Ruadán's Feast ~ April 5, 2009 (Sauna Sunday)

Ruadhan mac an Gobhann mhic Dhomhnuill

Ruadán's Feast*.

Once again the year has flown,
and all our seeds of hope are sown.
So bake the cakes with flour and yeast
And raise a glass at Ruadán's Feast!

The stars they change,
some come, some go,
as is the usual cosmic flow.
Some go west and some go east,
but all gather first for Ruadán's Feast.

And as sage foretold in days of yore,
a Scotsman lands upon our shore,
to be welcomed with a slaughtered beast,
At the great Saint Ruadán's Feast.

*Saint Ruadhan (Ruadán) was one of the twelve "Apostles of Erin". He died at the monastery of Lorrha, County Tipperary, Ireland, 5 April 584. His embassy to King Dermot (Diarmait) at Tara, in 556, is worked into a romance known as the "Cursing of Tara", but the ardri continued to reside at Tara till his death in 564.

*For those who don't know their history...see footnote below.
(And, yes, we know our special guest is from Scotland but we can't help if Ruadan was Irish!)

Attending the Feast: Mac 'Sandy, Mac 'Zany, Mac' Bec, Mac'Magick, Mac'Donald, Mac'Sam, Mac'Aladin (TBC - of course) Mac'John, Mac'Nic, Mac'Tart, Mac"Margan (?) & Mac'Hillary(?), Mac'Baggage, Mac'Elegant Duchess...

Cooking the Feast: Mac'Sam - Chicken in beer (and a halal onion free goulash for Mac'Aladin and Mac'Nic)

Side salads: Mac'Magick - Potato and Yam (sweet potato) mash, corn on the cob

Ruadán's Pudding!: Mac'Donald & Mac'Bec & Mac'Tart

Thirst Quenching Libations: MacBaggage=Beers,

Kitchen wench : Mac'John & Mac'Nic

Mac'Absent: Mac Kali, Mac na Alba, Mac'Kevin Mac'Rudd.

*Ruadhán gave the prophecy that Dermot would be killed by the roof-beam of his hall at Tara. Dermot had the beam cast into the sea. Dermot then asked his druids to find the manner of his death, and they foretold that he would die of slaughter, drowning and burning, and that the signs of his death would be a shirt grown from a single seed of flax and a mantle of wool from a single sheep, ale brewed from one seed of corn, and bacon from a sow which had never farrowed. On a circuit of Ireland, Dermot comes to the hall of Banbán at Ráith Bec ( ancestral home of Mac'Bec?), and there the fate of which he was warned comes to pass.

The roof beam of Tara has been recovered from the sea by Banbán and set in his hall, the shirt and mantle and ale and bacon are duly produced for Dermot. Dermot goes to leave Banbán's hall, but Áed Dub, waiting at the door, strikes him down and sets fire to the hall. (Now the bit we like)...Dermot crawls into an ale vat to escape the flames and is duly killed by the falling roof beam. Thus, all the prophecies are fulfilled. "The sanctuary at Lorrha was invaded by the king and Ruadhan cursed Dermot for such an evil thing and ner again in Tara did the sound of church bells ring.

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