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 moved to Helvick while he was a lad.
As a child I was told of 'Bokal'.
Bokal lay far far away ...
far beyond the 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 known and recognised by 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. Until Brexit.
Waterford had its copper coast and zinc and tin, gold and platinum to delight bronze-age or post-industrial geologists, merchants, artisans and thieves.
As a child I was told of 'Bokal'.
Bokal lay far far away ...
far beyond the 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 known and recognised by 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. Until Brexit.
Waterford had its copper coast and zinc and tin, gold and platinum to delight bronze-age or 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 of Deng-gyarvan. 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 the crosstrees. 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 Admore ar leac eibhear and had siodaithe gaoithe and water sprites spirited him to Cornuaille. I like to think Sadbh accompanied was there with them.
Just outside Bokal harbour is the tallest waterfall in Cornwall! Pentargon Falls. Pentargon means a height with a fine view in Kernewek and Thomas Hardy, far from the madding crowd, wrote "Beeny Hill" about the falls and Emma Gifford ...
Just outside Bokal harbour is the tallest waterfall in Cornwall! Pentargon Falls. Pentargon means a height with a fine view in Kernewek and Thomas Hardy, far from the madding crowd, wrote "Beeny Hill" about the falls 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 Pentargon 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.
Pentargon 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.
Pentargon 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"
