At The Edge: Walking the Atlantic Coast of Ireland and Scotland
Murphy, J. (2009) At The Edge: Walking the Atlantic Coast of Ireland and Scotland, Sandstone Press, Highlands. (354 pages)
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Foreword by Alex Salmond as First Minister of Scotland
Ireland and Scotland have Gaelic history and culture in common. The Gaelic language thrived in both countries for well over 1000 years and continues to be used today, albeit in a reduced, mostly coastal and island area.
In describing his walk from Kerry to Lewis along this coast, cutting across national borders and cultural boundaries, Joseph Murphy highlights this shared heritage in a remarkable and fascinating way. Almost every page reminds us that the past is both wonderful and tragic.
Cultural treasures like the Fianna stories, the illuminated manuscripts of Celtic Christianity, and the poetry of Aogán Ó Rathaile and Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair take their place alongside such 19th century tragedies as the Famine in Ireland and the Clearances in Scotland.
The achievements of the past are even more precious when viewed in this context of sweeping loss, and speak eloquently of a culture that is still capable of development and global contribution. Today we must find ways to encourage and support Gaelic communities and regenerate this rich inheritance to the benefit not only of Scotland and Ireland but of their immediate neighbours and the wider world.
This book is a glorious illustration of how the coastline will surrender its riches to the enquiring visitor. It encourages us to think hard about the meaning of sustainable development. Some will agree with its arguments and others will disagree. Perhaps it is only the starting point for debate. It is surely the case, however, that culture and language must be part of any meaningful definition of sustainability.
The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSPMP
First Minister of Scotland
In describing his walk from Kerry to Lewis along this coast, cutting across national borders and cultural boundaries, Joseph Murphy highlights this shared heritage in a remarkable and fascinating way. Almost every page reminds us that the past is both wonderful and tragic.
Cultural treasures like the Fianna stories, the illuminated manuscripts of Celtic Christianity, and the poetry of Aogán Ó Rathaile and Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair take their place alongside such 19th century tragedies as the Famine in Ireland and the Clearances in Scotland.
The achievements of the past are even more precious when viewed in this context of sweeping loss, and speak eloquently of a culture that is still capable of development and global contribution. Today we must find ways to encourage and support Gaelic communities and regenerate this rich inheritance to the benefit not only of Scotland and Ireland but of their immediate neighbours and the wider world.
This book is a glorious illustration of how the coastline will surrender its riches to the enquiring visitor. It encourages us to think hard about the meaning of sustainable development. Some will agree with its arguments and others will disagree. Perhaps it is only the starting point for debate. It is surely the case, however, that culture and language must be part of any meaningful definition of sustainability.
The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSPMP
First Minister of Scotland
Back Cover
At The Edge tells the story of a 1500 kilometre walk from Kerry to Lewis along the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland. Uncertain and tentative 'rooting around' becomes a celebration of 2000 years of Gaelic history and culture.
For three months Joseph Murphy walked through townlands and communities and over bogs and mountains, enduring blisters, heat waves and cloud bursts. He connected the places where Gaelic language and culture are strongest today, encountering Celtic Christian monks, great poets and painters, traditional musicians and language scholars along the way. Although often tragic and traumatic, Gaelic culture shines through his account as something precious and remarkable.
Taking the region's history and culture as his starting point, Joseph wonders what the future holds and what the meaning of sustainable development is for this coastline. He highlights the deep cultural significance of 'exile and place' - deoraíocht agus dùthchas. Learning lessons from conflicts over a gas terminal in Mayo and a wind farm on Lewis, and building on new grass roots initiatives like land buy-outs, he makes a passionate case for community as the starting point for sustainability.
This is a personal story too as Joseph reflects on his own identity - of Irish descent but born in England - and the history of his family. What begins as an exploration of identity becomes a grateful acknowledgement of any connection with Gaelic culture as an hereditary gift. With extensive use of Gaelic throughout (Irish and Scottish) this is a unique publication.
For three months Joseph Murphy walked through townlands and communities and over bogs and mountains, enduring blisters, heat waves and cloud bursts. He connected the places where Gaelic language and culture are strongest today, encountering Celtic Christian monks, great poets and painters, traditional musicians and language scholars along the way. Although often tragic and traumatic, Gaelic culture shines through his account as something precious and remarkable.
