RS2--daniel

The Sidhe (Faerie)

This story was given to us by a local storyteller, and recounts an incident that was meant to have taken place in Lochranza during the 50's

Once in Lochranza, a girl was trying to drove cattle to the holding pens. Try as she might the cattle strayed this way and that.
After an hour she gave up the attempt, and decided to go home.

As she was walking round the head of the Loch, she saw a man sitting on an old tumbledown piece of fence. A young man he was, and as she drew closer she could see his clothes looked a bit strange, almost from some other era.

The girl decided to avoid him, and started to give him a wide berth, it was just then, he shouted over to her, and there was something in his voice made her stop, something hypnotic, but lovely, like distant singing.

It seemed like less than a second had gone by she stood before him, still seated on the old fence,when this golden haired stranger quickly produced the most beautiful ornate comb she had ever seen, it winked and glinted in the morning sun.

He asked her "Have you lost a comb?" "Not me" she replied. Again he asked "Have you lost a comb……..?" "Not me", once more she replied.
A third time he spoke, this time with a wild, captivating, sleep making spell in his voice "HAVE YOU LOST A COMB?" "Not me" her shaking almost sobbing voice replied.

At that his face looked much softer, but still very intense, he then, in less than the blink of an eye, thrust the comb into her hand. "There," he said "Take it, keep it, it's yours now." The girl looked down at the comb. It felt as light as a feather, but strong and beautifully crafted. With the last part of her resolve, for make no mistake, this was a battle of wits, or spirit, or her very being, she refused and quickly handed it back.
At once she felt almost released from the intensity of the moment. The young man now looked quite sad. He said "Then will you do just one thing for me……comb my hair?"

The girl saw no harm in this request and took up the comb with an almost casual ease. The lovely comb glided through the strangers hair, and as she combed she noticed something strange. Sand and small seashells and starfish were falling from his hair onto the ground! Her breath froze within her, and she dropped the comb, for truly this was more than any mortal could withstand, for now all she felt was a cold fear of this man. For an instant she found she could not run, remaining rooted to the spot, but suddenly she exploded into flight, without turning to look back over her shoulder she fled for home. Bursting through the kitchen door of her parents cottage she blurted out the entire story to them. Outraged her mother and father went at once to challenge this trickster, but on their arrival back at the scene, not a sign of him was to be had, save for some old starfish, some shells and some very white sand forming a TRISKELL on the ground………

Now after a while and a bit, word got round to an old woman who also lived in Lochranza, and she went to see the girl and her parents at their cottage.
She explained that their daughter had had a very lucky escape, for the stranger was none other than The Sea God, Mannanan Mac Lir, whose realm encompasses the great sea fortresses of Emhain Abhlach (The Isle of Arran) and Inish Falga ( The Isle of Man), come to take away a mortal woman to his realm, another attempt had failed seven years previously……. and no doubt another would take place seven years hence……

http://www.castlekirk.co.uk/history.html

Triskelion
A triskelion or triskele (which invariably has rotational symmetry) is a motif consisting of three interlocked spirals, three bent human legs, or three bent/curved lines extending from the center of the symbol. Both words are from Greek "τρισκέλιον" (triskelion) or "τρισκελής" (triskeles), "three-legged",[1] from prefix "τρι-" (tri-), "three times"[2] + "σκέλος" (skelos), "leg".[3] Although it appears in many places and periods including 3200 BCE Newgrange, it is especially characteristic of the Celtic art of the La Tène culture of the European Iron Age.

A triskelion is the symbol of Sicily, where it is called trinacria,[4] as well as of the Isle of Man,[5] Brittany, and the town of Füssen in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskelion

The Folk-Lore of the Isle of Man
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/

Table of Contents
Chapter I. Myths Connected with the Legendary History of the Isle of Man
Chapter II. Hagiogical, and Mytho-historical Legends
Chapter III. Fairies and Familiar Spirits
Chapter IV. Hobgoblins, Monsters, Giants, Mermaids, Apparitions, &c.
Chapter V. Magic, Witchcraft, &c.
Chapter VI. Customs and Superstitions Connected With the Seasons
Chapter VII. Superstitions Connected With the Sun, Animals, Trees, Plants, Sacred Edifices, &c.
Chapter VIII. Customs and Superstitions Connected with Birth, Marriage, and Death
Chapter IX. Customs Formerly Enforced by Law
Chapter X. Proverbs and Sayings

Symbols
Manx triskelion


For centuries, the island's symbol has been its ancient triskelion, a device similar to Sicily's Trinacria: three bent legs, each with a spur, joined at the thigh. The Manx triskelion does not appear to have an official design; government publications, currency, flags, the tourist authority and others all use different variants. Most, but not all, preserve rotational symmetry, some running clockwise, others anti-clockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 1200, others at 1130 or 1000, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90°, some at 60°, some at closer to 120°. Also, the degree of ornamentation of the leg wear and spur varies considerably.

The three legs are reflected in the island's motto (adopted late in the symbol's history): Quocunque Jeceris Stabit, traditionally translated from Latin as Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand, or Whichever way you throw it, it will stand.

The origin of the Three Legs of Man (as they are usually called) is explained in the Manx legend that Manannan repelled an invasion by transforming into the three legs and rolling down the hill and defeating the invaders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Isle_of_Man

Djchrismac wrote:A triskelion is the symbol of Sicily, where it is called trinacria

Djchrismac wrote:For centuries, the island's symbol has been its ancient triskelion, a device similar to Sicily's Trinacria