...............
..........Journeys
To Canada.........................
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Grey
Bruce County In Ontario
My trip to Canada started and ended in Hamilton, Ontario but during the visit I drove to Quebec City and experienced some of the beauty, history and culture of the French speaking area of Canada.The last week of this Canadian visit was spent mainly in Hanover, Saugeen County and up at Lake Sholdice in Grey County. The Town of Hanover lies about 100 miles northwest of Toronto, is located in the heart of the spectacular Georgian Lakelands and is surrounded by some of the best farmland in Ontario. It is a small town with a population of only 6,500 but a thriving town with great community spirit.
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Saugeen County is an area of rolling hills, open spaces and tall forests and winding through this landscape is the Saugeen River, the third largest river in Ontario! Approximately half way through its 120 mile journey to Lake Huron, the Saugeen River reaches Bruce County just west of Hanover.
This was trapping country and the Bruce Trail runs as part of the Niagara Escarpment which stretches for 160 miles northwards from Queenstown near Niagara up to Tobermory. The Bruce Trail only has some areas suitable for walking as most of it cuts through forests, rocky terrain and beautiful wooded valleys with rivers and waterfalls like the Borers Falls in the picture on the left
Lake Sholdice, a haven of peace and meditation, lies just south of Tobermory. Tobermory is located in the township of St. Edmunds in the Great Lakes region of Ontario. It is about 200 miles northwest of Toronto at the northernmost tip of the Bruce Peninsula where Lake Huron meets Georgian Bay.
At the time of the arrival of the first white settlers and missionaries in the 1600's, the area was settled by members of the Ottawa tribe of the Ojibwa Nation. Wars between tribes caused by the fur trades eventually led to the Ottawa being driven out of the peninsula by the Iroquois. In the 1700's, members of the Ojibwa (including the Ottawa) and a new tribe, the Saugeen, moved back into the peninsula.
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Little Tub Harbour, Tobermory.
In 1820 Tobermory was known as 'Collins Harbour'. It was renamed 'Townplot of Bury' in 1855. It has the most beautiful harbour called Little Tub leading out into Big Tub and this place is a joy to visit, if only to sit and watch the boats come in.The name Tobermory was given to it in the 1830's by Scottish fishermen because of its resemblance to the town of that name on the Isle of Mull in their native Scotland. The town is twinned with the town of Tobermory, Scotland. The name Tobermory, from the Gaelic "Tober Moray", means "well of the Virgin Mary". But the locals call the place just "Tub".
One of my favourite spots when I visit this place is a gift shop called Cha Mao Zah just 7 miles south of Tobermory and owned by Wilmer Nadjiwon. He was Chief of the Chippewas of Nawash for 14 years, is a world renowned wood carver and his life's work is to preserve his people's culture and heritage. He has recently achieved a dream in this respect by opening a village offering a "taste of Native living". Visitors can experience the atmosphere of Native living of long ago - tales around the campfire listening to mystical legends, sleeping in a teepee and participating in some of the Native crafts.My previous visit here saw me coming home with some lovely woven winter tops which my older children wore to almost threadbare. This time I purchased a music tape entitled, coincidently, The Journey!And just before we leave this beautiful part of Ontario I leave you with some photos of what I consider to be another little piece of heaven on earth, my friends' cottage on lake Sholdice. My few days here allowed me to relax, read, pray and just soak up the beauty of God's creations.
This spot draws me back each time I visit and it is here I can 'focus clearly and centre myself'. I enjoyed the antics of the squirrels, the chipmunks and the bluejays as they argued over nuts and seeds left out for them on the deck. I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere with no intrusive tv or radio. I enjoyed the scenery, the sunrises and the sunsets. I enjoyed my friend's company and her depth of spirituality, her homeliness and her welcome. In two little words: I ENJOYED!!!
A friend from the Ottawa-Carleton and Eastern Ontario Region runs a Wilderness Education & Training Centre. He is currently studying for a Mastersdegree in Celtic Christian Spirituality and has changed his life's direction to focus on Spiritual Journeys - a longing to journey and explore both the inner and outer "landscape".Go visit his site, Celtic Horizons, and experience some of the beauty of this part of the world with him and his team.
