It is impossible to overstate the historical importance of northern Israel and the Galilee, and the multitude of deeply significant sites that can be visited in this beautiful part of the world: Bronze Age settlements from the time of King David (e.g. Tel Hazor, Tel Beit She’an); Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine cities (e.g. Beit She’an); the places where Jesus lived and ministered (e.g. Nazareth, Capernaum, Mount of the Beatitudes); Crusader fortresses and citadels (e.g. Nimrod, Akko); and much more.
The Galilee contains many important places of pilgrimage for Christians.
However, it should be remembered that Jesus was a Jew and is recognized as a prophet by Muslims.
Everyone, irrespective of their religion or beliefs, is welcome at these sites, which offer wonderful and restful locations, often with stunning views, for contemplation, meditation or prayer.
The “Bible Walks” website (www.biblewalks.com) provides a comprehensive historical description of a vast array of sites, together with visitors information and excellent photographs.
We highly recommend a recent edition of “The Holy Land: An Oxford Archeological Guide”, Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, Oxford University Press (We have a copy in the Villa, for guests use) Below, we have highlighted some of our favourites sites listed below in ascending order of distance from Rosh Pinna.
Tel Hazor is of one of the largest and most important biblical sites from the Canaanite and Israelite periods (18th to 9th Century BCE) when this mighty city was the gateway between Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Described as the “head of all of those kingdoms” (Joshua 11:10) Hazor was the largest and most important fortified city in the region. It was noted for its bronze making industry.
The upper city is situated at the top of the Tel and is protected by massive walls, towers and gates that enclose an area of 10 hectares. Gate towers dating back to the time of King Solomon have been partially reconstructed.
Inside the walls are the excavated remains of a Canaanite palace (14th to 13th Century BCE) and temple, an Israelite citadel (9th to 8th Century BCE), and numerous other imposing structures including civic and commercial buildings.
A very significant and impressive system to store and supply water was constructed in the 9th Century BCE, including a vertical square shaft descending 46 metres into the ground, accessible by 123 steps carved into the rock.
The much larger lower city is some 75 hectares in area, protected by a surrounding rampart.
Comparatively little has been excavated, yet it is known to contain the remains of various structures dating from 18th to 13th Century BCE. The lower city is not open to the public.
However, it can be clearly seen from the northern side of the upper city. Worth bringing binoculars! http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Hazor.html
“Old Korazim” was a small town established early in the 1st Century CE.
According to the Christian gospels, Jesus visited Korazim did not “repent” and was cursed.
Korazim was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th Century CE, though it was subsequently restored and prospered until the 8th Century CE.
Set on a promontory on the northern slopes, the excavated town is approximately 10 hectares in size.
In the centre is an important synagogue, partially reconstructed, that dates to the 4th Century CE.
There are fine carvings on the lintel and on other stones, including a stone bench (a “cathedra of Moses”) with a Hebrew inscription. Nearby is an underground Mikveh.
The town’s water supply was a nearby spring, and a complex network of covered gullies and cisterns distributed and stored the water. An oil press can be seen on the western side of the town. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Korazim.html
Centred about the octagonal Church of the Beatitudes, beautiful and serene gardens and expansive lawns offer wonderful views over the Lake.
It is believed that here Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28) to a very large crowd of Galileans. The sermon contains the eight Beatitudes, including, for example, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
This is truly a wonderful place to sit, think, contemplate and meditate.
With plenty of shade, it is a delightful place even in the heat of the mid-Summer.
Nearby are the ruins of a 4th Century CE Byzantine church. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Beatitudes.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount
Below the Mount of the Beatitudes, on the shore of the Lake, is the Church of the Multiplication built, it is believed, on the site where Jesus performed the miracle of the “five loaves and two fish”, also known as the “feeding of the five thousand” (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15).
A very large crowd of 5,000 men plus accompanying women and children had followed Jesus from nearby Bethsaida. As evening approached, the crowd became hungry, yet the only food available was five loaves of bread and two fish.
Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread. Miraculously there became more than enough food to feed the entire crowd.
The beautiful and serene modern church is built on the site of the original 4th Century CE church and contains many of the original features, including a series of the original floor mosaics.
These stunning figurative mosaics and are the earliest know examples of their kind in Israel. A limestone block, under the altar, is venerated as the stone on which the miraculous meal was laid. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/tabcha.html
A short walk from the Church of the Multiplication is the Church of the Primacy of Peter.
Situated on the shore of the Lake, the modern Franciscan chapel is built on the foundations of a 4th Century CE church, still visible at the base of the modern walls.
The modest chapel, quiet and reflective, houses a large rock set into the floor, the “mensa Christi”, on which Jesus and the disciples had breakfast.
On the lake side of the church are some carved stone steps (2nd Century BCE?) that lead down to a small beach.
Early in the morning it is still possible to see fishermen casting their nets into the Lake. Warm springs flow into the Lake close to this point, attracting large numbers of fish to this place.
Nearby, a small jetty, shaded by an awning, has some picnic tables – an ideal location for contemplation and a spot of lunch. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/tabgha-church-of-primacy-of-peter
Capernaum was a fishing village on the north shore of the Lake, inhabited from the 2nd Century BCE to the 11th Century CE.
An important Jewish centre, it was the centre of Jesus’ public ministry and is mentioned on numerous occasions in the Gospels (Matthew 4:13, 8:5, 11:23, 17:24, Mark 1:21, 2:1, 9:33, Luke 4:23, 31,7:1, 10:15, John 2:12, 4:46, 6:17, 24,59).
The narrow network of streets and buildings that formed the village has been excavated.
At the centre is an octagonal church built over an ancient house believed to have been the house where the apostle Peter lived.
A modern church is built on pillars over this site, with a glass floor through which the remnants of this ancient church can be viewed.
There are also the remains of a 4th Century CE synagogue, one of the most magnificent ancient synagogues in Israel.
Nearby is the Church of the Seven Apostles, a beautiful modern Greek Orthodox church. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/capernaum.html
This rarely visited archeological site is located in Jordan Park Nature on the north-east of the Lake, just east of the Upper Jordan River.
The site is the probable location of the town of Bethsaida (“Beit Tsaida”) where Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22) and the birthplace of the apostles Andrew, Peter and Philip (John 1:44). Though now some 1.5 km from the Lake, it once have sat on its north-eastern shore until earthquakes shifted the course of the Upper Jordan and raised the northern banks.
Recent excavations have revealed an extensive walled town dating from the 3rd Century BCE, that has yielded a multitude of archaeological treasures, including a fisherman’s house, a winemaker’s house amongst other structures and artifacts.
You can walk the network of cobbled streets, flanked by shops, houses and a temple.
However, the excavations also revealed that beneath this Hellenistic and Roman town lies a much older Bronze Age city, likely the city of Geshur.
King David’s third wife, the mother of Absalom, came from here (2 Samuel 3: 3). Archaeologists have reconstructed the massive city gate complex at the southern end of the city.
Tel Beit Tsaida is a tranquil refuge with wonderful views over the Lake and the Upper Jordan.
Hard to find, access to the site is from the gate to the Jordan park. Right after passing the gate, turn left and reach the parking lot on the north side of the ruins.
We recommend combining a visit to this archeological site with a visit to the nearby Bethsaida National Park Reserve (see î Bethsaida) http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Bethsaida.html
Further round on the western shores of the Lake, are the excavated ruins of the Byzantine church and monastery of Kursi, commemorating Jesus’ so-called “miracle of the swine” (Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39).
Dating back to the 5th Century CE, it is the largest Byzantine monastery in Israel. According to 1st Century CE Jewish records, Kursi was a gentile town, hence the keeping of pigs.
Kursi is a beautiful place to visit, lush and green and with wonderful views over the lake. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Kursi.html
The Montfort is a 13th century Crusader fortress built during the times of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The ruins of the fortress is perched majestically on a narrow and steep cliff above the southern bank of Nahal Kziv (Kziv River). The fortress is a fantastic family outing combining striking natural scenery and historical insight.
Unlike many other crusader fortresses in this region, this fortress had not been originally built for military purposes but begun its way as an agricultural farm, prior to its becoming one of the finest examples of fortified building architecture in crusader states.
The fortress is only accessible by foot, but the hike to the fortress is fun and beautiful and does not take very long. The hike is of medium difficulty and suitable for children ages 4+. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Montfort.html
Nimrod Fortress is a very important Crusader-era castle, the largest in Israel, built between 1229-1290 AD to defend the route from Damascus to Jerusalem.
A mountain-top citadel, impressive in its own right, Nimrod commands fantastic
views up to Mount Hermon and down the steep ravines to the Hula valley below.
Some 65 dunams in area, the outer walls connect a series of defensive towers, each containing various rooms and halls in which the defending soldiers would have lived and from where they would have fought.
A large underground reservoir, fully accessible, would have provided enough water to sustain the castle through a prolonged siege.
The central Keep (Donjon), the strategic heart of the castle, likes on the highest point of the castle and offers some of the best views of Nimrod as a whole and of the surrounding landscape.
At 800 m above sea level, the site can be pleasantly cool in the heat of mid-Summer, but can therefore be cold in the Autumn and Spring.
It is not somewhere to visit in Winter! https://www.touristisrael.com/nimrod-fortress/6010/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimrod_Fortress
The nearby Witches’ Cauldron restaurant is a great place to have a hearty lunch or evening meal, particularly when the weather is cold. The restaurant has magnificent views over the beautiful crater lake of Birkat Ram. http://www.the-witch.co.il/home.asp
The drive to Nimrod, once you have passed through Kiryat Shimona and start the climb into the Golan Heights, is beautiful.
It is well worth taking your time and stopping at the various viewing points along the road.
It is also worth considering visiting some of the Druze settlements such as Majdal al-Shams (less than 10 km away) whilst you are in the Heights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belvoir_Fortress https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montfort_Castle
A small town in the time of Jesus, Nazareth became a major Christian stronghold during the Byzantine period.
It has been continuously occupied ever since.
Centred about the Old City and its market (mainly dating to the 19th Century CE), Nazareth today is a bustling mixed Christian, Muslim and Jewish city.
Full of fascinating and beautiful corners, its 30 churches, many mosques and ancient synagogues are testament to its history and spiritual significance.
At the heart of the city is the Basilica of the Annunciation, commemorating Gabriel’s visit to Mary.
A stunning modern church, it is built over the grotto believed to be Mary’s house, now an important shrine. The floor contains a 5th Century CE mosaic.
The adjacent St Joseph’s Church is built over a grotto believed to be Joseph’s carpentry workshop.
St Gabriel’s Church, close to Mary’s Well, is a Greek Orthodox church that commemorates the Annunciation. The 12th Century CE Synagogue Church, built by the Crusaders, is built on the site of an ancient synagogue where it is believed that Jesus prayed and studied as a boy.
Other churches worth visiting include the Greek Catholic Church, Christ Church, Our Lady of the Fright, Mensa Christi, and the Convent of the Sisters of Nazareth.
No visit to Nazareth would be complete without a visit to the bustling market, a traditional Arab souk in many respects, selling food, spices and fabrics as well as artwork and souvenirs and with many nearby cafes and restaurants.
Mount Tabor, 9 km east of Nazareth, was a strategically important fortress dating back to the Bronze Age and has numerous references in the Old Testament (Joshua 19: 22, Judges 4: 6-14 and 8: 18, 1 Samuel 10: 3, 1 Chronicles 6: 77, Psalms 89: 12, Jeremiah 46: 18, and Josiah 5: 1).
The summit of the Mount (575m) has extensive Roman and Crusader ruins, clearly visible today.
It is here that Christians believe that Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus who had become “transfigured” (Matthew 17: 1-13), commemorated by the Church of the Transfiguration.
A modern church, it built over the remains of a Crusader church, including 3 accessible grottoes. There is also Greek Orthodox church and monastery.
We recommend taking the short hike (2.5 km) from the Gate of the Wind parking lot beside the wall and begin to climb on foot up to the Franciscan monastery.
The walk along the hillside paths reveals a wealth of magnificent scenery: plowed fields, ponds and communities hidden amid the tangle of greenery are disclosed one after another cumulating to a wide panorama from different successive angles.
A gentle breeze blows on the hill in both winter and summer. From the summit there are fabulous views over the Jezreel valley and is a wonderful place for a picnic.
Mount Tabor is also a popular launch site for hang-glider enthusiasts. http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/tabor.html
Akko, also known historically to Arabs as عكّا (‘Akka) and Westerners as Acre, lies on the northern edge of the coastal valley in the Bay of Acre.
Akko possesses a long history of various cultures: Canaanites, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders and Arabs. Akko is a holy city in the Bahá’í Faith and has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a site of extraordinary significance to the world’s cultural heritage.
Akko boasts beautiful seashore, a marina and a fishing port. Old Acre, which is situated on a peninsula, is one of the few cities along the shores of the Mediterranean whose surrounding walls have remained intact, aside from two openings that now provide access to motor vehicles.
Akko is our favorite city in the north; there is plenty to see (and hear and taste and smell) above ground and below.
Akko also makes a great place to spend a Saturday, as the Old City doesn’t close down and all the sites are open. It is a city brimming with history and bustling multicultural livelihood. One day-trip to Akko may not suffice to enjoy the multiple attraction Akko has to offer, below is a list of our favorite:
- Visit the Hall of the Crusader Knights at the Citadel. Archaeological excavations revealed a complex of halls built and used by the Hospitallers Knights.
- Descend into the Templar Tunnel, which was built by the Knights Templar to provide underground passage between their fortress and the port on the south-eastern side of the city.
- Visit Or Torah synagogue, a Tunisian synagogue, meticulously handcrafted spectacle of stained glass and tile mosaic entirely unique to Akko. (Located a 3-5 minute walk outside the Old City from the Land Gate)
- Shop, eat and linger in the market. There are very good fishmongers (but arrive early) as well as spices, olives, baklava, soap and fresh loofas from the sea. There are some excellent humus eateries in the market.
- Walk atop the city walls, the section from Weizman St. to the Land Gate at the sea shore dates back from the rule of Ahmed Al-Jazzar, This section also houses the Treasures in the Wall Ethnographic Museum.
- Visit the Turkish Bazaar – Newly renovated bazaar in the old city, where several up-and-coming chefs have opened small restaurants.
- Explore Tel Akko – the remains of the ancient city of Acre before it was resettled on the piece of land currently known as the “Old City”. Tel Akko offers incredible views of the Old City, Haifa and the sea. The hill, or “Tel”, results from multiple ancient cities built on top of each other from the Early Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Period. Excavations are on-going, and since few tourist know about it, is well worth a visit if you’re craving some peace and quiet.
- Swim in fine Mediterranean water and relax on one of Akko beaches adorned with soft, fine sand from the Nile Estuary.
- Marvel and contemplate in the Shrine of Baha’u’llah – the holiest place for the Baha’is. The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh is composed of a central room that has a small garden at its centre.
Akko has excellent fish & seafood restaurants, housed in authentic stone buildings, and some with fine views of the sea or the port.
If you are looking for something special try Uri Buri or El-Babour & the Sea (booking advisable).
Beit She’an is one of the oldest cities in Israel, first occupied some 6,000 years ago.
The Tel (Tel el-Hisn) contains evidence of Chalcolithic and Bronze Age settlements, and became an administrative centre during the Egyptian occupation (15th Century BCE).
Subsequently a Canaanite settlement, the Tel was later captured by the Philistines, who having defeated the Israelites at the battle of Mount Gilboa, hung the body of King Saul from the city walls.
The Israelites later captured Beit She’an under the leadership of King David.
At the foot of the Tel lies the deeply impressive excavated ruins of a Hellenistic, Roman and then Byzantium metropolis, once home to a population of 40,000 citizens and covering an area of 1,500 dunam.
The colonnaded Cardo is flanked by shops, baths and temples, and evokes a real sense of what it must have been like as a bustling commercial centre some 2,000 years ago.
More than that, there is a significant Roman theatre and a full-size a chariot-racing arena.
Fantastic views of the Roman city can be seen from the top of the Tel.
Beit She’an continued to be an important city under the Arab caliphate and the subsequent Latin Kingdom. Nearby are the ruins of Crusader-era castle.
Beit She’an can be best reached by driving down the eastern shore of the Lake on the 92.
The road passes the holiday resort of Kibbutz Ein Gev, which is an excellent place to stop for a rest and a meal.
The 92 also passes the ruins of a Byzantine Christian monastery at Kursi, commemorating Jesus’ so-called “miracle of the swine” (Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39). Impressive in its own right, it is a beautiful location an offers another lovely place to break to the journey to Beit She’an.


