Speaking of Bones...

Tomorrow Larry gets a new knee--a match to the new one he got last Spring. Neither of us are particularly looking forward to it, but it must be done. So hold him in your prayers please, as we go down this painful but worthwhile path one more time.

And since my mind is on bones, I thought I'd share a few stories about...bones, of course!

Here is one from Ireland I found on the website Folkli.com:

photo © Susanna Holstein, 2017. Taken in Ireland during our last visit.

"A long time ago, a celebrated metalworker known as Conla the Artist lived in Innishowen. So great was Conla’s reputation that whenever the locals wished to praise a whitesmith’s work they said, “Conla himself was not a better workman.”

When Conla died, he left a shrine of exceeding great beauty unfinished; no other man could be found to complete it properly after the great artist had been laid in his tomb.

Many years rolled by, until one faithful day St. Columkille passed through Dun-Cruithne, and saw the unfinished shrine. He asked about the artist, and the people told him Conla had died.

“Bring me to him,” said the saint, “I shall raise him to life so that he can finish his beautiful work.”

The decaying bones of Conla were shown to the saint, who blessed them. To the great admiration of all who were present, flesh grew upon them, Conla came to life again, and completed his work.

Conla continued to live for many years afterward, and he was the progenitor of a numerous offspring, known as the Clann-Cnaimhsighe, or “the posterity of the bones.”

In the sixteenth century, the shrine of Conla was kept in the parish of Tamlaghtard or Magilligan, in the county and diocese of Derry. In our time, all trace of this remarkable relic has been lost.

If you enjoyed reading this folktale from Duncrun, then please consider keeping it alive by sharing it with your friends."  

And following on that request, I have shared it with you. The story source is listed as an 1896 publication of Irish local legends by O'Hanlon.

Five other great tales about bones:

From the Brothers Grimm, The Singing Bones.

And from the American South, Raw Head Bloody Bones.

The pirate tale, Dem Bones.

The Dancing Skeleton or Aaron Kelly's Bones is a longtime folktale favorite. Funny and creepy at the same time.

Lots of skeleton and bone folklore on Folklore Thursday's site.

So, I'll leave you with these cheery tales to keep you company the next few days. I'll be too busy taking care of the old man's bones to be writing, I think. Wish us luck!










Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.