It was a little too early for the beautiful Autumn colours so I left my camara with my friend to capture the colours for me, a most beautiful Fall, by all accounts.However the weather was just magnificent for the whole week and the sunsets were pure magical. There is no better rest for the weary spirit than to sit out at sunrise or sunset and relax in the glory of nature. We live our lives in top gear at times, marching on with heads down, not noticing the beauty which surrounds us.
This visit allowed me the time to keep my eyes focused upwards, to see and enjoy the beauty of this earth, to feel the warm glow of the sun. I renewed and shared the richness and wealth of friendship and these treasures will be carried home in my heart to bring me through the coming winter season and my own 'times of winter'.
If you have enjoyed this page please drop a comment into our Guestbook- and Don't Forget.......!
The Rest of the Journey
Our Canadian Journey starts with my drive from Hamilton to Quebec and a visit to one of Canada's famous Catholic Shrines - Saint Anne de Beaupré. We have included the Prayer to Saint Anne both in English and in French, stop in a whisper a wee prayer to her. The rest of that day was spent enjoyably wandering aound Quebec CityThe main reason for my visit to Canada came about on the Wednesday and Grosse-Île, a tiny island east of Quebec City and the final resting place of over 6,000 of my country folk. It turned out to be facinating, poignant and yet enjoyable - a visit I will never forget and one I hope to repeat with some of my own family someday.Heading for 'home' that night I got lost and somehow ended up in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, which has the most famous of Canada's Catholic Shrines - Notre Dame du Cap. What a grand day I spent there!
For those who have just joined me on this page why not go to the beginning and see some of the earlier places in The Start of Our Journey through the West of Ireland. My Place Amongst the Stones gives the history of my company name, Moytura - a celtic heritage going back thousands of years.
Back to our Irish journey and to my own parish of Lackagh - a small village just 12 miles from Galway with a mighty big history telling a story of one of Ireland's bloodiest conflicts in the 16th century - The Battle of Knockdoe.
From there we move on to take a quick jaunt around Galway City; and then out to the heart of Connemara - with its wild and wonderful beauty.Our journey goes south into County Clare to see The Burren - a place that has lain undisturbed since the Ice-age and of immense botanical, ecological and archaeological importance.
We visit Ireland's finest early monastic heritage centre in Clonmacnoise in County Offaly and to my favourite of all the early Christian Church locations - Clonfert, with its beautiful tiny 12th century Cathedral of Saint Brendan. Come with me around the grounds of this lovely tiny cathedral and see the 1000 year old Yew Walk. While there, you can learn a potted history of Saint Brendan the Navigator, possibly the first European to set foot in North America in the 6th. century. See how we celebrated a most historic announcement when Clonfert Cathedral was listed in the World Monuments Watch 2000 as one of the world's most endangered buildings.
Join me on my 'Famine Journey' which starts in Westport, moves to Sligo and ends up here in Grosse-Île.
Finally, come with me on my pilgrimage to a peaceful haven in a war-torn country in Medugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovinia. The other areas of my Web site can be found in the drop-down box below.
If you are interested in Irish history or anything to do with Ireland why not visit our new additions where you will find a large selection of genuine Irish goods as well as Irish reading, music & viewing material!:
Moytura's Irish Store, Moytura's Irish Bookshop, Moytura's Irish Music Store, and Moytura's Irish Video Store I have added links pages of other places related to the places we visit, links to leisure activities in Ireland i.e. golf, fishing, horse riding, sailing in Ireland, festivals, entertainment etc. and some of my friends' home pages.
Go raith míle maith agat - thanks a million
Beannacht Dé Ort - bain taitneamh as do thuras.
God Bless and Enjoy Your 'Journey'Oh, I nearly forgot......come and meet me and mine HERE
See some of the awards received for this site HERE.For those of you who are interested in tracing you family ancestry these pages might help, just hit the banners to go directly to each site or check out our Trace Your Ancestry pages first where you can see some of the vast numbers of data base lists and try out an on-line search for yourself.
