Issue 8. The Ocho. It's a bold strategy, Cotton.

Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No. 8. This week there are monks x2/3? A bit of moon worship outside Kenmare, a new business & somebody’s dream job. Not forgetting all the best of what’s going on and what will be going on around the place. Also, a prize to be won.

South Kerry by the numbers:

• 0.4: mm less rain was recorded in May at Valentia Observatory than last year. June should be a different story purely based on this morning.

• 371: Years ago this weekend, Cromwellian forces beheaded the Red Monk of Scariff.

• 100,000: € Will get you a home in Portmagee, needing some TLC.

Remembering the Red Monk of Scariff Island

The annual Commemoration for the Red Monk of Scariff will occur on Sunday, meeting at Derrynane Harbour at 5.30pm. The Red Monk of Scariff was captured by Cromwellian forces in 1653, so the story goes, whilst saying mass. He was beheaded, the custom of the time for Cromwellian forces, and his skull remains on display at the Franciscan Friary in Killarney.

There will be a collection for Medicin Sans Frontieres and no charge for the boat out to Scariff Island.

Straw Boy Ball in Bonane

Did you know we have a major celestial event tonight? Well, the lads that built this altar 5000 years ago did. Tonight we’ll see a ‘major standstill of the moon’ an event that occurs every 18.6 years where the moon is aligned directly opposite the sun, on the night of the summer solstice. The solstice is the day the sun is at its highest, which means the moon will be at its lowest, in astronomical terms, it will look massive. The biggest it will be for the next 20 years.

The idea that whoever (bound to be monks) built the altar millennia ago was aware of this is not only staggering but well worth celebrating. This is exactly what the good people of Bonane are doing with the Straw Boy Ball, limited tickets are available email [email protected] or [email protected] for more.

Want a job on Sceilg Mhichíl?

Like monks? Well here is the job for you. The OPW are looking to recruit a seasonal guide for Sceilg Mhichíl, an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often and I’d assume a dream job for some. I’m unsure at this stage if the position is residential, so if interested, I’d advise more thorough research. You’ve not got long though, only a week left to apply.

Best of the rest;

• Next Saturday sees “Ireland’s Top Singing Sensation” Jack Keogh sensationing at Foilmore Community Centre in aid of Kerry Hospice.

• Sneem/Derrynane play Duagh in Sneem on Sunday @2pm in a Division 5 Championship decider! There won’t be a goat milked in Sneem if they can get the win.

• Congratulations to Vincent Hyland on making the long list for the Carousel Aware Prize for Independent Authors, 2024. Well deserved, it’s a fabulous book, buy it.

• Water Safety Ireland Swim and Safety Weeks in South Kerry have been announced for July & August €30 for swim €40 for safety (bargain!) contact Denise on 0872278601 for more info.

• Tickets for the Wool and Cloth festival at Tech Amergin are flying out, get yours here

• Congratulations to the brilliant minds behind ‘A Midsummer Night’s Sneem’ a night of live music, DJ’s & BBQ at Riney’s Bar Sneem. Also pun of the week, potentially month, great work!

Just Announced;

NEW BUSINESS ALERT!!! Oilean Adventures has been setup by new local Emma offering full day bespoke adventure tours in South Kerry. These tours will help to reconnect you to the nature on our doorstep by getting you up close to the beautiful flora and fauna of South Kerry. Book here

Thanks

If I’ve missed anything, you’d like to contribute or have news you think should be covered, just hit reply. Alternatively, you can just tag your posts #skoracle and I’ll pick them up.

🍰 Congratulations again to Maggie O’Shea who became our 300th subscriber last week, just reply to this email to claim your prize.

Commiserations to all of you who thought you had won a prize, I had no idea the appetite for prizes would be so rabid. So to appease the mob, you can have a prize if you are the first person to respond with the next line of the quote from the subject line of this newsletter. I’ll have a proper competition for you next week.

Thanks for reading, for signing up, for following on socials, for sending over bits to be included. if you know anyone who might like this type of thing please send them on this email, and they can join below.

8 weeks in, it’s been great fun doing it and I’d never expected such positive feedback, thanks again. To make the thing sustainable I need a few more subscribers though, so do send it on to anyone who’s missing out.

Next week we’ll definitely have less monks and I’ll definitely get to the bit about hotels, maybe.

Good luck, be well

Dave

southkerryoracle.ie