I was born in Dungarvan, a bustling market town in the Decies of Waterford with a now silted-up harbour which when I was a lad was a busy port. In my father's time, Dungarvan had been a fishing village but all the fleet had been relocated to Helvick
while he was a lad.
As a child I was told of 'Bokal'.
Bokal lay far away
beyond the southeastern horizon
in the misty land of Cornouaille.
Dungarvan sailors had landed fish in Bokal for centuries, in the days of sail, returning with full holds.
The fishermen of Bokal did similar the other way round and were recognised on sight in my home port, and not just for fish.
Marine trade using fishing boats is all-encompassing and with the fish would come exotica.
Trade was reciprocal.
Waterford had its copper coast
and zinc and tin gold and platinum
to delight bronze-age miners
and post-industrial geologists,
merchants, artisans and thieves.
while he was a lad.
As a child I was told of 'Bokal'.
Bokal lay far away
beyond the southeastern horizon
in the misty land of Cornouaille.
Dungarvan sailors had landed fish in Bokal for centuries, in the days of sail, returning with full holds.
The fishermen of Bokal did similar the other way round and were recognised on sight in my home port, and not just for fish.
Marine trade using fishing boats is all-encompassing and with the fish would come exotica.
Trade was reciprocal.
Waterford had its copper coast
and zinc and tin gold and platinum
to delight bronze-age miners
and post-industrial geologists,
merchants, artisans and thieves.
Visiting Boscastle in 2003, I met old men on the quay who called their place Bokal and knew Dungarvan. When they heard where I was born, they solemnly declared "you are one of us" since when I consider myself Cornish-by-Adoption and proudly display the Flag of Piran at Pen Targon's cross-trees.
I respect 5th March each year and hoist a new flag to respect a fellow Waterfordman who came from west the road at the next safe harbour beyond Dungarvan on this treacherous and protective coast. Piran left ar leac eibhear and had siodaithe gaoithe and water sprites spirited him to Cornuaille. I like to think Sadbh was there with them.
Just outside Bokal harbour is the tallest waterfall in Cornwall! PenTargon Falls. Pen Targon means a height with a fine view in Kernewek and Thomas Hardy, far from the madding crowd, wrote "Beeny Hill" about the cliff and Emma Gifford ...
I respect 5th March each year and hoist a new flag to respect a fellow Waterfordman who came from west the road at the next safe harbour beyond Dungarvan on this treacherous and protective coast. Piran left ar leac eibhear and had siodaithe gaoithe and water sprites spirited him to Cornuaille. I like to think Sadbh was there with them.
Just outside Bokal harbour is the tallest waterfall in Cornwall! PenTargon Falls. Pen Targon means a height with a fine view in Kernewek and Thomas Hardy, far from the madding crowd, wrote "Beeny Hill" about the cliff and Emma Gifford ...
"Still in all its chasmal beauty
bulks old Beeny to the sky,
Shall she and I not go there
once again now March is nigh
bulks old Beeny to the sky,
Shall she and I not go there
once again now March is nigh
- How I came to own Pen Targon is detailed in Muddy Brown Water I cannot say whether my ownership is causal coincidence or serendipity but, being Irish, I know there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in other philosophies. I have an unshakable belief in the altair.
Pen Targon is protected by a Decies water sprite whose name is Sadbh [Pronounced 'Sive' as in Hive] You are entitled to speculate on other beliefs and other worlds or just accept that for Irish sailors water sprites exist and protect us in this world.
Theory and practice
concur in theory
but not in practice
"Look for the right boat and it will find you"
concur in theory
but not in practice
"Look for the right boat and it will find you"