Mountmellick – The Story of Our Community
In 1771, when Nano Nagle was making final preparations to bring the Ursulines to Cork, Mountmellick was raised to the status of a parish. Catholics were few, ignorance and poverty were rife and morale was at a very low ebb. Under the leadership of two zealous pastors the Catholic population increased in spite of oppression, famine and emigration. In 1833 Rev. Andrew Healy became the third P.P. of Mountmellick. He was deeply concerned for the welfare of his people and prayed earnestly for 20 years that the Lord would send Presentation Sisters to provide education for the “poor females” in his parish.
Because of poverty it seemed impossible to provide for a community of nuns – there was no way he could raise funds – but he so believed that the Presentation Sisters were the “right” ones that he refused an offer from another Congregation that would be self sufficient and hence not totally committed to the poor; so he kept on praying and trusting against all the odds until his heart’s desire was granted in 1854.
Anna Maria Corballis was a talented young lady belonging to a wealthy and very religious Dublin family. After her two older sisters joined Fanny Ball in establishing Loreto Abbey, Dublin, Anna Maria entered first the Cistercians in England and later the Carmelites in Dublin. In both cases her health broke down. Eventually she discovered her true vocation when she entered with the Presentation Sisters in Bagenalstown. Before taking her solemn vows, as Sr. Charles, she disposed of her patrimony in favour of the Presentation foundation in Mountmellick, through Dr. Healy, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.
Foundation: On March 6th 1854, Sisters Charles Corballis (Bagenalstown), Aloysius Brophy (her cousin), Ignatius Taylor and Frances Kelly (all from Carlow Community) travelled by train to Portarlington, stopping off to visit the sisters in Kildare. They were accompanied by Fr. Hamilton, a professor in Carlow College, who, with the bishop, ardently supported the new foundation all along the way. There was consternation when no covered car could be procured at Portarlington railway station to bring the sisters on the last leg of their journey to Mountmellick. Fr. Hamilton thought it very undignified for “cloistered nuns” to have to travel in an open car and, with their unseemly luggage, remarked that “they were more likely to be taken for a group of strolling players”!
A house had been rented in the centre of the town as a home for the new community. This big house, devoid of any furniture or convenience, except for two deal tables and three wooden chairs, provided little welcome on a cold bleak afternoon in early March. However, nothing could daunt the enthusiasm of this little group, who had left the security and companionship of their respective communities to embark on a very challenging mission. The sisters slept on pallets on the floor for some time and it is recorded that they carried their three wooden chairs from the refectory to the chapel and back several times daily for most of that first year!
A major task on the evening of arrival was to set up an oratory using one of the deal tables as an altar. Next morning the Bishop offered Mass after which the Blessed Sacrament was reserved and the house blessed. Now, with Jesus in their midst, the first community of Presentation Sisters was officially established in Mountmellick on 7th March 1854.
The Sisters were somewhat disconcerted by the seeming lack of welcome on the part of Fr. Healy or his parishioners. In fact, he had told no one of their coming and so the Sisters were already installed before anyone was aware of their presence. Soon, however, they understood why Fr. Healy acted as he did when they became aware of “the old spirit of bigotry and Protestant ascendancy” which prevailed in the area and how easily hostility could be aroused.
25th March 1854 was a very significant date in the history of the parish, when the Angelus bell rang out at 6 a.m. announcing again, after centuries of silence, the Good News of the Incarnation. We are told that, as Sr. Aloysius rang the bell, she held a little statue of Our Lady in her hand and prayed fervently that the Mother of God would send out blessings of hope and peace to all of her oppressed and deprived children.
In April 1854 the four rooms on the ground floor of their rented home were set up as classrooms, using desks obtained from a former national school, which had catered for 48 pupils. The Sisters were very happy when, on 23rd April, they eagerly opened their school doors, well prepared to accept 40 – 50 pupils. 300 young people turned up aged 4-19 years! The annals describe scenes from these early school days reminiscent of Nano’s first experiences in Cork. These young people, some of whom would just have survived the famine, had little experience of discipline or co-operation. Quarrelling, shouting and generally boisterous, they paid no heed whatever to the many efforts made to calm them. The Sisters felt helpless and sometimes frightened in those early days and it took much courage, patience, faith and commitment to persevere in such difficult circumstances. Their pupils had no knowledge of religion and very few had made First Holy Communion, so the Sisters provided evening classes to teach them prayers and catechism.
In May 1854 the Sisters set up a shrine to Our Lady in their garden and encouraged the pupils to take part in May processions and sing hymns to Our Lady. Afterwards, we are told that, when things got out of control in the classroom, it was enough to make the sign of the Cross and say a Hail Mary aloud to restore order and quiet! The proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, that year, was eagerly availed of as an opportunity to foster a lively devotion to their heavenly Mother in the hearts of the pupils.
During all this time the Sisters kept a very low profile. Because of the prevailing anti-Catholic atmosphere they were seen as a threat. On the feast of Corpus Christi, two men in the grounds of the Sisters’ house deliberately fired a shot at Sr. Ignatius who was standing inside a window, narrowly missing her but leaving the window shattered. Fr. Healy had the two men arrested. During the court hearing, however, he stated that he did not wish them to be prosecuted, but, since the Sisters had come for the benefit of the people they should be respected. This produced a favourable result.
In a special solemn ceremony in 1855, the Bishop presented the Sisters with rings, now worn for the first time in the Order. (Pius IX had sketched the shield and cross with rays saying, when asked for a motto, that the “cross would supply for all”).
1856 saw a number of improvements introduced. Overcrowding in the school was affecting the health of the pupils and their teachers and so the sisters acquired the only available site – a disused distillery yard with some ruined buildings in it, at the entrance to the town. The old distillery dwelling house was renovated as a new home for sisters and a two-roomed thatched school, well lit and ventilated, was built mainly from rubble on the site. A chapel in the new home, capable of holding 200, proved a huge asset in fostering a spirit of faith and devotion in many parishioners.
In September 1856 a very large number of children, adults and married women made their first Confirmation; they were confirmed in the parish church in Graigue. Immediately after the ceremony the newly confirmed, all dressed in white, walked in procession, followed by the congregation, right through the town and into the convent garden – a distance of one mile. No one had organised or foreseen this event, not even Fr. Healy – a striking witness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. (The convent garden is still a place that attracts the newly confirmed, newly-weds and past pupils -after almost 150 years.)
A new convent was built in 1863. It was built at a time of real poverty, and with the help of very small donations, bazaars etc. – money often coming in ‘miraculously’ -the exact sum at the exact time! Two years elapsed before it could be occupied as there was no money to furnish it. A statue of the Immaculate Conception, placed at the highest point of the convent, caused quite a stir. It was just 7 years since the Sisters came to Mountmellick, at which time an orange pole and flag was permanently raised exactly opposite the site of the new convent and everyone entering the town had to pass under it.
In reaction to the erection of the statue, a delegation of the ‘local ascendancy’ brought a petition to Dublin Castle to have the offending statue removed. The petition failed when it was ascertained that it was legally distant from the public thoroughfare. Angry members then threatened to erect a statue of Queen Elizabeth right opposite – but it didn’t happen. The prominent position of Mary Immaculate was a heart warming sign of hope and security for the Catholics where religion was only struggling into life after a cruel persecution of nearly 300 years.
In 1866 St. Joseph’s ‘Benefit School’ opened for Catholic families who had become better off and were sending their children to Protestant Schools so as not to mix with the poor children! The school was set up in the house vacated by the Sisters and the subjects taught were English, French, vocal and instrumental music, painting and needlework. ‘Sunday school’ classes, which up to now were held in Graigue, were transferred to the convent.
In 1868 the first Parish Mission was preached by the O.M.I. Fathers. Many older adults needed to be instructed in the very basics before receiving the Sacraments. The Sisters gave this instruction each evening after school, teaching the Christian Doctrine by rote, since only one in twenty could read. We are told that it was pathetic to see old men hobbling in to get their first ever lessons in Catechism. The bishop came and administered the sacrament of Confirmation to hundreds of these adults at the end of the parish mission.
By 1869, twenty-five years after the foundation, it was clear that the foundation was already bearing much fruit with 18 sisters in community and 30 professed sisters (past pupils) elsewhere. The custom of mothers bringing their children to be offered to Our Lady, May Processions, “Holy Childhood”, “Holy Angels” and Children of Mary were firmly established in the parish. ‘Mountmellick Work’ and other forms of embroidery and hand work had become very popular and profitable. In 1882, an exhibition of needlework was held in Dublin with the intention of promoting home industry – the Sisters, having embroidered a beautiful large quilt in Mountmellick. Work for the occasion, received a certificate of merit.
By 1883 it was clear that developments called for a larger and more ‘modern’ school. The site of the Benefit school, which had been absorbed into the ‘National System’ was available. This year was one of great economic depression and the Sisters got little encouragement financially. However, putting their trust in God, Mary Immaculate and St. Joseph, as always, they set about raising the money. They decided, among other things, to run a bazaar. Their first request for a prize was made to Pope Leo XI11 who graciously sent a beautiful cameo of Our Lady and his Apostolic blessing! Thus heartened, they redoubled their efforts and the bazaar raised £650 clear! The rubble from the thatched school and St. Joseph’s was used to help in the building, while the Sisters taught in the open air and/or under canvas tents in all weathers for two years until the new school opened in 1886. This was to be the scene of their labours for the next 88 years – with the addition of 2 more rooms in 1930.
In 1921, after 67 years in Primary Education, the sisters were aware of a growing need for secondary education. This was especially a life long dream of Mother Patrick Clarke, a woman of great vision and zeal. So, when the Quaker boarding school (established in 1687) came on the market in May 1921, it was bought by the Sisters, through the generous financial aid of D.E. Williams of Tullamore, who had often expressed to the sisters a desire to help the young people of Mountmellick. On 25th October, the feast of Our Lady of Victories, the secondary school, although still in need of vast renovations, opened its doors to thirty day pupils and five boarders. With Mother Ita Fanning at the helm, M. Berchmans Curtin and Sister Martha Timmins formed the nucleus of ‘St. Mary’s College’ where, over the years, countless young girls were well equipped academically, culturally and spiritually for life. St. Mary’s College was destined to grow from strength to strength under the patronage of Our Lady of Victories and have a huge impact locally and nationwide. The fee in 1948 was £30 p.a. for the Boarding School. Pupils came from many counties. Both teachers and pupils worked consistently and tirelessly and achieved great results. The Sisters dedicated themselves totally to the apostolate in St. Mary’s College.
In 1953, Mother Michael Ryan led a foundation to Bicester, Oxon in England and later to Swindon and Acocks Green, Birmingham. In 1958, the Convent of our Lady of Victories was opened. The convent was blessed by Bishop Thomas Keogh, Kildare and Leighlin.
In 1967, a further step was taken when the College became co-educational and the boarding school was phased out. In 1986 it merged with the local Vocational School to form the current Community School. At the same time, the convent behind St. Mary’s College was closed and sold to the trustees of the new school. In 1990 the amalgamated schools underwent renovation and is now known as Mountmellick Community School. Some old dormitories were removed or converted for school use and a school gymnasium was built.
In 1971, two new schools were built on the same site on Davitt Road, Mountmellick, replacing both the convent primary school and the boys primary school. The girls school became known as St. Joseph’s Girls National School and the boys’ school as St. Patrick’s Boys Primary School. Until 1971, the boys had attended the convent school until they finished 1st Class and then continued their education in the boys’ school. This changed when the new schools were opened. The boys then started school in the new St. Patrick,s Boys School. For this reason, three Sisters worked on staff of the boys school. In time, the number was reduced to two and finally one. In 1973, the ‘old schools’ were demolished and the rubble was used as foundation for extended playground in St. Joseph’s GNS – an unbroken chain of significant recycling since 1856!
In July 1992, the establishment of a house in Kirwan Park began a new phase in the history of Presentation Sisters in Mountmellick. For two years this was a house of formation for young sisters. From 1994 to 1999, the house became the Ministries Office (later the Education Office) – a centre for administration and support to many primary and secondary schools in the Northern Province. Since 1999, the present interprovincial Justice community, are responsible for the development of a ministry which supports the congregational thrust towards Justice, Human Rights and Ecology.
In 2004, one hundred and fifty years after foundation, there were thirteen Sisters resident in the town. Three Sisters worked in Primary education, two Sisters in the Community School, three in Kirwan Park and others in a variety of parish based ministries.
In 2008 Ministries included Sisters on Board of Management of Primary and Secondary Schools, Voluntary teaching in Secondary School, Two sisters on Staff of Primary School, Ministry of Prayer – prayer groups, Homework ministry, Church sacristy, Home Visitation and Community Ministry, voluntary housing for the elderly. Sr. Mary Caulfield now (2008) lives in Wolfe Tone Court and initiates many activities for the residents.


