I’m always rushing to catch up these days with everything happening at once, so I will combine two posts in one!
“Where danced the moon on Monan’s Rill”
It is a breathtaking road along the Great Glen(An Gleann Mòr) from Loch Ness to Loch Linnhe through the misty mountains, meadows and moors. I took this shot at dusk while driving by Glencoe, just south of Fort William, and with a little light filter and starbrush magic turned the dark misted skies into the witching hour.
A Highland Lament sung by Margaret Bennett
Glencoe was the scene of an infamous betrayal and massacre. It is a feud between two clans which has never been forgotten and one of the many tragic stories of the Jacobite Rebellion.
The Regiment of Argyll, led by a Captain of the Campbell clan, was billeted on land belonging to the Clan MacDonald who were Jacobite sympathizers. In typical highland hospitality the MacDonalds invited them for supper and a game of cards. During the night while their hosts slept, the Campbells, who were in the employ of the British run government, rose up and murdered all the MacDonalds in their beds. Most of the women and children who fled into the hills died of exposure in the cold. There is a pub in the town with a sign that still reads “Campbells Are Not Welcome.”
Glencoe
misty mountains
orphans of Glencoe
Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2-43- Curves
I chose a winding staircase in Dublin’s Trinity College library along with a more linear image of a page of the beautiful Book of Kells which resides there.
Trinity College was established in 1592 under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth I who hoped to promote the Church of England in Papist Ireland.
The Book of Kells is a medieval collection of the gospels written shortly after the time of the Irish Saint from Donegal, Columba ( 521-597 AD). The surviving soft pages of vellum were painstakingly written by hand and illuminated with gold by monks working long into the night in candle-lit scriptoriums.
These monks probably lived in an abbey established by Columba on the Isle of Iona in the Hebrides. Columba was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dal Riata, who extended from Ireland into western Scotland, and by the native Picts. During the era of the Viking raids the monks fled to Ireland with the precious manuscripts where they were kept for centuries in the Abbey of Kells, County Meath, before they were moved to Trinity College.
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Glencoe. Possibly one of my favourite places on earth. I go there a lot. Thank you for a great post.
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so pleased you like it. oh yes, I so miss it.
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We head there for the weekend rather a lot. We are about 3 hours drive away–largely cos of the roads once you get past Lochearnhead. I just love it there so much I hunger for the place. So savagely beautiful and of course I can’t stay off the mountains.
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oh you are making me “homesick” for the place! 🙂
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sorry……… x
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Nice to meet you, Hannah! You show us gorgeous impressions of Scotland! Now I’m even more looking forward to our next visit. 🙂
Best regards,
Hanne
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so pleased you like them!! Oh I miss Scotland!! Hopefully soon again!! Pop by anytime!
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I will! 😊
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Beautiful pics, Hannah, as always. Oh, dear, back when I was working on my genealogy I remember running across something that made me think I might be of a sept of the Campbell Clan. After reading that, I don’t want to be a part of it! Brutal. I need to do more research for sure!
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haha!! That was a long time ago and then sadly it was often Scot against Scot in those days depending if you were a lowlander or highlander. Most of the Highlanders were still RC and wanted their own Catholic King on the throne of Scotland (not those English heretics lol). A very tragic and sad time as they were treated horribly by the English who robbed them of their lands etc. Thanks so much for coming by – always happy to hear from you!
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Ah the big beautiful book of Kells! Although I live very near Kells, I have never been into Trinity College to see the book itself. Your image of one of its pages is stunning! Which is no surprise… all your images always are. Have a happy Valentine on Sunday! 😊💕
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Thanks so much for dropping by Ali and yes that book is so wonderful to see- the art and work that went into each page is amazing! I hope you will see it some day! and hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day too.
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That Glencoe photo is stunning. Its air of mystery and haunting sadness is just perfect, given the history of the place.
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thank you so much Patti!
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A gorgeous presentation. I love highland lament!
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so pleased you listened to the song too!! Thanks Robert!
