Summoning the Ancestors

In honour of our great great great grandfather William Beamish, I just had to celebrate my return to Cork with a pint of the delicious, rich and creamy, medicinal Beamish stout at the 250 year old Oval bar. The bar was designed in 1759 on behalf of the Beamish and Crawford brewery. The Beamish and Crawford brewery, in the heart of Cork City, was founded by William Beamish and William Crawford in 1792 and has played an integral part of Cork's economic and social life into the 21st century.  Now all around the city,  I can still see people enjoying a pint of Beamish thanks to great great great grandpa! Inside the Oval Beamish and Crawford building in the background Inside the Oval

I am so happy to be back in Cork after 7 long years! And on my very first day I spotted this gentle reminder that I am not here alone.   Hanging in my favourite coffee shop Myo, on Popes Quay. The script reads:   Ancestral mandala: At all times you carry the DNA, memories and strength of the seven generations in your body. You are never alone. #neuromandala@indiemention_neuroart

The euro21  train ride from Heuston station, Dublin, to Cork City was through rolling hills and lush green fields dotted with healthy looking cattle and horses with space to graze and gallop. It reminded me of NZ before industrial farming was introduced and where now horses are often contained by electric strips into small muddy patches.  One of the nice things about travelling by train is that there is no roadside advertising and signs cluttering the view with visual pollution. All the trains I have traveled on have been comfortable with tables if needed, free wifi and power points, and snack carts selling junk that really shouldn't be classified as food.  Views through train windows: Dublin to Cork city Dalmally, Scotland Wales Polmont near Glascow Holyhead station

A few days after visiting Mr Carnegie at Trinity College, Darkey's younger brother Charley became ill, diagnosed with a severe billious attack. He died on Tuesday 15th January aged just 17, at their home at Sandymount castle. On Saturday, only 4 days later, Darkey and her 2 sisters, her mother and Anna (the maid?) left Kingston, Dublin for Bromley, England on board the night mail steamer "Leinster." Could they have been running away from someone or something?  BEAMISH, Charles Jr; 17; Dooniskey COR>Sandymount Castle DUB IRL; Cork Examiner (COR IRL); 1878-1-17; dja Photo taken from internet, unidentified people Today what is left of Sandymount Castle has been developed into apartments alongside Sandymount Green.

Our visit in 2017 to the Long room in the Trinity College old library was awe-inspiring. Now many of the shelves are empty while a conservation project is undertaken. And this huge animated art installation hangs from the dark oak ceiling. The artist designed Gaia: "to prompt the difficult discussions we all need have about the environment and what we, as individuals and wider society, can do to make our lifestyles more sustainable." Luke Jerram, artist.  Shelves full of ancient books 2017

January 10, 1878 Mr Carnegie showed Darkey, her mother Caroline and brother Charley around Trinity College where he was a resident student.  She wrote in her diary "We only saw the Chapel, the gymnasium and the racket court, a vault like place, something like the dungeons of old, cold and damp. I thought first that Mr Carnegie had taken us into a prison. One would soon die shut up within those four high walls. The college is very damp. I don't think it is a good place to live in. No wonder Mr Carnegie has a constant cough..." It was definitely damp last Tuesday when I was there! Student accommodation today.  Possibly where Mr Carnegie had his room in 1878.

 Our great grandmother Darkey Beamish's 19 year old tutor was "Mr Carnegie" who was studying theology and philosophy at Trinity College and Oxford. She never mentions his Christian name in her diary but most likely he was William Hartley Carnegie (1859-1836) who became an Anglican priest, author, and later Archdeacon of Westminster and sub-dean of Westminster Abbey. Darkey admired him greatly and was for some time secretly sponsoring his studies. The Philosophy House 2024 Below are some of the topics the Trinity University Philosophical Society (the Phil) has been debating. I wonder what Mr Carnegie and Miss Beamish would have had to say on those topics? Topics for debate in the first part of this year: