A Few Things

A few things All Guild Members should know

Strictly speaking, there is no difference between Mc and Mac

Both are anglicizations of the Gaelic “Mhic” which means “Son Of” or “Derived From”. 

The contraction from Mac to Mc changes the pronunciation from “Mack” to “Mick” and has occurred more in Ireland than in Scotland.

Mhic Dara, Macdara, and McDara can essentially be interchangeable.

Dara can mean many things in many different cultures around the world

In Irish, Dara can mean “Oak”, “Wise”, “Fruitful” or “Fertile”.  

The spelling varies, with variations including Daire, Darragh, Daragh and the Gaelic “Doire”.

The Dara Celtic Knot – Strength / Immortality / Wisdom

Although there is no one symbol for the Dara Knot, each variation is centered on one common theme – the mighty oak and its complex and powerful root system that supports the immense weight of a mighty.  The Dara Celtic Knot is one of a number of Celtic symbols for both strength and inner strength.

The oak would have often been the tallest tree in an otherwise sparse surrounding, making it a target for lightning strikes.  Stories of the mighty oak being set alight by lightning, and battling on for many more years could be at the root of the Celtic association with immortality.  It was believed that oak trees held the spirits of their ancestors and as such it was “sacred”. As is the case with the other Celtic Knot symbols, the Dara Celtic Knot consists of intertwined lines with no beginning or end.

The oak can live up to 300 years and the same tree would be present in a family’s stories for many generations.  Representing ancient oak trees that have been around so long, and experienced so much, the Dara Knot is believed by many to symbolize wisdom.

St. Mac Dara’s Island and Oratory

“Oileán Mhic Dara”, is 2.5 kilometers off the coast of south Galway and made up of around 60 acres of Connemara granite covered with grass and low vegetation. 

On the island’s eastern side, a little stone church was built over the location of an ancient hermitage or monastery that St. MacDara founded or was connected to in the 6th Century. 

The rectangular church is made of huge granite rocks and has an unusually steep roof.  St. MacDara’s Island Monastery is reputed to be one of Ireland’s finest examples of an early Christian oratory. The Monastery that Macdara established in the sixth century was most likely built of wood.  The current stone church was constructed in the 10th century and is believed to be an exact replica of the earlier wooden version.

Another replica was made by McDara Family of trade in Koroneburg.  Scully McQuillan and his family live there.  In 2018, a pilgrimage was made to St. Mac Dara’s Island for the purpose of visiting the original structure.  Here is a link to a video posted on the Ireland.com website:  https://community.ireland.com/14908/Thank-You-from-St-MacDara-Island

In addition to the Oratory, there are three penitential stations made up of cross slabs and a holy well. There also exists the remains of a much later created “bothy” where livestock used to be reared. The word bothy derives from the Gaelic “Bothan” and originally described the rudimentary accommodation created for farm laborers.  In our “history” it is proposed that this structure was created by the McDara Family of Trade in the 16th Century.

10th Century Replica and 21st Century Replica

The "McQuillans" pilgrimage to St. MacDara's Island

History of Saint MacDara

St. MacDara, a little-known saint from the sixth century who has long been honored on the western coasts of Co. Galway, celebrates his feast day on July 16. 

He is the patron saint of:

Not much is known about St. MacDara’s life.  It is believed his original name was Sionnach, which is the Irish for “Fox”.  Because foxes were thought to bring bad luck to Galway fishermen, the saint was instead referred to as Saint MacDara, son of Dara rather than Saint Sionnach. 

However, according to contemporary researchers, the name is actually pronounced Síonach (Síothnanch), which relates MacDara’s name to síon, meaning ‘stormy weather’ weather as Gaeilge.

The Feast Day of St MacDara (Lá Fhéile Mhic Dara)

To this day, July 16th is celebrated as Féile Mhic Dara (St. MacDara’s feast day). Traditionally devotees travel by boat to the small, uninhabited island off Mace Head in Connemara known as Oileán Mhic Dara / Cruach na Cara (St. MacDara’s Island) in honour of the saint. Once there, a mass is held in the open air at the old stone oratory named after St. MacDara and which was repaired in the 1977.

Following mass, attendees gather for lunch, and the Féile Mhic Dara Galway Hooker fishing boat race takes place. Currachs, another form of traditional boat prevalent on Ireland’s west coast, are also raced. After spending some time on the island, visitors return to the mainland in Carna, where there is live music and céilidh dancing continues into the evening.