war | Gloria McBreen

The prompt for Linda G Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday (#SoCS) is ‘Trip.’ Use it any way you’d like. Part two.

You can read part one HERE.

Alicia, our special friend from Spain, had some important news for us. She was excited, nervous, and a little worried.

***Alicia’s Dad on His Way to Help Ukranian People***

Her dad and his friends are travelling from Spain to Poland to rescue some Ukrainian people seeking refuge from their war broken country. A trip that may be exciting and adventurous, but in a very different sense than in normal circumstances. No doubt by the time the small group arrive back in Santander they will be exhausted, and goodness knows what mixture of emotions they will experience.

Broken things can be fixed and all of the world is praying that one day the Ukrainian people can return to their homeland and try to repair their lives.

But for now, they are depending so much on their European neighbours for help and refuge. Groups such as the group Alicia’s dad is part of, are truly amazing. They’re giving up their time, their money and their respect for their fellow human beings.

Their WhatsApp group is called, “Ayudamos a Ucrania.” Translated in English; “We can help Ukraine.”

They left Santander on Thursday (two days ago) and they will soon arrive at their destination, Kraków.

First they will load their provisions onto a truck with their contacts at the border. The truck will drop the supplies inside Ukraine.

Then they will pick up a family of fourteen; women, including the grandmother, teenagers and five young children. They will take them to Spain where they will receive support and shelter.

Alicia is very proud of her dad, and rightly so!

Other ways to help Ukraine.

The Irish Red Cross have already received 14m in cash donations to help Ukranian people. Donate HERE.

Unicef are accepting donations HERE

The Voices of Children Foundation has been helping children who are victims of war. Today they are providing emergency assistance to the children and families of Ukraine. Find them HERE.

You can also help by raising awareness of this humanitarian crisis. Share posts like this one, and accurate fact-based news about the situation to your family and friends on social media.

Day 25 #100DaysOfOldDays

Today’s post is also for Marsha Ingrao’s weekly Photographing Public Art Challenge (#PPAC)

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They say that the River Moy ran red with blood on the 23^rd of September 1586, after the slaughter of almost 3,000 Scots, half of which were women and children.

The Battle of Ardnaree was a battle in the Tudor conquest of Ireland. (Ardnaree is a suburb in Ballina, Co Mayo in the West of Ireland.)

An Irish-Scottish mercenary army, led by Donnell Gorm MacDonnell of Carey and Alexander Carragh MacDonnell of Glenarm, sons James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg, were invited into Connacht by the Mayo Burkes to attack English settlements and forces. This mercenary army was fronted at Sligo, Coolony and Ballingafad by English forces for over fourteen days.

**Scottish Mercenary Fighter by Lucy McBreen**

The Gallowglass Scots camped for three nights on the banks of the River Moy en route to their final destination of Tyrawley in North Mayo. The governor of Connacht Sir Richard Bingham, and his army followed them there and surrounded their camp during the night. At 10am the following morning they launched their horrific attack.

***Portrayal of The Battle of Ardnaree***

This mural portrays the tragic event that is The Battle of Ardnaree. It is part of a project carried out by the volunteers of Ballina Community Clean Up Group to commemorate the defeated Scots.

The artwork of the huddling starlings protecting themselves against the hawks, portrays the story of the Scots and their assailants. Also represented in the mural are the women and children who witnessed the bloodshed.

Artists: Brenna Rice – blueprint designer, landscape/skyscape artist. Megan McNamara portrait artist. Kevin Loftus – Augustinian Abbey architectural designer. Ciara Casey – Ardnaree Castle artist.

The full story of this historic day by Dermot Rice, is available to watch here on YouTube.