Ireland [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION 8-9 GremaniUue, the most prevalent colours of the Irish countryside. Green by definition, Ireland's gentle hills and meadows dominate the island. The over 800 lakes (loughs) that are scattered throughout the land were created by the glaciers that covered the surface of the island approximately 10,000 years ago. But legends provide more enchanting explanations, such as the infinite tears of star-crossed lovers. /reland is a country which is uniquely associated with a single colour—green. The visitor to Ireland is immediately struck by the myriad of greens in this soft and gentle land of hills and small valleys, but then one becomes aware of the blues; sky blue, a surprising azure in a place where the weather changes by the moment; lake blue, the deep sapphire of hundreds of little loughs scattered across the land; and sea blue, a vibrant metallic colour, sometimes calm, sometimes disquieting. Against the green and blue, there lies always the colour of stone, the stone of the raw, magnificent cliff or the massive landscape of barren rock. The stone of towns and cities opens up to a countryside littered with stone remains, each revealing something of the island's past. A maze of stone walls tells of centuries of farming poor and unrewarding land, monastic ruins speak of the simple solitude of saints and scholars, and towers and castles tell tales of invaders and marauders. Much is divulged by stone—great houses proclaim the opulence of the once powerful, while cottage ruins testify to the sufferings of the once oppressed. When the weather takes a turn, sea and sky also pale to stone: greys dominate, accented only by neutral patches of livestock and roadsigns. But then, suddenly, bursts of red, yellow, violet or pink materialize; the eye is starded, not only by blooming hedgerows of gorse or fiiscia, but also by the faces of tiny houses, shopfronts—anywhere and everywhere. Walls, doors and win-dowframes become places where the imagination runs wild, where bright colours are used to ward off damp weather, damp spirits—to play pranks on the intruder. It is this playful spirit which reflects an essential element of the Irish temperament—to face difficulty with wit, to encounter defeat with a sense of humour. Misfortune is met with reassurance: "it could be worse." And in a land that has had its share of tragedies, this is certainly true. Here, hospitality is revered; the lack of it not forgotten. And in rural communities throughout Ireland, neighbour will not see neighbour "stuck," be it for the essentials of life, help saving hay or simply "a bit of company." Any time is a good time for a chat, whether in the middle of town, on the side of the road, in a shop, at a bus stop or fireside. Gathering in the pub or coffeeshop is a way of hfe, born of the desire for good company.