Every now and then people send me stories, poems, or URLs to other Home Pages that I find very touching or uplifting, they can be found at the links below. Some will make you smile, maybe even laugh, some may make you cry or a little sad - but all will leave a little bit of a mark, if only for the few minutes you spend reading or listening to them. Enjoy - I call this section:"PRAYERFUL THOUGHTS & THOUGHTFUL PRAYERS"
CIRCLE THE WORLD WITH PRAYER
Could you DONATE just 10 minutes of your time a day?? If Yes then- GIVE IT TO GOD! Great rewards and long-term benefits! Invitation open to ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANY RELIGION & NONE!!
Check out the WHY, WHERE, WHEN & HOW here: Circle of Prayer Then ask yourself the question - WHY NOT?!?!
Celtic Women International
Celtic Women International is a young and vibrant organisation founded by Jean Bills, a woman with Irish roots living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is now in growth phase and expanding membership throughout the whole world for ANYONE (yes, even the guys!) with Celtic roots. It's purpose is to honour, celebrate and promote our Celtic Heritage. In the near future we hope to be a resource for all things Celtic with databases of other Celtic Organisations, Support Bodies, Music & the Arts etc. Membership, for only $25!!, incorporates a quarterly newsletter with the finest of articles related all things Celtic.
Our annual conference brings together some of the best advocates of Celtic Traditions as well as musicians and artists representing the recognised Celtic Nations of Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, The Isle of Man, Brittany and Galicia and Asturia in Spain. 2002 sees the conference on the move and will be held in New Orleans, 2003 in Toronto, 2004 in Pheonix and 2005 in GALWAY, IRELAND! Please help us to grow this wonderful organisation by joining us as a member. All are very welcome and your presence can only enrich us. Learn all about us at:
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Moytura's web site currently has 12 definite and individual sections which can be found below:.
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by Moytura Moytura Graphic Design offers the complete Internet solution for your company or business. We design, host and market your site, regardless of how small or large it needs to be. You can learn more about our service by following the link to: |
If you are Irish or have an affinity with Ireland, Moytura also has an Irish Book Shop, Irish Video Store and Irish Music Store, stocked with all things Irish or Irish-related. Just hit the buttons below:
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by Moytura Here are hints and tips about all aspects of marketing your business on the Internet. Get your FREE Search Engines Tactics e-book when you subscribe to our monthly newsletter: |
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Just hit the banner to the left. Are You Drawing Up Your Family Tree? |
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IRISH SHOPPING WITH MOYTURA
Moytura now has a brand new Irish shopping site online, so why not go and have a mooch by hitting the logo!
Here you will find a vast selection of Irish products in the following categories: Ancestry, Art, Books, Collectors items, Crafts, Crystal, Dancing, Fashion, Foodhall, Fragrances, Gifts, Heraldry, Houseware, Jewellery, Maps, Music, Names, Sportswear, Travel and Videos. All our goods are from genuine Irish suppliers.Email addresses are used for one purpose only - to send on your newsletter.
They are given to NO OTHER third party.
HOME-BASED
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Moytura Graphic Design has expanded enormously since it's humble beginnings just a few years ago and has taken a new business venture which can be operated from home on a full or part-time basis. You can learn about this work-from-home opportunity here.TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY The telecommunications industry goes from strength to strength world wide, especially with de-regulation opening up most countries to healthy and cost-cutting competition. The company, for which we are Independent Consultants, has been so successful since its European start-up in 1998 that it has now expanded from the UK to Ireland Belgium, and the Netherlands, with the USA opening in Feb 2002. It plans to expand even further in the very near future - to:
If you, or anyone you know, living in any of these countries would like to start a home-based business, the opportunities are enormous as this company is only just beginning and, as Independent Consultants, everyone will be in at the very ground level. E-MAIL for details or check out the WEBPAGE.
Contact Mary Mullins, Moytura Graphic Design, Cregmore, Claregalway, Co. Galway, Ireland. Ph: +353 91 798407
© 2000 Moytura Graphic Design