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Stunning photos Cybele!
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thanks so much Della!
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Hello, I just wanted to say I really liked your photo for Monochrome Madness 🙂
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thank you Stacey!
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Beautiful – especially like the graveyard image, Cybele. Adrian 🙂
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thanks so much Adrian!
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Lovely response to ‘curves’, a very elegant staircase that you’ve made even more magical, but of course I love the enchanted shot of Glencoe.
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thank you Andrea!
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These are beautiful
As always your finishing work is also….
Sheldon
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thank you Sheldon!
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The witching hour indeed! That sky looks awesome. The green moon. The stars.
And against the white light, the winding staircase looks a bit like a living thing. Serpentine. Scaly. A dragon’s belly.
Some fine magic, working the miracles with your brush. Appreciated.
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🙂 so glad you liked it Peter and that you add your own magical twist to it!!
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I want to tell you I gave you a challenge in the 3 Day Quotes Challenge. Your blog is so enchanting and ever changing. I’m sure there are some ways you use quotes relating to your stories and photos. You can find details here. https://skybluedaze.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/tug-the-web/
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oh thanks Sky! My life right now is craziness so not sure I can do it. Looking for a new house etc! But I will take a look!
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You can do it whenever you are ready. I set mine up ahead of time, then posted them each day. Happy house shopping. That alone would make good posts and photos.
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ok Sky! I am a bit bogged down momentarily! Thank you!
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All of your work has like a glow to it, so magical.
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what a lovely comment Maria!! ty!
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That’s a great image Cyb…..I love the colours and there is a lovely balance to the composition and of course it has a style that is instantly recognisable as yours.
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many thanks Mark!
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Love the pictures and the music.
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thanks Sherry!
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Stunning images Cybele.
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thank you Maverick!
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What a gorgeous, ornate spiral staircase and you have captured it so beautifully with such amazing lighting, I love it!
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thanks so much Katie!
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Breathtakingly beautiful!
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thank you so much Sarah!
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My pleasure entirely!
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What an amazing happenstance that I came across this post just as I was listening to a celtic channel on Pandora. 🙂 One of these days, I’ve got to make my way to the land of my ancestors. Excellent work, Cybele. As always.
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funny that isn’t it!! So glad you dropped by and yes you must visit if you can. It is a photographer’s and storyteller’s dream there but so is all travel!! Where did your ancestors come from?
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Scotland. The Maxwell clan. They once held the now ruined castle of Caerlaverock.
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Nice treatments on all the photos.
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many thanks Disperser!
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Two great posts, and neat stories to go with! Hope all is going well with you and things are moving in the right direction.
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thanks so much Deborah- things are in progress!!
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Bewitched by the spectacularly dramatic skies,saddened by the tragic and cruel events of your story and your epilogue,the Highland Lament ♫♪♩…
The winding staircase resembles all the twists in the war stories and the back light illumiates the adventurous “survival” of the Book of Kelles.RIP,Picts,no more wars,the graveyard photo displays peace …
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so many stories Doda!! and many are sad ones. I wish I could travel the whole world but often am only an armchair traveler with imagination, books and historical programs etc!! 🙂
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Even that way you make the world smaller,you are imbued with wisdom … 🙂
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Ooh love the Glencoe picture, Cybele! I was at Dublin on business recently but missed visiting Trinity College — we didn’t have the time. Maybe if I ever visit again… 🙂
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yes you must!! 🙂 thank you Anita and your follow on Flickr!
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never accept a Campbell’s hospitality! your moody and looming landscapes are magical. Love the way you’ve framed the winding stairs to almost touch each side of the image
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thanks so much Laura!
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You have a wonderful gift. Do you exhibit your photos or sell them online? I amnot sureif Deviant Art has photos but your work would suit that site. You are very talented.
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Many thanks Suzanne I know of it but maybe should check it out further.
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I only know it because my youngest son directed me there sometimes. Some of the art is impressive though I seem to remember I found it hard to figure out how to get around the site.
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