Pronunciation

The lovely Irish names in this story are pronounced this way: Aoibheann = (ee-veen); Miread = (mi-rade); Padraig = (paw-drig); Saoirse = (ser-sha)

Aoibheann and the Rainbow of Kerry

1.

Aoibheann was a newly born ice crystal. She was adorable. All the crystals said so. Her edges glinted with a brilliance unequalled by any of the crystals of the Doo Lough Valley in western Eire. Her faces imparted a radiance to those far away from her. Those closer by basked in the warmth of her character. Sweet, sweet Aoibheann.

She had come into the world on the first bitingly cold day of the winter. It was as if by magic. She was not the only one of course. There were many beautiful crystals born that day, but they melted to nothing next to the creation that was Aoibheann. Even the subtle lines of the crystal Saoirse were no match for Aoibheann.

She perched elegantly on the window-sill of Behan Cottage, not so far from Killadoon, unaware of her gifts. Her parents, the seeds Mairead and Padraig, knew of their daughter’s charms. They were watching her peeking from the shaded sill towards the sun, wondering what she was thinking.

Aoibheann was enjoying herself immensely on the exposed window-sill. She was watching the leaden clouds being buffeted by swirling gusts of air. But look, what’s that? Her heart gave a tiny beat.

2.

Never had Aoibheann seen anything so glorious. She had been born two hours earlier, and this was the first rainbow she had ever seen. It was like an ice crystal which had been extended into a semi-circular curve, and then had had its long faces imbued with reds, yellows, blues – all sorts of colours. How she knew of colours and rainbows, Aoibheann did not know, but she did.

Peering into the distance, Aoibheann could make out a number of jagged white lines making the long journey from the stars to the Earth. They were like her – white and icy! She was in heaven. She was drawn back to the rainbow, which was growing brighter and more vibrant with each moment that passed. She imagined its being a sash. Perhaps she could wear it to make herself look pretty. I love to look pretty. I don’t know why, but I do.

It occurred to Aoibheann that there was perhaps much that she didn’t know, but she couldn’t know everything. No ice crystal could. She thought about her colours, and realised she was transparent. But the rainbow was full of colours. The rainbow must know so much more than her!

3.

While Aoibheann was watching, the rainbow became smaller and smaller, and shaped itself into a ring. The ring began to spin faster and faster until it was almost invisible. It flashed through the air, coming closer and closer, until finally it curled itself around her centre. It had become a sash! Just for me, to make me happy.

‘How kind you are,’ she said to the vision of nature. ‘Thank you so much.’ She couldn’t believe it. ‘I feel so happy, now.’

‘I couldn’t disappoint you. But now you have your very own sash. I do hope you like it.’

‘You’re talking!’ said Aoibheann.

‘I am, but I don’t like being too forward. I’m not used to it, you see. It’s quite lonely much of the time up there amongst the clouds.’

‘But you’re a rainbow! Everyone would love to listen to you talking.’

The rainbow was abashed, yet felt an unexpected confidence in herself.

‘Do you think we might become friends?’ she said.

‘I think we are already, aren’t we?’ said Aoibheann.

‘Yes! We are, aren’t we!’

‘In that case, I’d better introduce myself. My name is Aoibheann. I’m an ice crystal.’

‘And I am the Rainbow of Kerry.’

4.

‘Why don’t you like to talk?’ asked Aoibheann. ‘Really?’

‘It’s frightening,’ replied the rainbow.

‘How can you be frightened of speaking to someone?’

‘A great storm thundered at me once, and pelted me with gigantic hailstones. They hurt so much.’

‘Why did it do that?’

‘I don’t know. I shrivelled up into a tiny thing, and wished I wasn’t there.’

‘That’s so sad.’

They fell into silence. Finally, Aoibheann spoke.

‘I worry about what will happen when the sun gets hot. I’ll melt!’

‘You won’t,’ said the Rainbow of Kerry. ‘I’ll keep you crispy and icy, and keep that nasty sun behind the clouds.’

‘And I’ll keep the weather dry, so you don’t disappear,’ said Aoibheann.

‘Thank you. I think I’d better go now.’

‘Will you come again?’ asked Aoibheann.

‘Yes, every day.’ The rainbow unfurled herself from the ice crystal, and was instantly thrown into the air by a gust beating through the valley. She was on her way home.

Aoibheann looked down at her centre wistfully. I’ll have my sash back tomorrow. I’ll look pretty again then.

She suddenly wondered where the Rainbow of Kerry disappeared to when the weather got too dry. She would ask her tomorrow.

The end.