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Authors: Cora Harrison
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said Mara.
‘Lios Mac Sioda is nowhere near the silver mine, though, is it?’ Moylan estimated distances with his finger and his thumb.
‘I suspect that the land where the mine is situated is probably common land. No one seems to own these upper terraces. You remember when we did this map, don’t you, Fachtnan?’
‘I think I was about twelve then, Brehon – I don’t remember too much about it. It was more Cormac and some of the others who were doing the drawing. We did a bit of measuring, but that was all.’
‘We’d only have been about eight or nine, then,’ said Moylan looking at his friend Aidan.
‘I remember doing it,’ said Enda thoughtfully. ‘And I do remember that the farms around the mountain did have common grazing rights. I remember telling my father that and explaining to him why mountain grazing rights were so important for farmers on the Burren and how the grass keeps growing on the limestone through the winter and the cattle have dry feet as there is no mud. And, of course,’ his voice rose with excitement, ‘that is why Sorley bought these two farms as well as the land belonging to Newtown Castle: they gave him rights over the common land on the upper slopes of Cappanabhaile. Is the mine on the common land, Brehon?’
‘I think,’ said Mara, rolling up the map and placing it in her leather satchel, ‘that we should go up there now and see for ourselves. It’s a lovely day and we can ride as far as Rathborney. I’m sure that Toin the hospitaller would not mind if we left the horses in one of his fields. We’ll take Bran, he’ll enjoy the climb,’ she smiled affectionately at the giant white wolfhound who lay stretched across the doorway.
‘So Sheedy is our suspect, then, Brehon, is that right?’ Aidan nodded wisely.
‘I imagine,’ said Mara thoughtfully, ‘that Sheedy won’t be the only suspect. A man like Sorley Skerrett makes many enemies.’
FIVE
BETHA IM FUILLEMA GELL (PLEDGE-INTEREST JUDGEMENTS)
Silver is the basis for all fines and loans under Brehon Law. A sét (treasure) is valued as half an ounce of silver and one milch cow is valued as one ounce of silver.
A king must always be paid in silver, never with cows or other animals. Conversely, a man of low status, such as an ócaire must not be paid in silver as it may be of no use to him.
If defective silver is used to pay an obligation then the contract is cancelled when the defect is discovered, even if years have elapsed.
‘I ’M LOOKING FORWARD to seeing this mine,’ said Enda as they rode down the hill towards Rathborney. ‘I was reading something in a judgement text about what happens when a mine pollutes the land. If Sorley’s mine is a big one, then that might be the problem with Sheedy. Anyway, I’d like to see how it works. I think we should understand these things if we are going to see how the laws affect silver and copper mines.’
‘Are you worried about this Sheedy, Brehon?’ asked Fachtnan. ‘Don’t you think that we should visit him as well?’
‘I’m not sure that we have the time to do both, Fachtnan. At this time of the year dusk comes early.’ Mara pursed her lips in exasperation. It was a familiar wish of hers that the days, whether it was winter, summer, autumn or spring, had a few more hours in them.
Toin’s stableman was happy to accommodate the boys’ ponies as well as Mara’s Arab mare. Toin himself came out to point out the best route for the short, steep climb towards the mill.
‘Have you heard about the death of your neighbour, Sorley Skerrett?’ asked Mara. Toin looked a little better, she thought. As usual he was cheerful and seemed to enjoy the sight of Aidan running races across the field with Bran.
‘Save your energy,’ he called and then turned back to Mara. ‘Yes, I have.’ There was a certain reserve in his voice and, as she glanced at him, he added, ‘A neighbour, but not a friend.’
‘You didn’t like him much.’ Mara
‘Lios Mac Sioda is nowhere near the silver mine, though, is it?’ Moylan estimated distances with his finger and his thumb.
‘I suspect that the land where the mine is situated is probably common land. No one seems to own these upper terraces. You remember when we did this map, don’t you, Fachtnan?’
‘I think I was about twelve then, Brehon – I don’t remember too much about it. It was more Cormac and some of the others who were doing the drawing. We did a bit of measuring, but that was all.’
‘We’d only have been about eight or nine, then,’ said Moylan looking at his friend Aidan.
‘I remember doing it,’ said Enda thoughtfully. ‘And I do remember that the farms around the mountain did have common grazing rights. I remember telling my father that and explaining to him why mountain grazing rights were so important for farmers on the Burren and how the grass keeps growing on the limestone through the winter and the cattle have dry feet as there is no mud. And, of course,’ his voice rose with excitement, ‘that is why Sorley bought these two farms as well as the land belonging to Newtown Castle: they gave him rights over the common land on the upper slopes of Cappanabhaile. Is the mine on the common land, Brehon?’
‘I think,’ said Mara, rolling up the map and placing it in her leather satchel, ‘that we should go up there now and see for ourselves. It’s a lovely day and we can ride as far as Rathborney. I’m sure that Toin the hospitaller would not mind if we left the horses in one of his fields. We’ll take Bran, he’ll enjoy the climb,’ she smiled affectionately at the giant white wolfhound who lay stretched across the doorway.
‘So Sheedy is our suspect, then, Brehon, is that right?’ Aidan nodded wisely.
‘I imagine,’ said Mara thoughtfully, ‘that Sheedy won’t be the only suspect. A man like Sorley Skerrett makes many enemies.’
FIVE
BETHA IM FUILLEMA GELL (PLEDGE-INTEREST JUDGEMENTS)
Silver is the basis for all fines and loans under Brehon Law. A sét (treasure) is valued as half an ounce of silver and one milch cow is valued as one ounce of silver.
A king must always be paid in silver, never with cows or other animals. Conversely, a man of low status, such as an ócaire must not be paid in silver as it may be of no use to him.
If defective silver is used to pay an obligation then the contract is cancelled when the defect is discovered, even if years have elapsed.
‘I ’M LOOKING FORWARD to seeing this mine,’ said Enda as they rode down the hill towards Rathborney. ‘I was reading something in a judgement text about what happens when a mine pollutes the land. If Sorley’s mine is a big one, then that might be the problem with Sheedy. Anyway, I’d like to see how it works. I think we should understand these things if we are going to see how the laws affect silver and copper mines.’
‘Are you worried about this Sheedy, Brehon?’ asked Fachtnan. ‘Don’t you think that we should visit him as well?’
‘I’m not sure that we have the time to do both, Fachtnan. At this time of the year dusk comes early.’ Mara pursed her lips in exasperation. It was a familiar wish of hers that the days, whether it was winter, summer, autumn or spring, had a few more hours in them.
Toin’s stableman was happy to accommodate the boys’ ponies as well as Mara’s Arab mare. Toin himself came out to point out the best route for the short, steep climb towards the mill.
‘Have you heard about the death of your neighbour, Sorley Skerrett?’ asked Mara. Toin looked a little better, she thought. As usual he was cheerful and seemed to enjoy the sight of Aidan running races across the field with Bran.
‘Save your energy,’ he called and then turned back to Mara. ‘Yes, I have.’ There was a certain reserve in his voice and, as she glanced at him, he added, ‘A neighbour, but not a friend.’
‘You didn’t like him much.’ Mara
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