The Guide to Mysterious Iona and Staffa (Fortean Times)

 

 

“Celtic gods, telepathy, exorcism, magic(k), druids, witches, mermaids, demons, saints, tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles, ruins, churches and archaeological curiosities: if any of these light your fire, this is the book for you. Iona is reputed to be the first Christian site in Scotland, and St Columba and associated tales feature heavily.

 

One relatively recent entry in the Guide is the mysterious death of Netta Fornario in 1929. The apparently wealthy Netta arrived and took to lonely walks and late night writing. One psychic message told her to leave the island, but it was a Sunday, so there were no boats. A search eventually found her naked body on a moor, with a ritual knife and black cloak nearby. Reports of a cloaked figure and of the police removing mysterious writings abounded. Eventually, the newspapers reported Netta had been the victim of psychic attacks and she had been digging in the ground to try to enter the Fairies’ realm to seek their help. No further clues were forthcoming and Netta’s body is buried on Iona.

 

Staff is well represented with tales of Fingal’s caves – with links to pirates, pagan gods and mermaids and practical advice such as the fact that the commercial boat trips won’t allow enough time to give the small island the attention it deserves.

 

Holder’s second book in his series of guides is as good as the first….it’s a damn good read and a useful tome. Loch Ness next, I believe!”

 

Copyright of and reproduced with permission from Gordon Rutter, Fortean Times 2008.