Hijra culture, also known as the third gender or transgender community, has a rich and diverse history in India. Dating back to ancient times, the hijra community has been an integral part of Indian society, and has played a significant role in shaping its culture and traditions.
The term “hijra” refers to individuals who do not conform to traditional binary gender roles of male or female, and instead identify as a third gender. The hijra community has been recognized by Indian society for centuries, with references to the hijra community found in Hindu mythology, literature, and ancient texts.
In Hindu mythology, the god Aravan is said to have taken on the form of a hijra to marry Lord Krishna’s sister, Subhadra. Similarly, in the ancient Indian text Kama Sutra, hijras are mentioned as an accepted and respected part of society.
Despite this acceptance in ancient India, hijras have faced discrimination and marginalization in modern times. In the 19th century, the British colonial government criminalized hijra practices, and labeled them as “unnatural” and “criminal.” This led to the hijra community being pushed to the fringes of society, and forced to live in isolated communities on the outskirts of cities.
It was only in 2014 that the Indian Supreme Court recognized hijras as a third gender, and granted them legal recognition and protection under the law. However, even with this legal recognition, hijras continue to face discrimination and prejudice in many aspects of Indian society.
The depiction of hijra culture in popular media has played a significant role in shaping public perception of the community. One such portrayal is seen in the Indian television series “Shakti: Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki,” which first aired in 2016. The series centers around the story of a young woman named Soumya, who is born intersex and raised as a hijra by the eunuchs in her community.
The show has been praised for its realistic portrayal of hijra culture, and for bringing attention to the struggles faced by members of the community. Through its depiction of Soumya’s experiences, the show sheds light on the discrimination and marginalization that hijras face in Indian society, as well as their struggles for acceptance and recognition.
One of the most notable aspects of the show’s portrayal of hijra culture is its depiction of the bond between members of the hijra community. The eunuchs in the show are shown as a close-knit community, who look out for and support one another in the face of discrimination and adversity. This portrayal is grounded in the reality of hijra culture, where community and support are integral to the lives of hijras.
Another aspect of the show’s portrayal of hijra culture is its depiction of the hijras as complex, multifaceted individuals. Rather than reducing them to one-dimensional stereotypes, the show presents hijras as individuals with their own hopes, dreams, and struggles. This humanization of the hijra community is a crucial step in combating the discrimination and marginalization they face in society.
In conclusion, the hijra community has a long and complex history in India, and their struggles for recognition and acceptance continue to this day. The portrayal of hijra culture in popular media, such as “Shakti: Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki,” has played an important role in raising awareness of the community’s struggles and humanizing their experiences. By recognizing the complexity and diversity of hijra culture, we can work towards a more inclusive and accepting society for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.


