Tombs, Belleek and More

Today was a very fun day, filled with pretty things and a lot of driving. After leaving Ballyvaughn we started heading north. On our way we stopped to see some Neolithic Tombs. Theses tombs were 3,500 years old or a little older. Surprisingly, we don't understand much about them other than they are a tomb marker. A few of these tombs have been excavated but scientists are unable to tell us why they built the tombs the way they did or anything about their rituals. So they are just strange landmarks in the countryside.

Neolithic tomb

My parents beside the tomb

After looking at the tombs we continued our journey north to Sligo. In Sligo we went into the Sligo Abbey but funny story, its not actually an abbey it is a friary. However, everyone calls it Sligo Abbey. What's the difference? Monks live in abbeys, Friars live in friaries. This building was beautiful. The most interesting feature (besides the fact that one of my pictures looks black and white since the sky was gray) was the tomb of James. As you can see the last name, death date, mother's name and age were all erased by a stone cutter. No one is sure why but there are two possible reasons. 1. He was exhumed and buried with his family. 2. It was discovered he was born out of wedlock and disgraced so he was erased. So brother of mine: behave!  

My unintentional black and white picture except for my Dad's head :)

Here lyeth the Boby of James --- who Died De the --th -- Aged ---Years Erected by his Mother -----

We then continued on to Belleek home of the Belleek Factory. So naturally we took a tour. These people are amazing! They are all trained on site, and there are surprisingly few workers. First we entered the greenware, which is when the craftsmen are working with unfired, wet clay. After pouring the clay into the molds they were responsibly for smoothing out joints to make objects appear as if they were poured in one piece. They are also the people who would cut out windows or any other part that needed to be removed for the finished look. After the pieces have dried they are called whiteware and are fired for the first time. After the first firing they are then dipped in glaze and fired again. At this point they are given to the painters (there are only 5 on staff) to paint the different aspects and then fired again for a third time. The paint is created using a powder substance that they would add liquid to create the consistency. Also the different patterns were combined to create the colors so by default each painted piece is original and can have slightly different coloring.

Pigments for the colors

Vase after its first and second firing with the glaze

Vase on the left is painted but not fired. Vase on the right has been fired

Painter!

There was also a section of the factory where the baskets were made. Each Belleek basket is created by hand by one of the 9 weavers. These tiny baskets were created by first weaving the bottom using clay that had been turned into what looks like spaghetti. After the bottom was finished it would be placed on top of the mold and the sides of the basket would be done entirely by hand as well. It was quite amazing to watch! The weavers are also responsible for making all of the clay flowers you find on Belleek. The only thing they used a mold for is the leaves.

What the weavers tools and set up looks like

Weaver at work

Completed (not yet dry) heart baskets

Examples of baskets and flowers

After the awesome tour we raced to Donegal to try to get into the castle. Unfortunately we were five minutes late and were not allowed in. So all I have about this castle is the awesome picture I took. I do know that it was a tower house that was combined with a manor house (which was built after the tower) which is what gives it the interesting look.

Donegal Castle

We currently are staying in Derry in Northern Ireland so for the next two days I am in the UK!