Therese Kielty BSc(Hons) Glasgow

On Thursday 21st June, a cold wet June Thursday, my daughter Therese graduated from Glasgow University with an honours degree in Chemistry. Damien, James, Mum and I were present in the vast hall with hundreds of other families and friends to witness the capping ceremony in the precint of this ancient University.
I was very proud. We all were very proud. Therese has worked hard and has overcome many stumbling blocks on the way to her degree. She earned her qualification.
(Worth stating here I am very proud of all my children. Martin, Damien, John, James, Gerry and Therese. They are all working hard, and working in professions they wanted to be a part of. Acting, writing, music, science.)

Therese's next obstacle to be overcome is finding a suitable job. She has sent off numerous applications, but so far no offers even of interview. Such is the world today for young  people.


Before the ceremony began at 11am, we attended Mass at Turnbull Hall, the University's catholic Chaplaincy. Fr Keenan said the mass. There was a welcome cup of coffee after the Mass before we made our way back to the Main Building.

The Graduation Ceremony was one  with pomp and formality. We sang a hymn as the Professors processed into the Hall. We sang in Latin!
The principal in his speech mentioned the history of the University, the Reformation and the Enlightenment. He did not refer to its Catholic roots, though he did mention John Henry, Cardinal Newman.

It was an amazing sight to see the rows of new Graduates in their Academic gowns and hoods, a rainbow of colour. To observe the traditional ceremony of capping and hooding.

And afterwards, in the draughty quadrangle, just out of the rain, the greetings, the hugs, the photographs and the smiles and cheers. A day to cherish.

Afterwards, there was a reception in the Chemistry building, then we treked across to the Western Infirmary, where granny saw Therese in her academic gown. More photos and congratulations from folk in the ward.

Then home for a couple of hours rest. We had been up since 6 30am. It was now 4 pm.

In the evening, we drove to Tony Macaroni's Italian restaurant in Byres Road in the West end of Glasgow. There we were joined by Gerry, John and John's girlfriend Jordanna. We had a lovely meal, with some wine. We will not mention the sweets.....no we won't.....no...my lips are sealed...but check the photos.....ahem....

Getting ready for the ceremony

A Prayer at the beginning

Therese receives her hood

A Rainbow of Colour

Capping...the cap is ancient

Nearing the close

We did it!!

Toasting Success

Damien holds the parchment

I didn't get one......

Therese and Lucy

Emma and Therese

No...not wands...

Hogwart's Graduates

Therese and Bob

The Four Caballeros

James, Dad, These, Mum Damien

Dekusions of Intelligence..

Fangs a Lot!

With Granny in Hospital

At Tony Macaroni's..Ribs were delicious!

Gerry and John

Not mentioning the sweets...

Jordana and Therese

Jordana, John and Therese

Gerry and Therese



Great place to eat!

History of Glasgow University

Glasgow University

Carn Liath

Carn Liath is a wonderful example of a "Broch" Brochs are a type of fortification found only in Scotland, and mostly in the far north and in the northern islands. There are at least 500 of them.

I do not know if they are found mostly in this area because this is the only part of Scotland where they were built, or whether the more aggessive construction work that took place in the Central and South of Scotland destroyed all the evidence of these buildings in the past 600 years.

Brochs developed from circular houses into tall and imposing buildings. Today Carn Liath is about 3metres in height, but when it was complete it would have been about 3 times that height.

Many brochs stood alone, while others were associated with a surrounding village.
Carn Liath lies very near the shore and, lacking natural defences, it was a very strongly built structure.
I visited it in the evening, when I was the only one there. I soent a few moments imagining what it must have been like all those years ago. Apart from the nearby A9, the landscape has probably not changed all that much.

The planning and construction of this broch shows the ingenuity of those distant Iron Age farmers in this remote corner of Scotland.

Thinking about this broch, visiting the numerous carved Pictish Stones, having seen the number of stones exhibited in Dunrobin Castle - many of which were simply found lying on the beach - it makes you think about what life must have been like all those years ago.
The carvings on the Pictish stones are ornate and impressive. These were skilled workers.
They were not savages, and some of the later stones show their knowledge of Christianity.
This is a part of History I will be looking into in more detail myself, so that when I next visit, I will come with a greater insight to Iron Age people of Scotland.

Carn Liath Ancient Monuments

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/golspie/carnliath/

Carn Liath

Looking to the Shore

The Entrance

Doorway

General View

Inside a room

The Castle of Mey

When we set off on this journey, we knew it would be fairly long. We had not realised that the weather being so poor would mean that quite a stretch would be done in dreadful visibility due to low cloud. It was not the ideal driving weather, but in the end we got there.