The following important dates demonstrate the company’s impressive record as a pioneer of innovation in the Irish timber processing industry. Many of the achievements listed below were firsts in an Irish context.
1913 Glennon Brothers Timber Ltd founded.
1938 Power supply changes from water to steam.
1945 Sawmill power changes from steam to electricity.
1969/72 Log harvesting and shipping operations from Scotland to Ireland.
1976 Involved in sourcing the timber used to make Tim Severin’s boat for the "Brendan
Voyage". 1977 Production of decorative panelling from Irish pine and fir.
1978 Produced whitewood flooring from Irish spruce.
1980 Profile chipper sawing line installed.
1981 Sawdust fired drying kilns installed.
1984 Computerised forestry and log inventory systems installed.
1988 Telesales operation introduced.
1988 Involved in sourcing the timber to build the “Dyflin Viking Ship” for Dublin’s millennium celebrations.1991 Production of CLS for the timber frame manufacturing industry.
1993 Irish timber shipped to Japan for the construction of traditional houses.
1995 Decorative pine flooring launched on the market under the Glenpine brand name.
1998 Launched Glendeck, the outdoor decking product line.
1998 Acquired Woodfab Fermoy from the Smurfit group.
1999 Stage 1 of the refurbishment of the sawmill in Fermoy.
2001 €20 million development in Fermoy (Linck sawline).
2002 IT investment and launch of company website.
2002 Certified for heat treatment.
2003 Installation of new treatment facilities.
2003 Import of Scottish logs.
2003 New planing line installed in Fermoy.
2004 Serious fire in Longford resulting in the destruction of the processing line.
2004 High-speed handling equipment in Fermoy.
2005 New log grader installed in Fermoy.
2005 Launched Glenfence fencing range.
2005 Strategic growth plan for the UK developed.
2005 Scotland – established Windymains Timber Ltd.
2006 Installation of AWS weighbridge.
2007 Acquisition of Dempsey Timber Engineering.
2008 Acquisition of Adam Wilson & Sons
2008 Acquisition of Alexanders Timber Design


