Rush Candle Sean-Fhocal
Mairg a d’ith nó a d’ól cuid an tSolais
On reading "Ireland of The Proverbs" by the late Liam Mac An Iomaire, his description of finding out the origin of the following Sean Fhocail “Mairg a d’ith nó a d’ól cuid an tSolais”, fascinated me. I did some more research on it. It translates as “Woe to whoever ate or drank the light’s portion”. Long ago, in the West of Ireland, poor people used scallop shells to hold the oil provided by fish and meats cooked and rendered. The wick was provided by the rushes found in the wet boggy lands of Conamara. These were cut low at their base. They were then peeled of their green coating leaving a strip for support. Grouped and tied together they provided the wick which was stood in the shell in the oil. They burned brightly as you can see from video and lasted for a long time. I had a scallop shell, used some vegetable oil and cut some rushes from our wet woodland. I peeled them and found the spongy inner substance. I cut a few inches, tied them together with the peeled strip and placed it in the oil standing on the shell. I lit it and sure enough it burned brightly with great light.
This painting is Acrylic and collage on canvas. 50x50cm.
Mairg a d’ith nó a d’ól cuid an tSolais