Taking the region's history and culture as his starting point, Joseph wonders what the future holds and what the meaning of sustainable development is for this coastline. He highlights the deep cultural significance of 'exile and place' - deoraíocht agus dùthchas. Learning lessons from conflicts over a gas terminal in Mayo and a wind farm on Lewis, and building on new grass roots initiatives like land buy-outs, he makes a passionate case for community as the starting point for sustainability.
This is a personal story too as Joseph reflects on his own identity - of Irish descent but born in England - and the history of his family. What begins as an exploration of identity becomes a grateful acknowledgement of any connection with Gaelic culture as an hereditary gift. With extensive use of Gaelic throughout (Irish and Scottish) this is a unique publication.
Reviews
Reviewed in: Northings (on-line) (13/03/09); The Press and Journal (16/03/09); West Highland Free Press (24/04/09); The Scotsman (16/05/09); Northumberland Now (21/05/09); Irish News (26/05/09); Foinse (27/05/09); Cothrom (Summer 2009); Inverness Courier (04/09/09); An Phoblacht (04/09/09); Catholic Herald (04/09/09); The Tablet (15/02/10); Donegal News (26/02/10); The Connaught Telegraph (03/03/10); The Derry Journal (14/05/10); The Irish Catholic (29/07/10); Irish Geography (2010, Vol. 43, No. 2, 206-208).
“Pedantic readers may object that Murphy doesn’t deliver the journey in the title. Often he leaves the coast behind and veers inland, following the ley lines of Gaelic language, hitching serendipitous rides . . . His encounters with locals are entertaining and informative; he’s sociable, makes friends easily and his presence on the page is shrewd and congenial.” (Tom Adair, The Scotsman, 16 May 2009)
“I always thought that it would be nice to take a long trip between the south west of Ireland and the north of Scotland in search of the Gael and their legacy. Who knows I will do it yet. But I am happy to see that a young man has done the very thing, walking the whole route between Kerry and the north of Lewis, and he has written a book about it.” (Roddy MacLean, Inverness Courier, 12 June 2009 - translated from Scottish Gaelic)
“‘At the Edge’ is an entertaining and thought-provoking book. Joseph Murphy is very good company... He covers the cultural and political histories neatly, but Murphy is at his most engaging when he strides bullishly into some of the modern controversies of the region.” (Roger Hutchinson, The West Highland Free Press, 24 April 2009)
“The book is in English but with passages of writing with local connections in Irish or Scottish Gaelic, and the towns and villages are named in the indigenous language. His Irish and Scottish Gaelic extracts are, thankfully, pretty much perfect, although he doesn’t actually speak either language...” (Roddy MacLean, Cothrom No. 60, summer 2009 - translated from Gaelic)
“This is a serious but immensely enjoyable book. It raises some of the most important and pressing questions that face the Gaelic world, and Ireland and Scotland more generally. Irish republicans will find it an important contribution to our present challenges and our future aspirations.” (Seán Lynch, An Phoblacht, 4 September 2010)
“Pedantic readers may object that Murphy doesn’t deliver the journey in the title. Often he leaves the coast behind and veers inland, following the ley lines of Gaelic language, hitching serendipitous rides . . . His encounters with locals are entertaining and informative; he’s sociable, makes friends easily and his presence on the page is shrewd and congenial.” (Tom Adair, The Scotsman, 16 May 2009)
“I always thought that it would be nice to take a long trip between the south west of Ireland and the north of Scotland in search of the Gael and their legacy. Who knows I will do it yet. But I am happy to see that a young man has done the very thing, walking the whole route between Kerry and the north of Lewis, and he has written a book about it.” (Roddy MacLean, Inverness Courier, 12 June 2009 - translated from Scottish Gaelic)
“‘At the Edge’ is an entertaining and thought-provoking book. Joseph Murphy is very good company... He covers the cultural and political histories neatly, but Murphy is at his most engaging when he strides bullishly into some of the modern controversies of the region.” (Roger Hutchinson, The West Highland Free Press, 24 April 2009)
“The book is in English but with passages of writing with local connections in Irish or Scottish Gaelic, and the towns and villages are named in the indigenous language. His Irish and Scottish Gaelic extracts are, thankfully, pretty much perfect, although he doesn’t actually speak either language...” (Roddy MacLean, Cothrom No. 60, summer 2009 - translated from Gaelic)
“This is a serious but immensely enjoyable book. It raises some of the most important and pressing questions that face the Gaelic world, and Ireland and Scotland more generally. Irish republicans will find it an important contribution to our present challenges and our future aspirations.” (Seán Lynch, An Phoblacht, 4 September 2010)