A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALARM CLOCKS: A JOURNEY FROM FIRST ALARM CLOCKS TO MODERN ONES
There is no denying that waking up in the morning isn’t the best part of our daily routine for most of us. Even if we decide on a short nap, it is not very difficult to go overboard and lose track of time. All hail the mighty alarm clock, for otherwise making it to our destinations on time would be difficult. The blaring of the alarm clock isn’t very pleasant. But it is what we call a necessary evil.
So, it is only fair if we know a little bit about the alarm clock history.
If we turn over the pages of alarm clock history, the ones that we have now weren’t always around. But the need to wake up in the morning was obviously there. Then, how did people wake up before alarm clocks?
Before alarm clock invention
In the early days of human civilization, people relied on the bright morning sun to wake them up. Then there was the rooster, which was loud enough to wake up an entire village. In the earlier days, people often drank a lot of water before turning in for the night. The compulsion to use the washroom served as an alarm clock for them.
Precursor to the first alarm clocks
The concept of alarm clock has always been present in the history of mankind. The first alarm clocks or rather somewhat similar concepts go back to as far as the 4th century BC. This was when the Greek philosopher Plato used a water clock with an alarm sound like that of a water organ, to wake up for his lectures at dawn.
During the Hellenistic period, Ctesibius, a Greek inventor and mathematician, added certain mechanisms to the water clock so as to produce sound at pre-set times. He did this either by dropping pebbles on a gong or by blowing trumpets.
First alarm clock
In the year 725, the Buddhist monk and inventor Yi Xing created an astronomical clock that not only measured time but also the distance of planets and stars. He called it “Water-Driven Spherical Bird’s-Eye-View Map of the Heaven.” It had a water wheel that turned gears in the clock. Puppet shows were set or gongs rang from time to time. This was first recorded mechanism with close resemblance to the alarm clock we know today.
First alarm clock towers
In the 14th century, clock towers were erected in various parts of Western Europe. These would chime at fixed hours every day.
The earliest mention of such clock tower was by the Florentine writer Dante Alighieri in 1319.
St Mark’s Clocktower in St Mark’s Square, Venice, is possibly the most renowned striking clock tower still standing. Its construction took place in 1493, by the famous clockmaker Gian Carlo Rainieri from Reggio Emilia.
Evolution of modern alarm clocks
During the industrial revolution, around 1850’s, as work routine became more stringent, people living around factories would wake up to the factory whistles.
Further, there was an entire profession called ‘knock-uppers’. Their job was to knock on doors and windows to wake people up. However, this profession faded as we entered the 20th century, owing to the alarm clock invention which were easier and more convenient to use.
In 1787, Levi Hutchins, an American, invented an alarm clock to wake him up at 4 a.m. Although made for personal use, this alarm clock is the first recorded mechanical alarm clock.
In 1847, Antoine Redier, a Frenchman, was the first to patent an alarm clock that was adjustable. This adjustable alarm clock came with a dial which had a hole for each number. The user just had to insert a pin into the hole of the hour he needed to wake up at.
In 1876, American Seth E. Thomas patented his own version of mechanical wind-up alarm clock that could be set for any time. His company mass produced such alarm clocks. Thus began the dawn of modern-day alarm clocks which was easily accessible to the common folks.
At the mention of an alarm clock, the classic picture that comes to mind is that of the double-bell alarm clock. One can trace back its birth to the 1880s. Westclox has been manufacturing this model since the 1920s. One of the longest lasting alarm clocks would be the ‘Big Ben’ by Westclox. It first came out in the 1900s and continued to be in production till 1960s and 70s. Without the exterior bells, its neat design helped it to gain popularity.
Alarm clocks at the time of war
During the World War II, the production of alarm clocks ceased in the United States. That was in 1942. But soon a shortage of alarm clocks led to resumption of their manufacture in 1944. Several new designs came out along with the ones existing before the war. Thus, the alarm clocks were among the first post war consumer goods to come out in the market even before the end of the war.
James F. Reynolds, in the 1940s, invented the first radio alarm clock. People could now choose to wake up to the morning broadcast of news or soothing music rather than the blaring sound of the alarm.
For the love of sleep, the snooze button came into being in 1956. Now people could, at their own risk, choose to stay in bed for few more minutes before the alarm went off again.
Like most things around us, alarm clocks have come a long way. The present scenario is not unknown to us. With the advent of digital era, alarm clocks have found their way into our digital devices in the form of apps and web-based tools. More often than not, people now wake up to their phone’s alarm tone.
Most of us have ditched the actual alarm clock as our mobile phones come with facilities ranging from basic alarm clock to such apps which will make you solve a puzzle before you can disable it. So much just to jolt us sleepyheads back to reality. And not just sleep. We need alarm clocks for so much more. Anywhere anything that needs to be timed, alarm clock is the answer. Hence, it is safe to say that the alarm clock is one such invention of mankind that is here to stay.


Washington General Store History
The building that’s now home to The Washington General Store has an interesting history. It’s always been a large, central part of our small Maine town. However, it’s taken on a variety of forms since it was initially built.
After the building was completed in the 1930s it was used as a lumber barn. At this time the large building’s three floors were filled with drying lumber that had just been milled on Washington Pond. In fact, lumber that was left in the 3rd floor drying room was used to make the bar by the front windows.
After it the lumber ran out in the area, the building became Luce’s Bargain Shop. Luce’s was one of those fantastic places where you never knew what you might find. From antiques to junk it was all available at Luce’s Bargain Shop.
Then, in 2013 the building went up for auction. After it didn’t sell, Sean and Amy Donaghy bought it. Then they began the labor of love that was turning the old, vinyl sided former lumber barn into the beautiful general store you see today.
The Donaghys made a point of incorporating pieces of the building’s history into their renovations. Found pieces including old doors, the tongue and groove wood siding, and the previously milled lumber were added to contemporary elements to create a new space with the feel of the past.
Now that it’s become The Washington General Store we hope you’ll come by and say hello. You can even enjoy some of our food, drinks and other assorted sundries while having a look around the new, old building.


