The Magic Wind

“I felt it, Sur!”

“Aye you did! You did! I could tell, it was the shiver of…”

“The magic wind don’t you know!” Finnbar yells out to sea, finishing his sister’s description. Delighted, he feels his cheek where the slight breeze warmed and tickled it.

“I love this, our Dún Aonghasa! In our own back yard, it is! I really love it so when it’s very calm like this. Because we can sit with our legs dangling and enjoy the day. Maybe even the sunset, that is when it comes. This is my most favorite time of all, Sur! Especially with you! He expresses to his sister with his huge and funny grin with two front teeth missing.

“Aye, I love it too! And with you little brother!”

“Wait, why do always say that? I’m but 7 minutes after you!”

“Exactly, my deartháir beag!” She roars out, loving to tease him.

“Ha, very funny. Dith, I love this place very much! Did you know there’s lots of history here. It was a fort-type castle don’t you know. Many people lived and died and even fought for their land here. The bads couldn’t make it up the cliffs, it is 100 meters tall, a sheer cliff go deimhin, indeed. So they had to go all around the island to find a way to get here to steal and hurt our old peoples.”

“Do you mean our ancestors?” She enjoys his stories and that he is so enthusiastic about the history of their homeland. She not so much, but she loves to hear him go on.

“Aye, that’s the word. I like the story of St Ciarán, he was learned by Abbot St. Finnian, that’s my name! At the Monastery of Clonar, it was celebrated don’t you know!”

She chuckles at his wording. “You mean he was taught by and it was a celebrated Monastery!”

Ignoring her, he persists. “Then he came to our island and set up his church by our house. St Ciarán then went across the sea and past the River Shannan to Clonmacnoise and made another place. He died young but did a lot to help people. Oh Sur, I want to be good like him.” Finn sighs thoughtfully and turns contemplative. “We like stories. I want to be a good story teller like uncial Colin.” He states matter-of-factly.

“Aye, but you are my Finn. You are already!” She grabs his hand and squeezes it, praising him. “What about the story of The Magic Wind? Please tell me again!”

With her encouragement, he revs back up. “Ohhh, I love that the best! Mam said her Mamó told her of it. Sur, do you think Mam is as magical as uncial Colin? They’re twins like us. Shouldn’t she be?”

“Aye, she is. I think. So tell me!”

“Grand, aye. So we have a wee breeze that touches us. Kisses, as Mam would say. I like that! It likes us, lets us know a something is on it’s way to us. What do you think is this something coming?”

“I dunno. With all this family. I dunno…” Her eye is caught by movement, she turns to see Joe and Louie hiking up to them. “We have company!” They scramble up and run to meet them.

“Hey isn’t that dangerous to be sitting there like that? I haven’t seen it, but I hear it’s a huge drop off.” Louie questions with concern.

“Aye it can be go deimhin. Ach…”

Finn cuts her off, seeing their confused expressions. “Sur, errr, aye that’s her nickname. Slow down Saoirse! Dith, errr, anyway, she said, it can be indeed and but And she talks too fast. The winds can be really strong don’t you know. You have to be very careful you don’t get blown away or even blown off this, “ he waves behind him. “When the winds blow, they can be really strong, so much so we crawl and claw our way to the edge to look over. The moss and grasses are soft on our tummies, they tickle us and we laugh a lot!"

“Can I talk now, Finn?” Stomping her feet in demand. “Oh and it’s thrilling to watch the water crash on the rocks below when we lie there. We really like the wind in our faces and here and there the rains sprinkle us, oh it’s such a grand adventure to be sure. Isn’t it funny how people say ‘here and there’ a lot? Oh, and we love the colors of the sky and sea. It’s like they prance and sway with each other.” Saoirse works hard to speak more slowly, despite her excitement.

“But only sometimes, because it’s usually wet. As it rains here a lot. Ohhh,” she continues faster. “But when the pestering clouds finally go away, the sun shines bright and plays on the water like fairies dancing. They glitter and sparkle, making me giggle! And when the waves come in, rainbows alight the white tops.”

“Aye it’s grand don’t you know!” Finn chimes in.

“Well, all right you two! Thanks for the stories!” Joe says, making his way to the edge.

Finn rattles on. “We have more stories! I really like the rag-tree faery stories and putting our own rags on for wishes to come true and to be safe! And a way of making the land and with the spirits to our world! And it has healing patches!”

Saoirse interprets. “Properties. Healing properties he means. Connecting with our natural world and spiritual traditions.”

“Aye, that! The druids, Mamó and uncial Colin say the wells close to the trees can be used to fix hearts too!”

“He means blood things with the heart and they even made all kinds of balms to help people!”

“And we have the the holy well of St. Ciaran’s church with two standing stones that their cross is scribed. They have little ears and a cap! The Celtic Cross. It’s great!” He finishes.

The men aren’t entirely sure what the two are saying, excited as they are. But do enjoy the accents and tales. They edge up to and peak over, then immediately back off. Their expressions of concern is palpable to each other with a roll of their eyes, moving quickly away.

Joe says. “Why don’t we head back you two? Your mom asked us to fitch you.”

“Sure, grand. You see those clouds?” Finn points out to sea. “They’re coming in and will be fast. Let’s go, I’m hungry!” He takes off in a run.

Saoirse starts in with her grown up voice. “He is such a little! Are you having fun here so far? We have a lot of people here for the wedding! We have grand stories. Do you like stories?”