Return of the Equinox Gathering

It looked kind of touch and go for a while, but for the gathering at the Dun Ailinne sculpture at Nicholastown the getting up early in the end proved worthwhile, writes Brian Byrne.

On the actual Spring Equinox, the rising sun effect through Noel Scullion's masterpiece manifested as designed, to the satisfaction of all those gathered there for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.

After that, the other pre-pandemic tradition was also resurrected, the adjournment to 1060 Nicholastown for breakfast of sausages and brown bread courtesy of Nolan's, and an array of buns and scones conjured up by Fiona and her family and friends.

After an appropriate interval of chat, recollection, and reconnection, Ray Kelly thanked all who had come along, including 'new faces' in the group. He also recalled the late Liam O'Flynn who had composed 'Knockaulin' and 'The Clann March' for the dedication of the sculpture, a fact which was officially noted in the recent tribute to the much-loved traditional piper.

The Dun Ailinne sculpture was commissioned by Kilcullen Community Action and erected in 2008, with the first manifestation of the sunrise effect enjoyed on 21 March of that year.  Pictures from that first gathering can be seen here. 

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