Stratis was delighted to work alongside architects Page\Park and contractors McLaughlin & Harvey at this stunning £24M redevelopment of one of Glasgow's most iconic buildings.
The stunning Domus Tex range was used to create a feature wall in the café.
This unique partnership between Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow and the National Library of Scotland saw this historic venue transformed into an exciting new centre of cultural excellence providing collections’ storage, teaching and research, alongside a state-of-the-art Glasgow Club health and fitness centre.
Safe, secure and publicly accessible museum storage was created for the internationally-important Hunterian and Glasgow Museums' collections. Around 1.5 million objects, previously stored in various locations around the city, were relocated to the new facility. This included the only surviving complete suite of interiors by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Mrs Cranston’s Ingram Street tearooms which will undergo conservation works in public view.
The venue has also become the new home for the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive resulting in improved access to the public to more than 100 years of Scottish history on film and video. Visitors now have access to over 60,000 film reels, videotapes and digital files as well as the National Library of Scotland’s other licensed digital collections.
Photos: McLaughlin & Harvey
Read about this beautiful project on the Architects' Journal


Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. (People and Events in History) (Hardcover)
Meet extraordinary black heroes throughout history—biographies for kids ages 8 to 12
You’re invited to meet ancient Egyptian rulers, brilliant scientists, legendary musicians, and civil rights activists—all in the same book! Black Heroes introduces you to 51 black leaders and role models from both history and modern times. This black history book for kids features inspirational biographies of trailblazers from the United States, Egypt, Britain, and more.
Discover where in the world they lived, and what their lives were like growing up. Learn about the obstacles they faced on the way to making groundbreaking accomplishments. You’ll find out how these inspirational figures created lasting change—and paved the way for future generations.
Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids features:
- Fascinating biographies―Read about famous icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Harriet Tubman, as well as lesser-known pioneers like aviator Bessie Coleman and astronomer Benjamin Banneker.
- Ways to learn more―Every biography includes an idea for a new way to explore the person and their work, like a book to read, website to visit, or video to watch.
- Colorful portraits―Bring the historical heroes to life in your imagination with the help of full-color illustrations.
Black Heroes goes beyond other black history biographies for kids to highlight people from around the world and across time. Who will your new hero be?
About the Author
ARLISHA NORWOOD ALSTON, PhD, is a historian, researcher, and social justice advocate. She received her PhD in history from Howard University. She has published several children’s books, including The Story of Ruby Bridges and Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A.
“From the kings and queens of Africa to the movers and shakers of the present day, Black Heroes captures the true essence of the Diaspora and its impact around the globe. Whether you are a novice, a historian, or just a historian at heart, this text should be included in your personal library. Its colorful and detailed imagery captures the attention of the youngest of readers, yet its content is relevant for all.” —Samantha Knox, Ed.D., LPC, LCPC, NCC/Owner of Aya Behavioral Health LLC
“There is such a need for this specific kind of learning for youth right now. This book essentializes African American leadership and activism in the way only a scholar rooted in Black institutional education can. Dr. Norwood has synthesized some names we know with many we should and illuminated the important linkages between them all. I am very excited to share this book with the young people in my family.” —Kimberly Brown Pellum, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History at Florida A&M University and Author of Black Beauties: African American Pageant Queens in the Segregated South
“As a teacher, many of the kids I teach are minorities. I can attest that this book is a game changer in the libraries of educators and families alike. It is filled with short bios of acclaimed individuals of highly melanated descent and—spoiler alert—some of them you possibly have never heard of! This book comes with easy-to-grasp passages and references for each individual to further educate you. I believe that this book will educate all of our youths, inspire their inventiveness, and instill a sense of pride to know that, just like those before them, they are all destined for greatness in the skin that they are in.” —Cambria Hammond, First Grade Lead Teacher


I’m Christine Sutton, Family Historian and Writer. Born in 1946 in Preston, England, I spent my early years in an environment where tales of my parent’s childhood and family myths were bedtime stories, and life’s lessons were handed down at the dining table and in the kitchens and sitting rooms of grandmothers and aunties. My interest in genealogy was sparked in 1982 when, at my mother-in-law’s funeral, I discovered cousins born in the 1940s who were of the same generation as my 1970s children. Like so many others, I asked myself ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ and turned to research to find the answers. My family history focus has shifted over the past 35 years. From building a family tree, I’ve moved on to look closely at the people behind the names and dates.
My mantra is, “It’s not the tree that matters, it’s the fruit”. It’s the driver for discovering the “Who? When? Where? What? Why? And How?” of our family history. It has led me to look closely, down the generations at individuals, places, historical events, photographs and possessions that have had an influence on who the Amblers and Suttons are today.
I live with my partner and our crazy labradoodle, Nicnak Tiger Woods, in a retirement resort in Beachmere, Queensland.


Posted on: 28th February 2015
“Helesa is a tradition, which was established hundreds of years ago. A sailor crashed onto the shores of a small coastal town. After running out of food to eat, the sailor and his men decided to carry the boat through the streets of the town and sing a chant while asking for donations. Today, this is known as the Helesa song. “
short documentary: culture & tradition
director Yilmaz Vurucu
story teller Vural Etyemez
produced by Bahanur Nasya
Helesa is 16min documentary about a beautiful tradition, established to help receive aid from the local fishing community in Sinop/TR some centuries ago. Over time, the custom grew into a street festival. Fishermen, as well as the locals, would fill the streets, travel from apartment to apartment, from one small shop to another, chanting the Helesa song. The donations made would be used for a good cause. For one night during the month of Ramadhan, the whole town would unite for a good cause. This beautiful event of the year, is increasingly under threat. Many youngsters even don’t know the lyrics of the song, so participation is decreasing.
We produced this documentary, in order to underline the importance of such fairytale like stories for local identity. We hope, it attracts attention and the tradition is carried in to the future.


A few minutes’ drive from Bright, this is the beautiful valley of the Buckland River. Nestled at the base of Mount Buffalo the valley is dotted with dairy and alpaca farms, vineyards, nut groves and orchards, as well as some of the best boutique accommodation in the North East...
In summer the river is a great place to cool off with a number of fantastic swimming holes and several well maintained, easily accessible bush camping areas.
The river is also an angler’s paradise, home to abundant stocks of trout and other fish species.
It’s hard to imagine now but this peaceful place was once a thriving gold mining township and the site of one of the most infamous incidents of the Victorian Gold Rush era. In 1857 a simmering resentment by European miners towards the thousands of Chinese in the valley boiled over into a full scale riot resulting in the expulsion of the Chinese from the Buckland goldfields. A memorial to the Chinese gold miners can be visited today at the historic Buckland Valley Cemetery.


Forty-eight hours after former Tampa Bay defensive end and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon suffered a serious stroke, the Buccaneers legend known as “The Gentle Giant”, passed away Sunday afternoon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. Selmon was 56.
The family released a statement this evening "thanking the community for their thoughts and prayers" and noted Selmon was surrounded by his family when he died.
The former Oklahoma Sooner earned six straight Pro Bowl nominations from 1979 to 1984, and collected 78.5 quarterback sacks during his career, which ranks first in team history. The 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and became the first member of the Buccaneers’ Ring of Honor in 2009.
Selmon's number 63 jersey remains the only number officially retired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After his football career, Selmon was involved in numerous charitable organizations, opened a chain of restaurants bearing his name, and served as the University of South Florida’s associate athletic director from 1993-2001, before taking over as the school’s athletic director until he retired in 2004 citing health issues.
The Glazer family released this statement this evening regarding the passing of the Buccaneer great.
"Tampa Bay has lost another giant. This is an incredibly somber day for Buccaneer fans, Sooner fans, and all football fans. Lee Roy's standing as the first Buc in the Hall of Fame surely distinguished him, but his stature off the field as the consummate gentleman put him in another stratosphere. Put simply, he was first class. He was the real deal. We are so blessed to have known this fine man and to have called him one of our own, yet so sad to have lost him so soon. Our hearts go out to the Selmon family at this time of their loss."
PewterReport.com sends its sincerest condolences to the Selmon family.