The Castle of Mey is famous because it was the favourite home of the late Queen Mother.
Since her death it has become a popular tourist attraction, and many of the guides and farm staff still fondly remember the Queen Mother.
There are some links at the end of the blog if you wish more detailed information.

After the death of her husband, the Queen Mother was advised to find a place far fromLondon where she could have some peace and quiet.
In 1952, while staying nearby, she first visited the castle, then known as  Barrogill Castle. It was somewhat delapidated, but the Queen Mother decided this was the place she wanted to have.
So she bought and then began its restoration, and she was to spend many a happy summer up here in the most notherly lived in Castle in the United Kingdom.

The castle has a long history.

It was originally built by the 4th Earl of Caithness for his son William. William was murdered by his brother John, who had been a prisoner of his father for 6 years. John was then murdered and the castle passed to the third son George Sinclair. He began the Clan Sinclairs of Mey, and renamed the castle to Barrogill. It became the seat of the Earls of Caithness.
The 15th Earl died childless and passed the castle to a friend on condition he changed his name to Sinclair.
The widow of this man finally sold the castle to a Captain Imbert-Terry. It was he who sold it to the Queen Mother.

The castle still has a royal connection, as Prince Charles visits at least once a year and rents it for a few days.

It makes for an interesting visit. There is a farm to see, some photographs and film, and there is a very pleasant tea room.

The Castle of Mey is only a few miles from John O' Groats, and the furthest point north in the UK -Dunnet Head.

The Castle of Mey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Mey
http://www.castleofmey.org.uk

Castle of Mey

Lighthouse at Dunnet Head

Dunrobin Castle

On our second day, we headed a bit further north on the A9, and came to Dunrobin Castle.
There is tree lined driveway leading to the castle. As you enter from this side, the building does not look all that impressive. But from the front, it is a different story, as you will see from the photographs.

This area has been the stronghold of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland for many hundreds of years.
The Earldom was created around 1230, and there has been a castle here ever since, the original built possibly on the site of a medieval castle.

Over the years the castle has changed and developed until you see it as it stands today. It even has its own Railway station on the other side of the entrance gate.

The motto of the Clan Sutherland is "Sans Peur" The Sutherland name originates from" South Land."
This was land discovered and colonised by Norse invaders. It is believed that many of the inhabitants of this area are descendants of the Celtic tribes who fled from the Vikings.
The Chiefs of the Sutherland Clan are all descended from the grandson of Freskin de Moravia, a Flemish knight given these lands by William the Lion in 1197.

There is much to see in the castle. There are also the gardens, the museum with a fascinating collection of everything from Pictish Stones to animal bones. And there are also twice daily falconry demonstrations.
There is a tearoom too, so you can easily spend a few hours here.
Follow the links below for more information.


http://www.dunrobincastle.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPYTAkN7k8

Castle Entrance

Fireplace in entrance hall

Gardens and the Castle

Dunrobin Castle

Gardens

The gardens

Falcon

I can see you...

St Gilbert de Moravia

In the Royal burgh of Dornoch you will find in the centre of the village Dornoch cathedral.

The cathedral was built at his own expense by Bishop Gilbert who had been elected to the Bishopric of Caithness  in 1222.
The cathedral was completed around 1239. Gilbert died in 1245 at Scrabster, and was the last pre-reformation Scot to be added to the Calendar of Saints.

It stood from its completion until the Reformation, some 340 years, In 1570 it was badly damaged by fire in a clan feud, and his tomb was desecrated. In 1616 some reconstruction was begun. Between 1835 and 1837, the Duchess-Countess of Sutherland completed the restoration to it's present state.
Gilbert's brother Richard is buried in the Cathedral. He was killed in battle fought nearby against the Norsemen.
The Cathedral has some wonderful stained glass and a few curios in the wood carving and in the gargoyles outside.

Gilbert died a natural death, unlike his 2 predecessors. It was because of this that Gilbert moved to Dornoch.
For more information, click on the links below

http://dornoch-cathedral.com
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dornoch/cathedral/
http://discoveringthehighlands.com/2010/08/19/history-of-dornoch-cathedral/

Dornoch Cathedral

interior shot

stained glass of St Gilbert

a curio

side altar

St Richard de Moravia's tomb.
Note the crossed leg - he was a Crusader

Guardian Angel stained glass

Christ The King

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_de_Moravia