Three Trout Stream

It is no accident that the stream linking Downshill, Glen of the Downs and Delgany is called the Three Trout Stream! Trout, like salmon, were considered supernatural fish in ancient Ireland. They were associated with mystical healing. The name is ancient and harkens back to a time when the trout had great symbolic meaning. WB Yeats referenced a number of stories about trout collected from the Irish peasantry.
The trout, the blackbird and the stag were thought by the Celts to be the oldest animals in the world - representing water, air and earth.
The number three had great significance in Ancient Ireland: life-death-rebirth, spirit-mind-body, mother-father-child, past-present-future, power-intellect-love and creation-preservation-destruction - three Celtic worlds; the spiritual world, the present world and the celestial world. It was easily incorporated from Celtic into Christian symbolism: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit etc.
Anyone interested in reading some beautiful stories referencing the Sacred Trout of our heritage can find them in the Schools Collection here: https://www.duchas.ie/en/src?q=Trout
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALan.../HolyWells.html

The Three Trout Stream is hugely important for the biodiversity of our local area: healthy rivers and streams result in healthy fish, amphibian and insect life - supporting birds and mammals and plant life.

In places the Three Trout Stream has devastatingly been buried under concrete - we need to reverse this and create the conditions for the stream to thrive.

Celtic Fish by CelticArt on DeviantArt

Inhabitants of Bellevue Woods:

13th Jnuary 2020:

I drew this series of little native Irish animals - which at the time I called "Inhabitants of Bellevue Woods" - almost thirty years ago when I was 15. Growing up in Bellevue I felt very much part of the natural world. Nature is so enchanting for young people - then so often we lose touch with it. Sometimes walking in the woods or in the mountains I am struck with a sense that this is what is meaningful and real - not our everyday life of stress and rushing and trying and achieving - but rather this peaceful connected belonging - simply being - which quietly goes about its existence unnoticed by our busy, noisy, forward march to something called advancement.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.