Kaiyuan temple, first constructed in 686, was originally named the Lotus Flower Temple. The temple was later renamed several times until finally in 738, the Tang Emperor Xuan Zong, a devout Buddhist, ordered every large town in China to name one of its temples "Kaiyuan," the title of his reign. The temple has since been known as Kaiyuan Temple.
The Kaiyuan temple is one of the outstanding examples of Chinese architecture and art. There are numerous other stone carvings in the temple - figures resembling the Sphinx, animal heads and birds, dragons and tigers. Interestingly there are columns here in ancient Greek style. Many of these rare art works were once religious decorations on other buildings in Quanzhou, later moved to Kaiyuan Temple.


Name: Live Oaks & Dead Folks Cemetery Tour
Date: November 3, 2018
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM CDT
The 14th Annual Live Oaks and Dead Folks Cemetery Tour
First tour begins at 6:00 pm and the last tour will begin at 9:00 pm
Come out and hear the stories of some of the "colorful and interesting" folks buried in the cemetery.


Sundt was founded in 1890 by Mauritz Martinsen Sundt, a Norwegian ship carpenter who immigrated to the United States as a teenager. The company's early projects were homes and farm structures in northern New Mexico. In 1929, the company ventured outside of New Mexico for the first time to build a Methodist Church in Tucson, Arizona. The project was directed by John Sundt, one of Mauritz's 12 children. John liked Tucson, and decided to stay. During the 1930s, he bought out his father's interest, relocated the company to Tucson, and renamed it M.M. Sundt Construction Co. In 1942, the company built Los Alamos, an entire town in New Mexico for a super-secret government project. In just 14 months, Sundt built homes, research buildings, and the infrastructure to support a community of military and technical personnel. In 1952, Sundt diversified its operations by entering the heavy construction field. Its first project of this type was a new 14,000-foot runway at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Over the ensuing years, M.M. Sundt has become one of the state’s leading heavy construction contractors. In 1966, the company opened a regional office in Phoenix, when it took its first steps to becoming an employee-owned corporation. Today, Sundt is 100 percent employee owned, celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, and is known as one of the 100 largest general contractors in the United States incorporating five divisions: Building, Concrete, Federal, Heavy Civil, and Mining and Industrial.


Alvin is a national platform for the long-term preservation and accessibility of digitised collections and digital cultural heritage material, but also a catalogue of material that has not yet been digitised. It is developed and operated by Uppsala University Library in collaboration with Gothenburg University Library and the University Library at Lund University. Several other cultural heritage institutions are also members of Alvin.
The database contains author and other personal archives, advertising posters, medical history, portraits, images from polar expeditions, botanical plates, letters, sketchbooks and much more.
Almost all digital material found in Alvin can be used freely. However, be aware that some of the more modern material may be copyrighted. The rights label under the heading "Licensing of the work" in each entry tells you what applies.


Sells For Over $1.9 Million
An OMEGA Speedmaster chronograph, previously owned and worn by NASA astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra, has sold at RR Auction for US $1,907,000. The BA 145.022 model in 18K yellow gold is of particular historic value, and represents OMEGA’s enduring connection to the achievements of space exploration.
The watch is part of the iconic Numbered Edition series that was produced in 1969 to celebrate the success of Apollo 11. Model numbers 3 – 28 were given to the astronauts in NASA’s space programme, including those who were present at an “Astronaut Appreciation Dinner” on the 25th of November that year in Houston.
Schirra was among the astronauts in attendance that night and, as such, he received watch number 8, with an encircled engraving on the caseback which states, “Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Mercury 8 – Gemini 6 – Apollo 7”.
The Speedmaster BA 145.022 is crafted from 18K yellow gold and famously includes a rare burgundy bezel, as well as a further inscription on the caseback that reads, “to mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.” The watch also houses the Calibre 861 – a direct descendent of the legendary Calibre 321 that accompanied astronauts on the moon.
Schirra plays a symbolic role in OMEGA’s history of space exploration. On October 3rd in 1962, he wore his own personal Speedmaster CK 2998 during the “Sigma 7” mission of the Mercury program. This was the first time an OMEGA watch had been worn in space, and marked the start of the brand’s long and special involvement beyond Earth. Just a few years later, NASA would officially qualify the Speedmaster for all manned space missions, launching an OMEGA legacy that continues to this day.
The commemorative Numbered Edition series featured only 1,014 models - produced between 1969 to 1973. The very first of these was created for US President, Richard Nixon, with number 2 allocated to the US Vice President Spiro Agnew. These watches, however, were later returned due to the US government’s strict gifting protocol. Model numbers 3 – 28 were given to NASA astronauts, numbers 29 to 32 were offered to Swiss watch industry leaders and politicians, while 33 – 1000 were offered to the public. Each one remains a highly sought-after piece to this day.
Earlier this year, the Speedmaster BA 145.022 presented to Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, fetched US $765,000 at auction – yet again proving the popularity of this unique Speedmaster series.
All photographs are courtesy of RR Auction


The Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport will host the fourth California Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner on Saturday evening, May 5, 2018.
This year’s Hall of Fame induction will honor four amazing individuals in aviation: inventor, educator and commercial airline pilot Angela Masson; test-pilot and astronaut Mike Melvill; high time commercial pilot and author Barry Schiff; and Dick Rutan, highly decorated air force pilot and record setter.
The Museum of Flying established the California Aviation Hall of Fame six years ago with a mission to commemorate and educate the public about the many individuals who have contributed to the birth and growth of aviation and aerospace in California. Ticket purchases for the event raise funds to support the Museum of Flying, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
This year’s ceremony at The Museum of Flying will begin with a reception at 6:00pm and dinner at 7:00pm. A live auction will take place at 8:15pm, followed by the induction. To purchase tickets, click here for the Museum of Flying website.


Grants and donations for Oregon Military Museum
The Oregon Military Department may seek, solicit, receive and administer monetary grants or donations for the support and improvement of the Oregon Military Museum established under ORS 396.555 (Oregon Military Museum established at Camp Withycombe). Grants and donations so received are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Military Department for the purposes of this section and ORS 396.565 (Disposal of property). [1977 c.118 §2; 1989 c.360 §8; 2001 c.656 §2]
3 OregonLaws.org assembles these lists by analyzing references between Sections. Each listed item refers back to the current Section in its own text. The result reveals relationships in the code that may not have otherwise been apparent.


We're over 75 years old! Our trade association has a long and colorful history dating back to December 1944. We began as the Arizona Wholesale Beer and Liquor Association, a non-profit corporation created to promote and protect the general business interests of beer and liquor distributors operating across Arizona. Ever since, our Association has been an active participant in the public policy arena to protect and preserve state-based regulation of beverage alcohol, with an orderly and effective marketplace.
In more recent years, as the beverage alcohol industry continued to grow and evolve in our state and nationally, we decided to change our name and narrow our organization’s focus to beer and wine distributorships, renaming the association as the Beer and Wine Distributors of Arizona (or “BWDA”). We are a full-service, professional trade association representing nine locally-owned and operated beer and wine distribution companies actively doing business in Arizona.


The Sigil of Ameth or “Sigillum Dei,” (The Seal of God) is a magical diagram from the late middle ages, credited to Renaissance mystic and scientist John Dee. This is one of the most complex and puzzling sigils I've transcribed. It is composed of a pentagram and three heptagons inclosed in a circle. These structures house the sometimes-complete and sometimes fragmented, abbreviated, and encoded names of god and his angels. The outermost circle is believed to be the cypher used to form the names of the spirits, thrones, and angels within it.
According to its earliest description in the Liber iuratus Honorii, the Sigil of Ameth can grant the initiated magician command over all creatures and lesser angels. Though I make no such claims, this sigil remains an esoteric treasure, and is certainly impressive to behold. The original engraved tablet rests in the King Gallery of the British Museum beside Dee's Obsidian scrying mirror.
This is one of our largest amulets, measuring 30mm in diameter, and rests in a setting of hand-finished brass. Matching chains can be found in our Chains & Accessories section.


