As the illumination ended, the children drew a deep breath and headed toward the passage opening.
As they walked outside, Noelle remarked that the area around the tomb was empty of all the other annual visitors and there were no cars to be seen. As they stood sharing their reflections of the solstice and discussing what had happened, an elderly and wise gentlemen who appeared as an ancient saint or high-king of old, approached and gave a greeting.
Conall asked his name and he replied, Columcille. Indeed, he looked princely and surely was the dove of the church.
Ronan asked why he was carrying two clods of soil strapped to his shoulders. Columba replied “These are the clods of Scottish soil I wore on my previous return to Ireland. I have met my penance, but carry them to always remember.”
"Where are all the cars and what year is this,” asked Ronan.
“Today is December the 19th, 1796 and I came here to give you three a very special mission,” remarked St. Columcille.
Columcille continued “You are here to preserve a united Ireland and win her freedom from England, but you all must hurry. Each of you has a very special and unique task.”
“Ronan, in your heart, you’ve felt the call of the sea many times because you are a selkie. Your parents found you on the beaches of Folly Beach, in South Carolina. Here is your sealskin. Swim out from Cork Harbor and meet the great French fleet in the Atlantic under the command of the French Admiral Hoche and the Irish Patriot Wolfe Tone and guide them safely through the storm. Take this magic lantern which will serve as a beacon for all the ships to make it together and safely back to Cork Harbor instead of Bantry Bay.”
With that, Ronan was whisked away and found himself standing next to the great church in Cobh. He put on his sealskin and leaped into the water headed out into the Atlantic Ocean.
To Conall, he answered “you are named for Saint Conall Cearnach of the Red Branch Knights. Here is the sword of Conall’s foster brother Cuchulainn. Take it and swiftly ride to the Wicklow Mountains, gathering the people as you go. Tell them that Wolfe Tone is landing with a great army and to make ready to fight. Tell them that now is the time for unity and not petty bickering.”
So Conall took the sword and rode away doing as Columcille had told him.
Lastly, Columcille turned to Noelle Marie and said, “my child, you have the most important task of all.”
He continued, “Your name invokes the joy, hope, beauty, and miracle that is Christmas. Gather the faithful at the Cross of the Scriptures at the old monastery of Clonmacnoise.
“When you gather them for Christmas Eve Mass on the 24th, Saint Patrick will appear with our Lady and lead the people in the most holy mass of the year, the Christmas Eve mass, and will pray as Wolfe Tone leads the Army in to battle.”
Noelle gladly accepted her task, closed her eyes in prayer, and was whisked away and found herself standing next to the monastery in County Offaly. She immediately began to tell her tale and gather the people for the Christmas Eve Mass.
As Ronan swam mightily in the Atlantic Ocean, he found the great fleet and climbed on to the Felicite, told Admiral Hoche and Wolfe Tone of his message from Columcille and the instructions to march the army to the Wicklow Mountains, turned on his powerful lantern, then leapt back into ocean to guide the fleet into Cork Harbor. Ronan had arrived just in time before terrible weather and inexperienced sailing allowed the fleet to separate and flounder in the storm.
As Conall rode towards the Wicklow Mountains and shared his message, showing the people the sword of Cuchulain, many Irish patriots and leaders gathered their arms and joined him to await Wolfe Tone and the army. Due to Ronan’s expert and brave swimming and guidance, all 43 warships and 50,000 men of the French Armada arrived in Cork Harbor on December the 21st and began the march to the Wicklow Mountains.
At the monastery at Clonmacnoise, 100,000 priests, women, and children had gathered to prepare for the Christmas Eve Mass. As the sun set, Saint Patrick appeared and opened the mass with the sign of the Cross and prayer. As the mass concluded, St Patrick gave his blessing to Noelle, placed her on a magical black steed, and she sped away towards Powerscourt Mountain to join Wolfe Tone, Conall, and Ronan in the battle.
As the sun rose on Christmas morning of 1796, Wolfe Tone with his Army of 50,000 French Soldiers, and Conall with his Army of 75,000 Irish Patriots, Protestant and Catholic, gathered on the south side of the mountain pass of Powerscourt Mountain, south of Dublin. The garrison of Dublin Castle and the English Army had marched out to give battle. Noelle and Ronan joined their brother in the fierce battle and performed bravely and admirably.
With the great and united Army of French and Irish, inspired by the French Revolution, and with great admiration for the new democracy of the United States, Wolfe Tone and Conall soundly defeated the English Army at the Battle of Powerscourt Mountain.
Sending the Lord Mayor of Dublin back to London on a ship, the Irish People with the generous assistance of the French Armada, had secured their freedom and created a united, free Ireland under Irish rule. Wolfe Tone was elected the first president of the Republic of Ireland and December the 25th, 1796 is celebrated as Irish Independence Day.
As the battle concluded, Noelle, Conall, and Ronan were suddenly whisked back to Newgrange where St. Columcille sat peacefully on a rock. He looked at them, smiled, and said “a wondrous, joyous beauty is born. Well done my children, your task is complete. Merry Christmas, it is time for you to return home.”
They hugged Columba, then walked back into the passage tomb. As they reached the end of the chamber, a great flash of sunlight beamed across the floor. They turned around, then walked back out of the tomb to find many other solstice lottery winners waiting for their turn.
As they continued their Christmas holiday in Ireland, they confirmed that indeed, there was one, united and free Ireland. They found an Irish history book and read of all the history that had changed with a united and free Ireland. Ireland sent an Irish Brigade to assist the Americans during the War of 1812 and they fought under the command of Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. The Irish sent an Irish Brigade to serve under Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War and sent an Irish Division to serve with the Allies in both WWs I and II. The “Great Hunger” never happened as the Irish People had plenty of food to feed themselves, even with the potato blight. Annie Moore never had to leave Ireland and led the Irish Women’s Suffrage Movement in 1918. Michael Collins retired as the Postmaster General of the Irish Postal Service in 1956 and died an old man at the age of 85 in 1975. He and Kitty Kiernan had eight children.
As they returned home to Amerikay, their hearts remained filled with gratitude and love at the Solstice and Christmas miracle that had happened and their blessed part in it. As they landed and arrived back home with their parents, their parents told them that they had more Christmas miracles to celebrate. The Brannan Family would continue to grow and be blessed with the addition of a brother and sister, Dakodah and SarahJoy, more Christmas miracles indeed.
God’s blessings to one and all. Nollaig Shona Duit. Happy Christmas.
P.S. The Ancient music flows through the streams of the Ages and whispers to your heart, your home is here in Ireland. Terry
Inspired by Malachy McCourt's “History of Ireland”, my own travels in Ireland, and reading about the history of Irish and the Irish in America, Liam Neeson's portrayal of Michael Collins, and the audio recordings of Ronnie Drew’s “Irish Myths & Legends.”
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