When Adrian Cheng looks across Hong Kong’s harbor from Tsim Sha Tsui, he sees his family’s legacy writ large across the city’s skyline. There, from a balcony atop the new luxury apartment building of his Victoria Dockside development, he can view the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on the opposite side of the harbor.
With its curved glass and massive sloping roof, the convention center is said to resemble a bird taking flight. His grandfather Cheng Yu-tung, founder of the family’s flagship property firm New World Development, came up with the ambitious plan for the building, which included a manmade island, back in the early 1980s when the market was in a slump and other developers had no interest. Undeterred, Yu-tung turned the convention center into a Hong Kong icon, showcasing New World’s capabilities. Yu-tung reportedly once said the convention center was one of the two projects of which he was most proud.
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Rolex is a brand that is synonymous with luxury, style, and prestige. Established in 1905, Rolex has been at the forefront of watchmaking innovation and has created some of the most iconic and sought-after timepieces in history. The brand has been able to maintain its reputation as the ultimate symbol of success and luxury for over a century, and its watches have become highly prized and sought after by collectors worldwide.
The early years of Rolex were marked by the ambition of its founder, Hans Wilsdorf. Wilsdorf was a visionary entrepreneur who believed that wristwatches would one day replace pocket watches as the preferred timepiece. In 1905, he established Wilsdorf & Davis in London, and in 1908, the Rolex brand was born. The name “Rolex” is believed to have been chosen because it was easy to pronounce in any language and because it sounded good.
From the beginning, Rolex was dedicated to making high-quality timepieces. In 1910, a Rolex watch became the first wristwatch to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, a highly coveted award that recognized the accuracy and precision of a watch’s movement. In 1926, Rolex created the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof watch, which was put to the test when a swimmer wore one while crossing the English Channel. The Oyster’s success led to the development of the Perpetual rotor, a self-winding mechanism that eliminated the need for manual winding and has become a standard feature in modern watches.
Throughout the years, Rolex continued to innovate and develop new technologies, such as the first wristwatch to show two time zones simultaneously in 1954, and the first watch to be certified as a chronometer with a self-winding movement in 1988. The brand has also been associated with some of the most famous explorers and adventurers of the 20th century. Sir Edmund Hillary wore a Rolex watch when he became the first person to summit Mount Everest in 1953, and Jacques Piccard wore one when he descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean, in 1960.
The Rolex brand has become an icon of luxury and prestige, and its watches are highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts around the world. The brand’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its commitment to quality, precision, and innovation. Rolex watches are designed to last a lifetime, and many become treasured family heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation.
In conclusion, the history of Rolex is one of innovation, precision, and enduring style. The brand’s commitment to excellence has made it one of the most respected and sought-after names in watchmaking, and its watches are considered to be some of the finest in the world. From the first waterproof watch to the latest high-tech timepieces, Rolex has always been at the forefront of watchmaking, and its legacy will continue to inspire and delight watch enthusiasts for generations to come.


Aug. 7. By Dave Yochum. The last official Confederate Reunion may have been held more than 65 years ago in Cornelius, but the Civil War and how its dead are remembered is still the subject of discussion.
Volunteers and trustees of the Mt. Zion Monument Association took scrub brushes and power washers in hand today to clean up the statue that sits on association property in front of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
It was vandalized last month, along with at least three other Confederate monuments in North Carolina in the wake of the tragedy at Emanual African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in June.
It’s a larger discussion than who owns the monument, the church, of course, does not.
UNC-Charlotte history professor David Goldfield said Confederate monuments are important because they demonstrate our link to and respect for the past.
“They are also a statement of what we value most at present,” he said.
The Confederate Monument in Cornelius, includes the Confederate battle flag, was dedicated in 1910. A Confederate soldier stands at parade rest, with his rifle resting on the ground.
Forty five years after the end of the war, those who remained in Cornelius had to be keenly aware of the friends and loved ones they lost during the conflict.
Inscribed on the monument is this:
“THOUGH MEN DESERVE / THEY MAY NOT WIN SUCCESS / THE BRAVE WILL HONOR THE BRAVE / VANQUISHED NONE THE LESS.”
That is about bravery, not slavery.
Goldfield says the dedication ceremony for the Lincoln Memorial, now a symbol of national reconciliation, almost missed the point in 1922.
“Only at the last minute, did the organizers of the dedication realize that it might be a good idea to include an African American speaker,” Goldfield explains.
But at the same time, monuments erected during periods of disfranchisement 45 years later symbolically reinforced those who held wealth and power. The Confederate monument cost $10,000 in 1910, the equivalent of roughly $250,000 today.
The average American worker made $200 to $400 a year. The average life expectancy in 1910 was only 47 years for a man.
Goldfield says Confederate monuments and memorials had more than one meaning even when they were erected.
“Yes, they are a tribute to those who fought and died—and many of those did not own slaves and were protecting their homes and families—but many of them were put up between the 1890s and 1920s to reinforce disfranchisement, Jim Crow laws, and the supremacy of the white race. So monuments are as much if not more about the present as they are of the past,” he said.
No one knows exactly what was in the minds of the Cornelius people who erected the statue 105 years ago. Even their children are dead.
At the University of Texas, Austin, a statue of Jefferson Davis has stood for decades. More recently, there is now a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. On Monument Avenue in Richmond, there is a series of statues and memorials to Confederate heroes. But at the end there is a statue of Arthur Ashe, the African American tennis great.
“The worst thing we can do is to vandalize, destroy, or remove these Confederate icons. Burying history only makes it fester and creates even greater myths than the monuments themselves portray. Of course, building competing statues is expensive. An alternative is to have an explanatory plaque next to these monuments and memorials. For decades in the South, public space belonged to whites. It’s long past time to have public space belong to everyone,” Goldfield says.


Kent DeMars transformed the SIUE men's tennis program from club status to national powerhouse. DeMars coached players who earned 56 All-American certificates from 1974 to 1984. SIUE collected seven consecutive national championships under DeMars from 1978-1984. Three different players won NCAA Division II singles titles from 1977 to 1983. Four different doubles teams earned national titles from 1979 to 1984.


Right on our doorstep we have the tennis courts at Canoe Lake Leisure, where the Wimbledon qualifiers are held each summer, the Model Village and internationally renowned Rose Gardens. A short stroll to the east and you arrive at the Golf course and the hugely popular Tenth Hole café – their cakes are the stuff of legend!
Walk just a couple of minutes west along the south-facing seafront brings you to the Rock Gardens and the Pyramids Centre – which often hosts large concerts and private hire functions. Both of these are right next to the fantastic D-Day Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium, Southsea Skatepark and Southsea Castle. The open-air Bandstand has free shows running throughout the summer, and Castle Field hosts major outdoor concerts and events, including Portsmouth’s very own Victorious Festival.
Just a little further along the seafront and you reach Mozzarella Joes – fab food right on the water’s edge where you can see the Hovercraft glide right up the beach taking passengers to the Isle of Wight. Lastly you reach Clarence Pier – which is the location for Southsea’s long-established funfair, amusement arcades and beach-front eateries.
If shopping is more your thing – a few minutes in a taxi gets you to Gunwharf Quays, the extremely popular shopping and commercial district. It mixes up-to-the-minute retail (like Ralph Lauren, Fred Perry and FatFace) with a swathe of modern waterfront eateries and hidden heritage gems like the Old Customs House and and quality favourites like Loch Fyne. Thrown in nightclubs, art galleries, Casinos and the bowling alley and it’s easy to see why people spend an entire day there.
Of course, no visit to Portsmouth can be considered complete without a visit to the landmark Spinnaker Tower – viewing the city, the Solent and the historic dockyard from the top of the 115m tower is an unforgettable experience.
And once you’ve glimpsed those battleships – both centuries old and brand new – you may well want to visit the Historic Dockyard. A fascinating journey through naval history including Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, the first iron-clad HMS Warrior – and the staggering purpose-built museum housing Henry VIII’s ill-fated Mary Rose, raised from the Solent with a host of medieval treasures. The Dockyard, still functioning today, also houses Action Stations – with its mix of museums, function suites and a cinema.